September 19, 2022 – Brussels: At the same time as the session of the Belgian Court to hear the NCRI’s legal team, as well as the Belgian government’s arguments on the shameful deal between Belgium and the mullahs’ regime as “a prisoner swap treaty”, a large gathering was held in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium.
During the demonstration, freedom-loving Iranians and MEK supporters protested the appeasement policy toward the Iranian regime.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), sent a video message to the rally and said:
“It has been nearly three months that you prevented the repatriation of the bomb-carrying terrorist diplomat to his masters. You have blocked the path for the mullahs who sought to take advantage of this law to establish their terrorist headquarters in the heart of Europe. With your intensive campaign in 16 countries, you have challenged the West’s policy of appeasement.”
“Today, the mullahs have openly declared war on Iranian society with the expansion of women’s oppression. The atrocious murder of Mahsa Amini, an innocent young woman from Kurdistan, at the hands of the State Security Force’s mercenaries is a part of this brutal war and repression. They wanted to break our people’s spirit and stop the protest movement. But the Resistance of courageous Iranian women and youths in Sanandaj, Saqqez, and Tehran showed that the people of Iran will not remain silent and are determined to overthrow the evil clerical regime.”
“Criminals should know that a flood will arise from the blood they spill every day and will eventually terminate the rule of the mullahs’ regime.”
“Let us not forget that terrorism and hostage-taking diplomacy are not in themselves effective for the regime. Rather, the kowtowing of Western governments has turned them into an instrument to advance the regime’s criminal policies and encourage the regime to continue its hostage-taking.
Those behind this treaty do not respect the norms of the rule of law. They violate the decisions of their own courts. They turn their backs on democracy for commercial and political advantages and, among others, open a way to revive the JCPOA.”
“The Iranian Resistance warns the international community against concessions to the mullahs. This is tantamount to stabbing the Iranian people in the back and siding with a moribund regime.
We have one clear demand from the government of Belgium: the prisoners’ exchange treaty must not include the regime’s terrorists”.
The Iranian Resistance warns the international community against concessions to the mullahs. This is tantamount to stabbing the Iranian people in the back and siding with a moribund regime.
We call on the international community to:
— close the regime’s embassies, which are the epicenters of terrorism;
— expel the spies and agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and the Qods terrorist force, most of whom are known to Western security services;
— Designate as terrorist the Ministry of Intelligence and the entire IRGC;
— Predicate relations with the mullahs on the halt to executions and repression of demonstrators and protesters; and
— Apply Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter to the mullahs’ regime, as the central banker of terrorism and a threat to world peace and security. I urge the upcoming UN General Assembly session to take urgent action over the regime’s crimes against women, especially the daily crimes and murders committed by the mullahs’ Guidance Patrol.
Paolo Casaca former MEP from Portugal
Paolo Casaca former MEP from Portugal, addressed the demonstration and said: “With utmost shock and bewilderment, I and so many others were informed about the secret negotiations of the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the regime in Iran. It is certainly not their fault that the Belgian government decided to disrespect these efforts and is conducting such a shameful deal with terrorists”.
“I would like to express my solidarity with those prisoners as well as the Belgian hostage in Iran who now has become the subject of the Belgo-Iranian deal. However, exchanging the lives of an innocent person in prison for the lives of other innocent citizens that will become new targets would be morally unacceptable, and it will be an incentive for the Iranian regime to take more hostages”.
“The Brussels attacks of 2016, as well as the foiled attack in 2018, show the same resolve by terrorists to undermine human rights and the lives of freedom-loving individuals. It can only achieve a disaster”.
“The Belgium government must demand the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages in Iran to end their pain. Most importantly, it should announce solidarity with those who fight for freedom in Iran”.
“There is only one way to defend the values and the rights of the Belgian people: to demand respect for Belgium and other countries as a precondition for normal diplomatic relations”.
Belgian MP Theo Franken
Belgian MP Theo Franken, former Belgian State Secretary for Migration, and the head of the Belgian delegation at NATO, said: “Since Mahsa Amini’s death, there have been a lot of protesting going on in Iran. At the end of the day, we will prevail, not only in the case of Assadi but in the fight against the Iranian regime until a free Iran is achieved and women can live in a free and democratic country”.
You have blocked the path for the mullahs who sought to take advantage of this law to establish their terrorist headquarters in the heart of Europe. This is tantamount to stabbing the Iranian people in the back and siding with a moribund regime.
Serge de Patoul, former Member of Brussels Parliament
Serge de Patoul, former Member of Brussels Parliament, said: “I have been with you before the shameful treaty was voted for in the Belgian parliament. Our government has put itself in an absurd state. Because this is a serious blow to the great work of the Belgian Judiciary, this only shows us that we should not negotiate with a terrorist state. This also puts Belgium and Europe in danger as it promotes state terrorism and emboldens the terrorist to conduct their practices everywhere else. Therefore, we have to stress that it’s unacceptable to release Asadollah Assadi. This is not appropriate for Belgium, nor any other free nation on earth.”
“Following the murder of Mahsa Amini, there is no room for discussions any more other than that this regime must go. I have been to Ashraf 3 in Albania, and I just wanted to express my support for your struggle and a free and democratic Iran.”
Manel Msalmi, International affairs Advisor for European Parliament
Manel Msalmi, International affairs Advisor for European Parliament also said: “We want to express our solidarity with the women in Iran. Women in Iran were furious following the murder of Mahsa Amini and the people of Iran joined these protests. Today, the students of Amir Kabir University in Tehran said they strive for revenge. All of Iran is furious now. It’s shocking what we are witnessing in Iran.”
“We need to continue to support the women in Iran without preconditions. Injustice somewhere is injustice everywhere.”
“Regarding Assadi, 21 former ministers and 68 legal experts called on the Belgian Prime Minister not to release this diplomat terrorist. When I heard the news, I was concerned about our own security in Europe. We have to support those who struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran. We must support free Iran.”
Mohammad Mohadessin, the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
Mr. Mohammad Mohadessin, the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman after coming back from the court, said to the protesters: the plaintiffs’ lawyers offered a very strong defense, explaining to the judges why the Iranian terrorist-diplomat Asadollah Assadi should not be released.
Meanwhile, the lawyers of the Belgian government failed to provide new arguments or evidence, and it would be up to the court to make a decision.
Mr. Mohadessin expressed his gratitude for the tireless activism and endurance of supporters of the Iranian Resistance.
