The Free Iran World Summit 2021 is the largest-ever online international event dedicated to liberating Iran from its oppressive religious dictatorship and paving the way for a free, democratic, and sovereign future.
Saturday as the first day of the event witnessed international dignitaries and the Iranian resistance supporters attending this largest ever online event include 1,029 politicians, 11 former Prime Ministers and 70 former ministers from more than 50,000 locations throughout 105 countries.
Sunday, July 11, 2021, This great event continues for the second day in a row. Today, lawmakers, former senior government officials, distinguished personalities, and humanitarians and advocates from around the Europe and Arab countries and Middle East will take action in solidarity with the Iranian people’s unflinching struggle for freedom.
This page presents a live report of this event. Its content will be updated throughout the day:
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
“Our message to the international community, especially after the regime has closed ranks and installed a mass murderer as its president, is that it should not make concessions to a nuclear-armed butcher,” said Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), in her address to the conference. “And not to provide assistance to the mullahs who are on the brink of collapse.”
Mrs. Rajavi stressed that the Iranian regime has continued its aggressions across the globe “while the Iranian people have no water, electricity, or bread. The power outages happen even as Iran sits on a sea of oil and one can easily accommodate the people’s electricity needs. Tens of millions of people are fed up with this situation and are getting angry.”
Mrs. Rajavi described the West’s policy toward Iran as “a vicious cycle of deception and appeasement.”
“While the regime has been hiding its nuclear program by deceiving the world, the international community has been trying to stop or curb this project by granting concessions or by showing complacency,” Rajavi said.
After reciting the regime’s history of deceiving world powers and secretly continuing its nuclear program, Mrs. Rajavi said, “It is clear how the regime continued to advance towards developing an atomic bomb at every step by deceiving the world and receiving concessions. The result is that Khamenei is building a bomb and will not stop. Any agreement he signs to reduce these activities, and any promise he makes, are pure lies.”
Mrs. Rajavi emphasized that “any agreement that does not completely close down the regime’s bomb-making, enrichment and nuclear facilities is unacceptable. And the Iranian people will not accept it.”
The opposition president also the regime must also be obliged “to withdraw the Revolutionary Guard Crops (IRGC) from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Lebanon.”
And finally, any agreement that doesn’t take into account the brutal human rights violations in Iran and does not oblige the mullahs to stop torturing and executing young Iranians will be unacceptable, Mrs. Rajavi said.
“Anything less, in any wrapping, is tantamount to caving in to the mullahs’ nuclear catastrophe,” she said, adding that the nuclear weapons program is “an important part of Khamenei’s strategy to escape his overthrow.”
But overthrow is a fate that the regime cannot escape, Mrs. Rajavi emphasized. “Despite all these sufferings, the Iranian people and their Resistance are determined to overthrow the religious dictatorship. And it will not matter if the regime is nuclear armed or not, we will overthrow it,” she said.
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, former Speaker of the House of Commons
Greetings Madame Rajavi, as I do to the people of Iran, to our friends in Ashraf 3, and to dignitaries gathered here for this event. It is a privilege to join you all to this year’s Free Iran Global Summit.
We gather, of course, at a critical and decisive time in Iran’s history. In a democracy, people like me, campaign enthusiastically and publicly in the streets, encouraging people to go out, use your votes, I say to them, “Make your own choice about the government of your country.
It is your birthright to do so. It’s not a luxury, it is an important civil rights and civil liberty.” And as the people of Iran have no such civil liberties, they were not given a choice. That they made their choice very clear indeed. When the time came, their choice was a resounding national boycott of the regime is a phony election. I say, well done, my friends in Iran, I salute you. As my friend Maryam said, “The people show to the Iranian dictators and to the world that they want real change, genuine change, and not a masquerade of statesman.”
We are reminded, especially today, of Madame Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran, which encompasses the democratic aspirations of the people. And guarantee is the realization of their long-standing desire for civil liberty, and for the democratic process. It is no coincidence that women of all ages are in the vanguard of this popular resistance movement against the regime.
I admire the role women are taking and the courage they demonstrate in doing so. For world leaders and the international community, this summit, with thousands in attendance, reflects only a small portion of the strong support the NCRI and its President has among the Iranian people and worldwide.
My friends, the time has come to recognize this democratic alternative, unpopular movement, as it marches and certainly marches to victory for a free Iran.
I stand with you, men and women of Iran, and support you until the day when we can gather to rejoice for the final celebration in Tehran, the capital of a free and democratic nation. Thank you.
