MARYAM RAJAVI'S MESSAGE TO A MEETING AT THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
- Thursday, 17 November 2016 19:08
Maryam Rajavi sent a message to a meeting held on November 17, 2016 at the House of Commons to discuss UK policy on Iran and the gross violations of human rights in that country. Text of the message follows:
The honorable members of the British Houses of Commons and Lords,
Distinguished Bishops,
Dear friends,
Greetings to everyone. I am grateful for your attention to the issue of Iran and the Iranian people's human rights, resistance and freedom.
The P5+1 nuclear talks with the clerical regime and its consequences have placed Iran in the center of International attention over the past three years.
Sixteen months have passed since the nuclear agreement was signed. So, there has been enough time to test various policies. The nuclear agreement was an opportunity for the mullahs to change their behavior or at least stop creating crisis and international terrorism. However, they increased their aggression and warmongering in the region, particularly in Syria. The Iranian regime remains the most hostile and significant contributor to instability in the region.
Some thought that human rights would improve in Iran. In the past year, however, nearly 1,000 people were executed. Rouhani's interior minister has admitted that they arrest some 600 thousand people every year. These figures are only part of the reality.
The mullahs' regime preserves its power by making arrests, and by torture and executions on a daily basis. These are accompanied by a constant and systematic crackdown on women and youths, arbitrary arrests and harassment of religious minorities: including Christians, even the arrest of British-Iranians, censorship of free access to the internet, and prohibiting concerts.
On the opposite side, our people and Resistance have been advancing in their quest for freedom.
A major achievement has been the Justice Seeking Movement launched to demand justice for the 30,000 political prisoners massacred in summer 1988 in Iran. The mullahs for long tried to conceal this horrific crime. The distribution of an audio recording of the remarks made by Mr. Montazeri, the ousted successor to Khomeini, revealed new dimensions of the massacre.
The Iranian Resistance is working through supporters in Iran to collect the documents and evidence in this regard. Our aim is to have the international community recognize this tragic massacre as a crime against humanity and prosecute the officials who were responsible. If the international community had not remained silent and passive in this regard, letting the criminals evade justice the wave of executions and repression in Iran could not have continued to date.
Another important development has been the spread of anti-government protests across the country. Thousands of people gathered on October 28th staging a protest against the mullahs in Persepolis, at the Tomb of Cyrus who was the founder of ancient Iran and the writer of a human rights charter, 25 centuries ago.
Finally, I would like to point out a great achievement and a major victory of the Iranian Resistance in recent months, namely, the safe and sound relocation of all members of the People's Mojahedin of Iran from Camp Liberty to Europe.
The mullahs did everything to stop this relocation. They tried to have some PMOI officials arrested by fake judicial verdicts. They launched rocket attacks to kill all camp residents.
With PMOI's efforts and an international campaign by the Iranian resistance, the mullahs' plots failed. The relocation was the greatest blow to the mullahs over the past year.
With PMOI's efforts and an international campaign by the Iranian resistance, the mullahs' plots failed. The relocation was the greatest blow to the mullahs over the past year.
I would like to sincerely appreciate all the efforts and support given by the British people's elected representatives in both houses of parliament and also the UK Church leaders for this great relocation.
Honorable friends,
The Iranian resistance strives for a republic based on freedom, equality, and separation of religion and state; a country where the death penalty is abolished. We seek to end the mullahs' Sharia law and guarantee freedom and equality for followers of all religions.
I plead for your support, the elected representatives of Britain, the UK Church, and all humanitarian people in the UK to further help and support this struggle.
The Justice seeking movement is a just common cause with roots in human dignity. We need your assistance in this movement. We need your support to encourage western governments to recognize the Iranian people's struggle for regime change. Once again, I thank you all. And I hope to be able to see you, very soon.
