On June 30, 2024, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit – Day 2 hosted at the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) headquarters in Paris, Kimmo Sasi, former Minister and Member of Parliament from Finland, delivered a compelling speech.
Addressing the recent parliamentary sham elections in Iran, Sassi dismissed them as spectacles rather than true democratic exercises, noting that half the population—specifically women—are barred from being elected as president. He questioned the legitimacy of Iranian elected officials and urged the EU to recognize Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as aligned with European Union values and the right path for Iran.
#FreeIran2023
1. @KimmoSasi: We say that the European Union is the moral superpower in the world, and I think that's quite right. And we have very high agenda for human rights. But sometimes we give too much declarations. https://t.co/ddrlEbNA07— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) June 30, 2023
The full text of former Minister Kimo Sassi’s speech follows:
Madam Rajavi, dear freedom-loving friends. The Iranian regime is not only brutal to its own people in Iran but poses a great threat to European citizens as well. The regime has started a new hostage-taking and blackmailing tactics. Iranian security arrested two years ago in Iran, a Swedish European Union diplomat, Johan Floderus, without any grounds. The only reason was to exchange him for Hamid Noury, whom Stockholm Court had sentenced for crime against humanity in Iran, the most serious crime in the penal code.
The change has now taken place, but we have to find ways to stop this hostage-taking. It’s very important that Iranian leadership knows that you can’t escape anywhere when you commit human rights crimes, but you will be in a Court of Law somewhere in the world sooner or later.
The Iranian regime conducts terrorist actions all the time in the European Union area. I take two examples: There was an assassination attempt on Alejo Vidal Quadras, our very good friend, and a former vice President of the European Parliament last November. There was also an attempt to bomb plot at the Free Iran World Summit 2018. We must take firm action so that nothing like this happens. We can’t tolerate Iranian terrorism inside the European Union borders.
Now, the European Union has got a new high representative for foreign policy, Kaya Callas. She’s a tough lady, and I hope she takes a much firmer position in the commission to enact against Iran. Iran’s terrorist actions must be at so high price that the Iran regime is not willing to pay it. And what could it be?
First, of course, the Revolution Guards, IRGC, must be listed as a terrorist organization, as has been done in Canada and the United States. But the European Union must also consider closing Iranian embassies because they function as operational centers for terrorism and also as intelligence gathering against dissidents. Then in addition, we need deeper economic sanctions if Iran continues its activities in the European Union area, and we can isolate Iran dramatically if there is not a stop in these policies.
Kimmo Sasi:
I Support the 10-Point Plan for a Democratic Republic in Iran#FreeIran10PointPlan #IStandWithMaryamRajavi #FreeIran2024 #BerlinDemo29June pic.twitter.com/7eZzpe2UQd— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) June 28, 2024
Then a few words about parliamentary elections and recent, elections. They were spectacles. They were not a true democratic exercise. In fact, in Iran, half of the people, population, it means all women cannot be elected as president. But already, half of the population is outside the power. All six presidential candidates were former Revolution Guard officers, and in fact, there were no moderate candidates.
It’s a good question if the European Union can consider that elected members of Parliament and the President who will be elected are not legitimate and that we don’t think that they are counterparts for negotiations with the European Union. What is important?
Because Madame Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan is equal to European Union values, it’s important that the European Union tells clearly that the Ten-Point Plan is the right path, the right way to better Iran. That should be if Iran wants to have cooperation with the European Union, the way to go forward.
All in all, so as we all know, dictatorship falls sooner or later, and we’ll work hard. The falling will happen, and we hope that we’ll see soon free Iran. That’s our goal for that work. Congratulations, Madame Rajavi.
Thank you so much.