Sir David Amess, British MP
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for viewing this conference. After Raisi‘s emergence as president in Iran, the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States of America must unite behind the NCRI, its President-Elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and the people of Iran, because they are our best allies to secure a free Iran.
So, ladies and gentlemen, today, I’m delighted to announce that so far, over 100 of my colleagues have signed a very strong statement on Iran. And here it is, in the red book from the House of Lords and the Green Book from the House of Commons. And this statement, rejects the brutal religious dictatorship in Iran, and supports the Iranian resistance and Madame Rajavi. So, let me read parts of this statement, signed by 102 members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords.
We believe the missing piece in our policy is disregarding the objective conditions in Iran, and the yearning of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy. During nationwide protests over the past few years, the Iranian people have clearly and loudly rejected the notions of moderates versus the hardliners, and have expressed their desire for genuine change and outcome that remains in the hands of the Iranian people and their resistance movement.
We believe that the 10-point plan outlined by President-elect of the NCRI Mrs. Rajavi and her calls for the establishment of Republic in Iran, based on free and fair elections, separation of religion and state, gender equality, non-discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, and a non-nuclear Iran deserve our support. We call on our governments to adopt a firm policy.
These are the regime in Iran and to hold its leaders to account for suppressing the Iranian people engaging in terrorism in Europe, meddling in the region and taken hostage individuals withdraw citizenship. We also call for the imposition of tougher sanctions, as long as the Iranian regime continues with its rogue behavior.
Finally, we call on our governments to stand with the Iranian people and the desire for human rights, freedom, and democracy. The recent presidential election and the announcement of Ebrahim Raisi as president reflects the dead end that the Mullahs’ regime finds itself in. It is a regime bereft of any ideas, with nowhere else to go but to revert to pointing the finger from the ideological hardline. As a well documented director of numerous human rights abuses, Raisi’s appointment brazenly displays the content of the fundamentalist gullible as for any kind of positive dialogue or reform.
So, ladies and gentlemen, I together with my colleagues in the British Parliament, strongly support a call by the Secretary General of Amnesty International, as well as Professor Javid Raman, the Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran to independently investigate the crimes against humanity committed by this butcher Raisi and prosecute him for sending 10s of 1000s of people to the gallows in the summer of 1988.
And over the past four decades, this brutal man must be put in prison and not become the president of our great country, which is what Iran is.
David Jones, Deputy Chairman of the European Research Group since 2020, MP for Cloud West since 2005
Madam President-elect, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, people of Iran, and especially friends and residents of Ashraf 3, all of us attending this event today agreed that the future of Iran must be decided by the Iranian people. Madam Rajavi, you and your movement have spearheaded the quest for freedom.
You call for a boycott of the sham presidential election, and the majority of Iranians answered your call in a clear rejection of the theocratic dictatorship. Your movement and its resistance units inside Iran have helped the people to carry out this campaign by mobilizing the opposition to the regime and organizing protests across the country.
And that is why, as we can see by the strong attendance today and the boycott of the national election, that you have strong support among Iranians and among cross-party parliamentarians in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. The momentum is growing in your favor at this critical moment in Iran’s history.
In contrast, in a sign of clear weakness and desperation, the regime and Supreme Leader chose a man who has been called the butcher of the 1988 massacre, Ebrahim Raisi as its president. This should be a source of alarm to the international community and reinforce the case for an investigation into the massacre– an inquiry that the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran has called for following Raisi’s emergence. The UK should now press the United Nations to launch an independent inquiry into the 1988 massacre.
The families of the victims and the entire Iranian people deserve that justice. And I know that such an inquiry has widespread cross-party support in both houses of the United Kingdom Parliament, and is the best way for the government to show the Iranian people that the United Kingdom stands with them, and not with their oppressors.
So, I and my colleagues will continue to petition the United Kingdom Government to stand with the Iranian people in their pursuit of justice, and to recognize the NCRI led by Madame Rajavi as the viable democratic alternative to the regime in Iran, that is such a menace to the Iranian people, and a threat to the wider world.
Madame Rajavi, your resistance has for the past 40 years advised the international community that the regime ruling Iran is not capable of reform. History has shown us that any attempt to unearth any ounce of real moderation within the regime is futile. Despite your sound guy who was a western pilot, instead of supporting the Iranian people in their resistance, pursued the wrong path by attempting to appease the Mullahs’ regime by prescribing your legitimate movement, dealing a heavy blow to the democratic will of the people of Iran.
