Lars Rise, former Norwegian MP addressed an online global conference on the conviction of Iran’s diplomat-terrorist Assadollah Assadi by a Belgian court for attempting to bomb the 2018 Free Iran gathering in Paris.
On February 4, 2021, simultaneous with the court ruling against the Iranian regime’s diplomat-terrorist, Assadollah Assadi, and his accomplices in Antwerp, Belgium, a global online conference was held, where Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and dozens of prominent figures from various European countries, the United States and Canada, joined thousands of Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI) members based in Ashraf-3 (Albania) as well as the supporters of the Iranian Resistance worldwide.
The Belgian court rejected Assadollah Assadi’s claim of diplomatic immunity and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The three intelligence agents, Nasimeh Naami, Mehrdad Arefani, and Amir Saadouni, were sentenced to 18, 17, and 15 years in prison, respectively. Their Belgian citizenships was also revoked.
Lars Rise, former Norwegian MP
Mrs. Rajavi, excellent … friends in Ashraf, ladies [inaudible 1:10]. This is a historic day … not only for the opposition … evidence that the … by the Supreme … Leader, Khomeini. If this … which they, by the way, are already guilty of. How come that every European leader wants to shake hands now with Javad Zarif?
He seems to pop up next to a prime minister or foreign minister from various Western countries in every news page we see. After receiving the verdict today from the court in Brussels, all European leaders planning to meet with Javad Zarif should be clear about one thing on their to do list.
I have to get issued an arrest order for Javad Zarif. He has committed crimes against humanity and should be sent to the Hague, where he should be held responsible for working out and giving instructions to execute this evil plan. How is it possible to work with the regime for anybody as if nothing happened?
I was present at the event on the 30th of June 2018 together with my wife and my two daughters. I was completely unaware of the drama which took place as the two terrorists were arrested on their way towards the conference hall to kill all of us, the speakers, the guests, and the leadership of the MEK and NCRI, including Mrs. Maryam Rajavi.
We have learned through the court case that the capacity of the bomb sent through the border in diplomatic luggage was enough to kill several hundreds of people. Those who planned this big explosion must have been aware of how risky it would be to try to execute the operation on European soil, knowing very well that agents of the regime are being monitored and followed constantly by several intelligence services. In a way, the willingness to go forward with the plans, in spite of the high risk shows that the regime is desperate.
The situation is desperate in Iran. The Iranian regime has committed terrorist acts for more than 40 years. They have used reverse psychology methods all these years and naming the opposition as the terrorist while they were actually the guilty ones themselves. But this is the first time a diplomat has been caught in the act.
It is interesting that the evidence presented in the court was so overwhelming that the lawyers of the regime did not even try to oppose the validity of the tapes, transcripts, photos and footage. I’m honored that I, in a few minutes, will take part in the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC this year through Zoom. President Biden will take part for the first time.
Also, there will be greetings and prayers from former presidents of the United States and the prayer is now for unity, coming together, and standing firm together.
Now is the time to act. Now is the time for the leaders in Europe to hold the regime legally responsible for the crimes they have committed. For those governments who are hesitant to actually get Javad Zarif arrested and sent to the Hague, what about doing something?
Close the embassies, deny him coming, don’t invite him, don’t have meetings with him. It’s time to stand together, stand up for democracy and human rights in Iran, and hope for the day for the freedom to come very soon. Thank you very much.
