Former UK House Speaker John Bercow: Only Thing That Dictators Respect is Strength
During a recent joint meeting of Italian parliamentarians, John Bercow, the former speaker of the UK Parliament, made a significant statement regarding the deceptive tactics employed by the Iranian regime. He pointed out the dishonest manipulation of the dictionary, where they claim there is no united opposition alternative while acknowledging that unanimity is not feasible.
Bercow emphasized that the mass movement led by Mrs. Rajavi cannot be expected to align with those who oppose democracy, pluralism, and democratic change, but among the people, there is strong support for change and freedom.
Bercow’s words serve as a direct response to the deceptive slogan of “all together,” which has been historically used by the Iranian regime to remove the distinction between rejecting the Shah’s dictatorship and the mullahs’ regime. The regime attempts to justify its “united opposition” stance, suggesting unity and sympathy for the opposition, but it actually sows seeds of division.
The truth is that true unity and cohesion among freedom-loving forces are built through a common struggle to overthrow the regime, not through mere claims. The struggle requires sacrifices and unwavering resistance against any form of tyranny, be it religious fascism or dictatorship.
Recent events have shown that attempts to assemble opposition movements under the banner of unity without addressing fundamental questions of freedom and sovereignty are bound to fail. Those with selfish motives will be eliminated from the struggle, while those genuinely committed to their people’s cause will find common ground to overcome tyranny.
Hence, the focus should be on denouncing the demagogic claims of unity that only serve to divide the freedom-fighting forces. Emphasizing “neither Shah nor the mullahs” becomes imperative in the present struggle against the religious tyranny, not just for the future democratic structure of Iran, but foremost, for the overthrow of the current oppressive regime.