The approach that you advocated all along was the correct one, and the one that the west pursued was wrong. For that, the western nation should be seeking to make amends to the Iranian people and bear the movement for democracy.
Madam Rajavi, all of us here today attending this remarkable event will stand with you until Iran is free.
Baroness Sandy Verma, Former UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development
You can see there is truly a democratic alternative that has a plan as well as popular international support to provide the people of Iran with a viable roadmap to establish a free and democratic and secular republic which will bring Iran out of the dark to find its rightful place amongst the free nations of the world.
Madam Rajavi has reflected active leadership for the women of Iran’s most organized opposition the PMOI.
The future of Iran is determined by its people, and they have risen under the leadership of women to secure a free and democratic Iran. The UK and the West and the rest of the world should stand by you, recognizing and backing the popular struggle for democratic change in Iran led by NCRI.
Along with my colleagues in the British Parliament across all parties, we will do everything in our power to ensure that we take Ebrahim Raisi to court and make him pay for the crimes against humanity.
Steve McCabe, British MP for Birmingham Selly Oak since 2010
Good afternoon, everyone. It’s a pleasure to join the Free Iran World Summit. President-Elect Maryam Rajavi, can I thank you for the leadership, hope, and vision you continue to provide for the Iranian people during these dark, ugly years of the regime.
Yours is a vision of hope and light against multiple crimes, and dufty traits designed to tarnish the opposition and deny the truth. Everything from diplomats who smile and flatter while threatening simultaneously. And those like Asadollah Asadi who let the mask slip completely and expose their terrorist credentials are the PD agents who pose as victims of alleged PM who committed crimes.
Too often, we’ve listened to these receipts, they’ve led us to deny you the support you deserve. They led to the binding of the PMI, which was eventually corrected in the legitimate courts of the US, EU, and UK, where justice can prevail. They led to claims of respect and support for the opposition to let Iran descend into the carnage that is severe today.
But what is present in Iran? A place for those in charge, executing innocent people at will, where protesters disappear in the night, where basic rights are denied, where money that could be used for food and vaccines is diverted to weapons for terrorist groups, fighting proxy wars, a place obsessed with adding to the nuclear threat the world already faces.
That’s what the clerical regime expects the west to protect. We should have listened to the opposition years ago, instead of practicing appeasement. We might have avoided giving so much in return for so little over nuclear weapons. We might have shown more compassion, and given more assistance to the people of Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty. We have a second chance. We’ve seen the farce of the latest presidential election in Iran.
We’ve witnessed the treachery over the nuclear deal. Now is the time to stand square with a democratic aspiration of the Iranian people.
Now is the time for the British people to put things right, ensure support for you and your 10-point plan for a free and democratic Iran. Iran will be free. Thank you.
Bob Blackman, British MP
Madame Rajavi, honorable colleagues, people of Iran, ladies and gentlemen, it’s great to be with you today, at least virtually. And an honor to join parliamentarians and Iranians from all around the world for this international gathering to support the people of Iran and the resistance movement, which calls for justice, and a free Iran.
In September 2016, my colleagues and I, tabled a parliamentary motion with regard to the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, which were killed in Iran’s prisons in the summer of 1988, including women and children, and all political prisoners, who supported the opposition movement of the PMOI.
This motion was one of the most supported parliamentary motions during the 2016-2017 session, which urged the United Kingdom Government to recognize and condemn this brutal massacre as a crime against humanity, and ask the United Nations to order an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Similarly, in July 2018, my colleagues and I tabled another parliamentary motion, condemning the attempted bombing of the gathering of the Iranian opposition in Paris, for free Iran, the alternative. I was one of those representatives at the conference, and indeed, had the terrorist plot succeeded, I had many other colleagues in the UK Parliament, and parliamentarians from across the world, including, sad to say, the leaders of the free Iran movement would have been killed.
Even worse, we now know, of course, that that was held and that terrorist attempt was made by an Iranian diplomat using the diplomatic pouches to pass the ball to terrorists who would then go from Belgium into France to Paris to place that bomb underneath the conference.
And the motion that we put down was supported by a large number of my colleagues in the British Parliament. And as to the strong support for our two parliamentary motions, reflects the strong cross-party support the NCRI enjoys, and indeed, the President-Elect Madam Rajavi enjoys in the UK Parliament and amongst your friends in the United Kingdom.
