On July 13, 2019, dignitaries from dozens of countries across the world attended the main event of the Free Iran 2019 international conference. The conference was part of the five-day Free Iran 2019 series of conferences at the main headquarters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Ashraf 3, Albania. Several dignitaries, political and human rights activists delivered speeches, issuing remarks about the struggles of the Iranian people and their resistance movement for freedom in their country.
British MP Bob Blackman:
“I welcome the designation of Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization & the US decision to impose sanctions on the regime’s Supreme Leader. I hope the UK will join our American allies in this effort soon.”#FreeIran#WeSupportMEK#IStandWithMaryamRajavi pic.twitter.com/BfxTpk1Pe2— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 13, 2019
The following are key remarks by Member of British Parliament Bob Blackman at the Ashraf 3 conference.
Bob Blackman:
Madame [Maryam] Rajavi, honorable colleagues, dear Ashrafis, ladies and gentlemen, salaam va dorood [Hail] to you all. Dear friends, we’ve seen since last year the people of Iran defying the regime’s crackdown to rise up against the theocracy across Iran as the first step towards freedom. You are the Iranian opposition, you are clearly behind these ongoing protests that continue to grow. A spokesman for the regime’s judiciary recently admitted this by saying, “Nowadays, some people chant against the judiciary and the authorities. We must be careful not to be abused by the PMOI.” That is why the regime is trying to create an international crisis because the ongoing protests against the regime are undermining its very survival.
I welcome the United States’ decision to designate the entire Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and to impose sanctions on the Supreme Leader [Ali Khamenei] and his office. I sincerely hope that the new United Kingdom government will join our American allies in these efforts. In April, I tabled the motion in Parliament to proscribe the IRGC and the Supreme Leader and all parts of the regime. I’m pleased to say this motion was supported by members of Parliament on all sides of the chamber and from all political parties.
Friends, I am also one of the plaintiffs in the case against the so-called Iranian diplomats who are awaiting prosecution in Belgium for attempting to bomb last year’s gathering in Paris. We were there as a large British delegation meeting with you all, and the UK and our European allies must now move to proscribe the whole of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry as a foreign terrorist organization.
Friends, the mullahs only understand the language of firmness. The international community, especially in the West, must make it clear to the regime officials that we in the Free World stand with the people of Iran and the resistance movement, the NCRI, in their efforts to bring freedom, democracy, human rights, to their country, Iran. I don’t believe that theocracy has a future in Iran. Iran is destined for a better future, stability, and prosperity because it has a democratic alternative in the NCRI, a strong, inspiriting leader in Maryam Rajavi, and a viable plan in her democratic platform for the future of Iran. We will support you and we will be with you on the day when we can celebrate a new beginning for Iran.
