On June 20, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an international online conference to mark the 39th anniversary of the Day of the Martyrs and like all MEK conferences, it was attended by some of the best and the brightest in the world.
Here, we will look at the remarks of British Baroness Sandy Verma, who began by sending her best wishes to the MEK headquarters at Ashraf 3 in Albania.
She said: “We have gathered today to recognize and remember the four decades-long struggle for a free and democratic Iran, where women have a leadership role and are at the forefront of the protests. Throughout this struggle, there have been great personal sacrifices and courage in the face of brutal theocratic tyranny. The regime has executed and killed over 120,000 supporters and members of the Iranian Resistance movement and the MEK, not only in Iran but also through terrorist assassinations in Europe.”
Verma continued by praising the Iranian people, the MEK, and the opposition leader Maryam Rajavi for refusing to stay silent despite overwhelming suppression at the hand of the regime since 1979. She said it is evident that the fight for democracy continues in Iran when you look at the nationwide protests of November 2019 and January 2020, where they chanted “Down with the dictator”. This means that a new secular Iran is within reach. This, she said, proves that the MEK and its 10-point for a free Iran have support from Iranians around the world.
She said: “The regime is terrified by the organized Resistance movement and the growing support for the [MEK] inside Iran, especially among the younger generation. That fear was on display when the regime’s Judiciary recently admitted the arrest of two Iranian elite students for connection to the MEK, which is the driving force in the organized Resistance movement. That fear is also present as regime officials warn of coming popular protests because of the growing dissent in the Iranian society.”
Verma highlighted how the regime also tried to bomb the 2018 Free Iran Grand Gathering in Paris, which was attended by 100,000, although thankfully the agents tasked with carrying out the attack were caught by European authorities and remain in custody.
She said: “Sadly, our Government is late to see this reality. The UK has, in the past, tried to appease Tehran and decide to proscribe the Iranian opposition, the MEK, as a goodwill gesture to the so-called moderate president in Iran, Khatami. But, the highest court in the UK rejected this terrorist labeling against the organized Iranian opposition as perverse and ordered the Home Office to de-proscribe the MEK.”
Verma advised that the UK should right this wrong by recognizing the MEK as the viable alternative to the mullahs and support them to make it clear that the mullahs can and will be held accountable for their atrocities.
She said: “The proud and brave people of Iran deserve a better, prosperous future, and my colleagues and I in the UK Parliament will continue our cross-party advocacy and support the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations, the MEK and the popular struggle for change until Iran is free.”