Our two parliamentary motions show that there is strong support of bringing the mass murderers to justice, including a sham election of the president of Iran, who, of course, was responsible for the 1988 massacre. And I would like to make this pledge.
That 35 of our colleagues in the commons and lords, including many of my colleagues who are present today, made the history and destroyed the terror attack against the PMOI, which was a great victory, not only for the Iranian resistance and for you, Mrs. Rajavi, but for the people of Iran. We are going to take the mass murderer, Ebrahim Raisi to court.
We call on the United Nations Security Council to refer him to the International Criminal Court and try him as a criminal against humanity. And this is a must, as you always say, Mrs. Rajavi, we can, and we must. Let us call for a free Iran. Iran will be free.
Dr. Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon
Madam Rajavi, this great Free Iran summit and the huge support this resistant movement has inside and outside of Iran with over 1,000 parliamentarians of political dignitaries from all five continents throughout the world clearly shows the vast support that you have.
Today, we have seen the selection of a known perpetrator of gross human rights violations Ebrahim Raisi as the next president in Iran meanwhile the regime continues to rich uranium to 65% without any credible civilian use and refuses to cooperate with either the IAEA or the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
Any honest observer today can see that the Iranian people want a different Iran, an Iran free from the religious dictatorship. This outcry for freedom is summarized by Madame Rajavi in her ten-point plan.
Philippe Gosselin, French MP representing the Manche Department
The French parliamentarians are by your side. I give you my full support after the election of Raisi, who bears heavy responsibility for the 1988 massacre and the massacre of 2019.
The international community must react. We ask the Foreign Minister and Foreign Ministry and the international community to mobilize for a different policy toward Iran.
The people of Iran are suffering. It is important for the international community to show the way forward and support president Rajavi.
Michèle de Vaucouleurs, French MP
We are in solidarity with the cause of freedom of Iran and Mrs. Maryam Rajavi. We support the fight against terrorism. We are proud to call on our authorities to take action on Iran’s terrorist activities and its repression of its people.
The recent election in Iran has confirmed there are no moderates in Iran.
Herve Saulignac, French MP
We have the responsibility to say we condemn this regime that threatens the world. Our duty is to call on the government to stand up to its responsibility.
André Chassaigne, French MP
The regime destabilizes the Middle East. Instability in the region comes from the Iranian regime. The regime is a real threat for France, too. Its ballistic missile program and its expansionism have become a real problem. The regime is also on the decline. We can see more and more demonstrations. The regime postures as a regional power, but this is a smoke screen that hides the regime’s fragility. This is why the regime has appointed a butcher as its president.
Yannick Favennec, French MP, member of the Defense Committee of the French Parliament
On one side we have increased poverty and misery and on the other side we have those who are wasting money on military and nuclear ambitions. The money is in the hands of the mullahs. Meanwhile, we have a growing resistance movement inside Iran, the workers, the petrochemical sector workers, etc. Despite the repression, the internal resistance is growing. We know what this means. This movement is led by youth who support the MEK. Continue your fight. We support your movement.
Former advising minister in foreign affairs Alain Vivien
The election masquerade in Iran does not fool anyone. The regime is trying to divert attention from its problems. The people boycotted this election.
The regime is running out of breath due to their own mismanagement. The moment has come to support the Iranian people. The mullahs’ monarchy has maintained its hold on power through the massacre of thousands of people. But the Iranian Resistance continues to stand its ground.
It’s time to support the resistance of the Iranian people. First, we need to stop the armed interventions of the mullahs in the countries of the region. And we must stop the regime’s war-like actions in developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
The world needs a new, free, strong, and peaceful Iran. This is what the people of Iran wish for, especially the youth. Let’s support them.
Jean-François Legaret, co-president of the Committee of French Representatives for a Democratic Iran, former Mayor of Paris 1st District
The regime’s election is outrageous and an insult to democracy. We cannot qualify this regime as a democratic state. There’s no room for freedom in this regime. The new head of state oversaw repression and executions in Iran.
The mullahs’ regime is not capable of dealing with the covid pandemic. The state is ruining the Iranian society. And the new president is part and parcel of the corrupt elite. He is incapable of governing Iran.
It is important for us to share your hopes and your program, Madame Rajavi.
Jean-Pierre Muller, former mayor of Magny-en-Vexin and member of the Departmental Council of Val d’Oise
This regime does not respect human rights. Raisi was responsible for the massacre of prisoners in 1988. The Iranians are going through an economic crisis and a health crisis. The people are revolting. They organized an uprising in 2019. The regime can’t escape its fate.
