Conference on Human Rights & Democracy in Iran

High level European politicians support Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI). Foto: private

(Red) – With the current development of the situation in Syria, the situation in Iran needs also to be considered. At the Paris conference, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), was the keynote speaker. She was joined by a number of senior members of the German Federal Parliament and former European officials, including Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian Prime Minister; Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former German Justice Minister; Carsten Müller and Thomas Lutze; members of the Bundestag; Ambassador (ret.) Dr. Hans-Ulrich Seidt, former Chief Inspector of the German Foreign Ministry; Bishop Prof. Dr. Margot Käßmann, former Chair of the Evangelical Church in Germany; Leo Dautzenberg and Martin Patzelt, former members of the Bundestag; and Dr. Rudolf G. Adam, former Vice President of the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany (BND) and former President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy.

The speakers addressed key issues, including the human rights situation in Iran, emphasizing the ongoing repression and its impact on the Iranian population. They also discussed the destabilizing role of the Iranian regime in the Middle East and its involvement in the Ukraine war, as well as the expansion of its terrorism on European territory through the use of organized criminal gangs and Macro Mafia.

In her remarks, Mrs. Rajavi summarized the regime’s current situation in several key points, including: “First, the ruling regime is confronted with explosive societal discontent and is incapable of preventing the inevitable uprisings. Second, the regime has not been able to quell the organized resistance, and today, the Resistance Units have become established as an effective entity in society. Third – the regime’s regional balance of power has dramatically weakened, and its proxy forces have been crippled. And fourth – it cannot back away from its strategy of war and repression, has no capacity for even the most minor reforms, and is unable to escape its economic collapse.”

Mrs. Rajavi elaborated on the key elements of the process of regime change by stressing that the movement for change in Iran is spearheaded by discontented citizens and the Resistance Units, preparing for an organized uprising. Central to this movement is the NCRI, which provides a democratic alternative with international credibility and a detailed plan for leadership. The PMOI/MEK supports this effort with experienced members and inspirational centers like Ashraf 3, focusing on the empowerment of women and youth; adding, post-regime change, the NCRI plans to establish a provisional government for six months to organize elections for a constituent assembly. This body will then draft a new constitution to be approved via a referendum, setting the stage for a government that respects women’s rights, ethnic autonomy, religious equality, and the separation of church and state, aiming for a non-nuclear and peaceful Iran.

Pointing to December 10, “Human Rights Day”, Mrs. Rajavi paid tribute to the women and men who have kept the flame of the human rights cause alive through their sacrifices. She said, “Freedom, human rights, the right to gender equality, and the rejection of religious coercion have been the subject of the ongoing struggle of the Iranian people against the ruling regime for the past 46 years. They have fought for these principles steadfastly and with enormous courage.”

Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said, “The dominos are falling. After Syria, what comes next? The Iranian regime. As we have seen in Syria, things happen fast, which is our hope in Iran. The Global call to end executions in Iran has been endorsed by 3,000 former world leaders, heads of state, ministers, lawmakers, former UN officials, human rights experts, and Nobel Laureates in 87 countries. European Leadership must recognize the IRGC as a terrorist organization. The Iranian oil industry and banking system must be sanctioned. We need to recognize that there is a viable and democratic alternative in Iran and that there is a need for structural dialogue with it. It is not true that ending the appeasement of the regime will cause turmoil in the region. The Iranian regime is the source of instability and turmoil. Standing with the Iranian people and the organized Iranian Resistance in Iran is not just a political choice. It is a moral imperative and absolute necessity to restore the balance, peace, and equity in the Middle East region.”

Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin noted, “We must stop the political executions in Iran. We need to end the persecution of men and women, especially women, and we must also support all democratic forces that are against the Iranian regime at home and above. Above all, we must end the mullahs’ constant creating of conflict in the Middle East. Governments and Parliaments in the world must take notice that there’s no improvement in the situation in Iran with the new Iranian President. There has been more suppression for the Iranian people.” Referring to the death sentences for six PMOI supporters, Dr. Däubler-Gmelin added, “It is important to call for an end to executions in Iran. We need sanctions against the regime’s judicial officials who issue the death sentences. I note that Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-point plan has called for the abolition of the death penalty and a non-nuclear Iran. This is a plan that needs to be supported.”

In part of his remarks, Dr. Müller said, “We demand the listing of the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, the downgrading of diplomatic relations, comprehensive sanctions, the closure of centers of fundamentalist propaganda and reactionary Islam, and the expulsion of regime agents from Germany. But we must realize that we will remain in a position of weakness in dealing with the Iranian regime as long as we do not support a solution and a democratic alternative. Without a credible alternative, we will ultimately be forced to cooperate with this regime, while we will have to block the way back to any form of dictatorship forever. Our motto should be: “Neither the dictatorship of the Shah nor the dictatorship of the mullahs – never again! That is why the Iranian regime is doing everything it can, with the help of various lobbyists and fake ‘Iran experts’ to create the impression that there is no alternative to this regime, or it is trying to claim through slander that the resistance movement is worse than the regime itself.”

The call to support this Iranian democratic alternative can not go unheard. Since there is a strong level of consent that the Mollah regime must be ended, the world community must act now.