On Saturday 13 july 2019, a large crowd gathered in Ashraf 3, Albania, home to Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), to hold the annual Free Iran rally of the Iranian resistance. The event was the fourth installment in a series of events held at Ashraf 3. Former MEP Lars Rise gave a speech in this gathering.
Former MEP Lars Rise: Madame Rajavi and friends from Ashraf, a dream has come true. We are very honored to be here and to see this miracle, this overwhelming experience to come here and come into like a historic city which looks like Rome or Athens, which it took thousands of years to build. But here within a few months we have Ashraf 3. And it’s fantastic for us to experience this, a modern city with all facilities, buildings, but a city which will write history. We know that Ashraf 3 will forever be a historic city.
This is when I look at former Prime Minister and President Sali Berisha, his courage was the start of it completely. When all countries said no thank you, all the Western European countries, United States, all our countries, everybody were thinking about the nuclear deal, we cannot say yes to the Mujahedeen, Berisha had the attitude of an Albanian, “I am an Albanian, I am not afraid of anything.” And he said straightforward in 2013, he said, “We’ll take all of them.”
But it’s also because of the extraordinary leadership of Madame Rajavi, her conviction, her commitment, her determination, and her perseverance. She is already operating like the leader of the free Iran. She is thinking, I am in charge of the government here in Iran already. She’s the responsible leader and she’s acting like she is in charge. And that means this will happen very soon.
We have made great progress, now it’s a reverse situation where Iran is on the terror list and MEK is completely off. The mullah regime is now struggling everywhere with the EU Commission and of course the firm stand of the U.S. government has been very helpful. So now the biggest money launderer in the world, Iran, is facing problems everywhere and slowly, slowly, having growing problems. We are very proud of the conviction and the perseverance and we know that this will be strongly rewarded.
Now the only thing left for the regime is lies. In all the capitals of Europe, all over the world, Iran is trying to impact journalists, politicians. But we know the truth will prevail. This movement stands for the truth completely. I have seen this through 20 years of commitment. And we know that the ground speaks, the truth will prevail, and our purpose is freedom, (Azadi). Madame Rajavi is ready. We are ready. And we are encouraged about hearing this word so many times today, ready. We are ready.