We support you and are on your side. Your ten-point plan is a source of inspiration for Western
MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White, Secretary-General of the European People’s Party
Dear Mrs. Rajavi, Dear Friends of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Free Iran World Summit.
As we all know, these are difficult times for Iranians. The pandemic has wreaked havoc, and the sham presidential election, which was loudly boycotted by the Iranian people, proves once more that the regime cannot be trusted.
Even after rigging and inflating the votes, the regime could not claim a voter turnout higher than 48%. It is clear that the boycott was a huge political blow to Khamenei and his regime.
Nonetheless, Iran is entering a new era with Raisi as President. As you know, he has been involved in human rights violations for the past four decades. There is no indication why a Raisi government would not continue to perpetrate such violations within a culture of reigning impunity.
The international community must respond adequately and hold Raisi to account for his past and future actions. The European Union it self has tools at its disposal for this, and we should make use of it.
Raisi’s rise to power is a direct consequence of the international community´s appeasement towards Iran. It is another proof that, much like we have seen over the past 40 years, this regime is incapable of reforms.
The “moderate vs hardliner” paradigm, that many in the West had believed in, is debunked. In fact, the Iranian people’s protest chant on the street has lately been: “Reformer, Hardliner, the game is now over.” This is why we need a new policy toward the regime.
Experience has shown us that the fundamentalist regime in Iran cannot be trusted. This regime has lied about its nuclear program for the past 20 years, so we cannot isolate this one issue with all the other issues of the regime. It would be wrong to assume that once the JCPOA is in place, the international community can address the regime’s other threats.
The right policy should not just focus on the regime’s nuclear weapons program, but also its ballistic missile program, its sponsoring of terrorism, its regional malign influence and its human rights violations.
All these elements should be part of a coherent and comprehensive policy toward the regime. A core part of this strategy however must be our clear and public display of solidarity with the Iranian people.
The European Union and the international community should stand with the people of Iran in their quest for freedom. The world should demand from the Iranian regime to free all political prisoners and to stop torture and ill-treatment.
Human rights should be our top priority, and we should make our relations and negotiations with the regime contingent on its absolute respect for human rights.
We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran, as they demand respect for their fundamental human rights and freedoms. We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran, so they can choose their leaders freely and democratically.
Popular protests during these last years have shown that the Iranian people demonstrated their desire for fundamental change. They desire free and fair elections, freedom of speech, gender equality and no discrimination against religious minorities or different ethnicities.
All of you, the National Council of Resistance of Iran and Mrs. Maryam Rajavi are working towards this goal and deserve our support.
It is now up to us, the international community, to hear these voices, and to put them front and center in our strategy towards the regime. Thank you all, and I wish you a successful summit.
Radosław Sikorski, MEP, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Donald Tusk’s cabinet between 2007 and 2014
… is one of outrage at the recent election and the election of a man who is universally condemned as one of the systemic violators of human rights, a man condemned by Amnesty International someone who has been the regime’s enforcer, and someone who is stands accused of gross human rights violations, particularly the execution of 1000s of political prisoners in Tehran in 1988.
How can the regime even expect us to meet with [Raisi], to talk to this person? How can we conduct politics with a butcher like that? It’s not a sign of hope it’s a sign of the regime being intransigent and of defying the world and international norms.
Iran will one day build a secular democracy that respects the rule of law and human rights. Iran and the people of Iran will join the family of free and prosperous nations.
Anna Fotyga, Polish MEP
Iran’s elections are a humiliation for all of the international community. We stand with you to protect the rights of the
Dear Iranian friends, ladies and gentlemen, I’m really privileged to be part of your annual important meeting, although remotely.
I wanted to address you to convey my greetings and best wishes to your courageous leader, Maryam Rajavi, and to all of you. I hope that COVID-19 is soon over, and we are able to meet physically and share views as usual as we used to some time ago. Probably this annual meeting is a rather sad one.
I understand that announcement of results of presidential elections are a matter of disappointment to many, if not all, of you.
Unfortunately, we in the European Parliament indicating difficult history, in particular indicating the crimes perpetrated by mullahs’ regime in 1988 are not satisfied with this result either. I think it means humiliation to the whole international community.
And be sure that we are with you, that we want to raise the issue of human rights in Iran, of genuine rights of Iranian people to have their sovereign country, democratic, beneficial to all ordinary people and developing in the way enabling them to live peacefully. All the best.
Spanish MEP Francisco Javier Zarzalejos Nieto
It’s a pleasure to be with you, Mrs. Rajavi, and address all the people of Iran, who are following these Free Iran World Summit 2021 democratic alternatives on the march to victory. We are gathering in a time when someone under the most serious accusations of crimes against humanity has been installed as the next president in Iran.
It is an appalling evidence that Ebrahim Raisi based his career on promoting encouraging and holding the massive killing of 30,000 political prisoners, even Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri objected to these killings and in a secret recording released in 2016 he’s heard calling on Raisi and the fellow executioners, in my view, the biggest atrocity in the Islamic Republic for which the history will condemn us has been committed their hands and your hands, and in future, your name will go down in history as criminals.”
But Raisi publicly defended these killings as one of the proud achievements of the system. We, as a group of MPs stated in a letter right after Raisi was announced that European leaders and the European Union are faced with this hard reality. We cannot have business as usual.
We cannot close our eyes to human rights violations and oppression of women. We cannot ignore the Iranian regime of terrorism that has taken 85 million Iranian hostages. At this precise moment, we have to show our commitment to democracy and human rights and our support for the Iranian people to decide for free elections in a free and democratic Iran.
Last February, a Belgian court sentenced the regime’s terrorist diplomat Asadollah Asadi to 20 years in prison. Three of his accomplices were also sentenced to between 15 and 18 years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack against the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Threats of terrorism and abduction by the clerical regime double down on the need for a firm policy.
We have in Europe, a sanctions mechanism against the act. It’s a very important tool to hold human rights violators responsible for the crimes, such as Ebrahim Raisi, and any human rights violator in Iran accountable. We can push to put an end to impunity and use all our power to lure these from the European Parliament.
Mrs. Rajavi, I would like to tell you once again, that you can be sure of our support, that we thank you for letting us join you in this noble journey to be by your side along with the people of Iran.
And let me add that your 10-point plan is our shared vision for free Iran in the near future. Thank you.
Ahmad Fatfat, Lebanon’s Interior Minister (2006)
Iran should be free, but it is suffering from this regime just as we suffer from the Hezbollah in Lebanon. It is launching destructive wars in the Gulf. They created religious sedition and have instigated many wars, causing suffering for the people of the region.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah with the backing of the regime in Iran, is destroying our country. It is destroying the economy, exactly as it has happened in Iran. To stand in front of the mullahs’ regime, we need cooperation between our people. We must refuse the mullahs’ rule. We must promote peace and collaboration.
We must pressure Europe and the U.S. to avoid the trap of the nuclear deal. Some European countries are giving concessions to the regime even if it comes at the cost to the people of Iran and the region. We in Lebanon completely support you. The democratic resistance is a support for us. We are on the same boat
MEP Milan Zver, former Minister of Education and Sports of Slovenia
Dear Madame Rajavi, good friends, everyone who is watching the free Iran summit from Iran. As the co-chair of the Friends of a Free Iran intergroup in European Parliament, I would like to wish you all a very warm welcome. Thank you for inviting me.
Friends of a Free Iran intergroup was very active in the past years, despite the pandemic and all the restrictions. We have been closely following the situation in Iran, and have continuously addressed urgent issues of human rights abuses by the Iranian regime.
In one of our briefings, we have held a very informative and successful meeting also with Mrs. Maryam Rajavi. These kinds of meetings are very important, as they help us to raise awareness of the situation in Iran and gather vital support among the members of the European Parliament in Brussels.
Let me state clearly that I fully support the aspirations of the Iranian people who want to live in a free, stable, inclusive and democratic country. I strongly condemned arbitrary detention of protesters, tours of prisoners and mass executions by the Iranian regime.
This is simply unacceptable in a modern world. We need to do our best to stop these massive human rights violations. That is why I have continuously appealed to the commission and council to raise human rights violations as a core component of the bilateral cooperation with Iran and to impose sanctions against those responsible for human rights abuses. Ebrahim Raisi and the main perpetrators of crimes against the Iranian people need to face consequences for all crimes they have committed against humanity.
Today, I would like to renew my solidarity and profound support for your tireless efforts, Mrs. Rajavi and your 10-point plan for a free Iran. Finally, let me assure you that you have good friends at the European Parliament, and the Friends of a Free Iran intergroup will continue to support your cause.
We will be standing by you and the Iranian people until Iran is a free, peaceful, and democratic society. Thank you.
MEP Petras Austrevicius from Lithuania
The recent so-called elections in Iran really didn’t surprise us. The mullahs regime does everything in order to keep its system intact. It’s against the people’s will and against the brighter future of Iran.
We will do everything in order to support the future of Iran’s people based on their will and democratic development.
MEP Franc Bogovič from Slovenia
Greetings. It is with great pleasure that I am joined in the queue in this World Summit through this message. The Iranian resistance had said and stood by their word for 40 years that this regime is not capable of reform from within.
You have worked tirelessly to expose the regime’s crimes, and Mrs. Rajavi has said time and again that the policy of appeasement is a failed policy and the only language the regime understands is crimes.
Today, with the coming of Ebrahim Raisi, the regime’s new president, this call has been taken seriously. The United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran called on June 29, 2021, for an independent inquiry into state order executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1998, and the role played by Raisi as the heroine Deputy Prosecutor. This included his direct involvement in the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, mostly by PMOI supporters, and also the recent arrests and killing of protesters in 2019.
The Iranian people demand democratic change and the establishment of a democratic republic that rejects both Shah and mullahs dictatorships.
To their national uprising, the people of Iran have expressed these demands in their slogans. Those who invested in this regime are hoping to find moderates who cannot see the result of this simple truth. There is no moderate within the murderous dictatorships.
Therefore, knowing the merit or power, the Iranian people need to replace the mullahs’ dictatorship with democracy. The alternative exists in Mrs. Rajavi’s movment. Today, it is even more important that we unite behind and support the NCRI under the leadership of Mrs. Rajavi with her democratic platform that guarantees the rights of all citizens, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, faith or political tendency.
Be sure of my continued support for free Iran. Thank you.
MEP Raffaele Fitto, Former Italian Minister
We are saying once again that our commitment to support you. We want a democratic and secular Iran. All of Europe has shown its support but it is important to do more.
We know that Iran just wants to have any president to try and eliminate any resistance.
In Western countries we must call for a change. We must request the respect of human rights within the country. The EU and its Member States cannot turn a blind eye to the Iranian people who are suffering.
We’ve seen that the election has been boycotted. This is a clear sign that the Iranian people no longer tolerate this regime. It is important to fully support the Iranian people and the resistance movement which are fighting for a free Iran. Only this way will we be able to put an end to the regime.
We need to work together with the Iranian Resistance. We need to strengthen our relationship in support of the Iranian people.
We must condemn Iran’s terrorist attacks in Europe including the assassinations of dissidents in the Middle East and Europe.
Videos from Iranians across Iran
The conference featured videos from Iranians across Iran, expressing their support for the MEK and the NCRI. From industrial workers to teachers, bakers, athletes, farmers, retirees, and all walks of life from all of Iran’s provinces, the people expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Iranian Resistance and their hope for living in a free Iran.
Sid Ahmed Ghozali, former Prime Minister of Algeria
The NCRI is not only serving its own people, but it is serving stability and peace across the region and the world. It’s clear that standing with this resistance against the regime is our duty. Long live the MEK and the NCRI. We stand with you.
General Ashraf Rifi, former minister of justice of Lebanon
The history and culture of Iran have been destroyed by this regime. The spirit of democracy is the natural starting point to build a new Iran. But today, Iran is in the opposite direction. The regime is insulting the concept of democracy through its sham election. The new president, Ebrahim Raisi, is sanctioned by the international community for his rights abuses.
We need to stand fast behind the NCRI. The regime is trying to stop these efforts and continue to expand its interests. I salute the Iranian people who have suffered from the regime, as have the people of Lebanon and other countries of the region.
Dr. Riyadh Yassin, Yemen’s Ambassador to France
This regime is supporting the Houthi militias in our country. It is instigating terrorism and killings in the region. Today we are witnessing an increase in Iran’s meddling in our country. Our country is still suffering from the atrocities of the war started by the Iranian militias.
We are confident victory will come, inside Iran as well as the region where Iran’s militias are wreaking havoc. We will never lose hope. We are sure that there is no other path than the restoration of peace and stability.
Bassam Al-Omoush, former Jordanian Minister and former Ambassador to Iran
This regime does not give anything to the people. The people don’t have freedom or democracy. Everyone knew in advance that Raisi would become president. It is a fake democracy.
We wish to have good relations with the Iranian people, but the regime is meddling in our countries. We wish for change in Iran. This regime is a religious tyranny, wasting the people’s money on bombs and terrorism and atrocities.
Saleh Al-Qalab, former Minister of Culture and Information of Jordan
The free world stands behind you. The mullahs are against history. It is a backward and brutal movement. This regime will be overthrown inevitably.
This tyranny cannot continue to rule this great nation. It is against history. The world, especially Arab nations, need to stand with you and your people in your struggle against this regime.
Edmond Spaho, head of the Democratic Party in the Albanian Parliament
Dear Madam Rajavi, Dear Participants.
It is a pleasure for me to address this extraordinary international Conference from across the globe. I should congratulate the Iranian people and resistance for organizing such a magnificent gathering.
– Albania has always been in support of those who were suppressed by the dictatorial regimes in Iran. We express our deep concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Iran and thousands of executions, during years, including the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988.
The Iranian people and resistance have been protesting and struggling more than 40 years, in widespread uprisings of 1999, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020… According to the US State Department, more than 1,500 people were killed during November 2019 popular protests. We, condemn all these brutal atrocities and killings of innocent people.
As part of Albania’s firm policy against terrorism, our government expelled the Iranian Ambassador in Albania as well as 3 diplomats of the Iranian embassy for their engagements in terrorist plots against Mojahedin in Tirana in December 2018. The expulsion of the Iranian Ambassador and diplomats by our authorities is an important step. We send the right message that no Iranian embassies should be used for plotting terror and conducting spying activities against dissidents. We support similar actions in future if needed.
On February 4, 2021, Belgium court sentenced Iran’s diplomat in Vienna, Assadollah Assadi to the maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for his role in planning to plant a bomb at the Free Iran gathering in 2018, and his 3 accomplices were given jail terms of 15 to 18 years and stripped of their Belgian citizenship.
On 27 April 2021, the majority members of US Congress supported the Resolution Number 118 expressing “support for the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran” and condemns “violations of human rights and state-sponsored terrorism by the Iranian Government.
The Iranian people boycotted the presidential election on 18 June 2021. As Madame Rajavi stated: the installing of new president reflects the regime desperation, foreshadows the overthrow of the ruling theocracy.
Members of the Albanian Parliament from Democratic Party of Albania support National Council of Resistance of Iran, as the Legitimate Alternative to bring about peace and freedom in Iran. We support the 10-points-plan platform of Madam Maryam Rajavi, the President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, for a democratic, secular and non-nuclear Iran.
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your attention.
Elona Gjebrea, Secretary of the Albanian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee
For over 40 years, the workers have dropped the challenge of dealing with the theocratic regime in Iran. Albania has always been in support of those who were suppressed by the dictatorial regimes. We express our deep concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Iran.
As far as Albania’s foreign policy against terrorism, our government has expelled the Iranian regime ambassador in Albania, as well as three diplomats of the Iranian embassy for their engagement in the turret goes against Tehran.
In 27 April 2021, the majority of members of US Congress supported Resolution Number 118 in support for the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular and non-nuclear Republic of Iran and contests violation of human rights and state sponsored terrorism by the Iranian government. The resolution also supports a 10-point plan of Madame Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance for Free Iran.
Their resolution praised a positive and important step when the lenient government expelled multiple Iranian diplomats in response to news that the regime has also plotted terrorist activities against members of the MEK in Albania. We also support this resolution.
As Madame Rajavi stated, the installing of Raisi reflects the religion’s desperation and the overthrow of ruling theocracy. Raisi must face justice in the international tribunal.
Most of the members of the Albanian Parliament support the nationwide uprising of the Iranian people, and their just resistance for freedom and democracy.
All of us in Albania from different political parties are elated about freedom and democracy in Iran, and to support the Iranian resistance Madame Rajavi and the people of Ashraf.
Thank you very much, and I wish you all the best and with the good news and freedom in Iran.
Namik Koplikut, former Albanian MP
We have the moral obligation to support you. This regime represents evil. We will fight against the mullahs, and we will support the aspirations of the Iranian people to live in a free and secular and non-nuclear country.
Orjola Pampuri, Albanian MP
Dear participants, I’m honored to be part of this gathering. I want to congratulate the PMOI and the Iranian resistance for organizing such a large and important event to address the need for regime change and establishing democracy in Iran.
It is our personal experience in Albania that dictators are not forever. In Iran, too, we are happy to see that the wind of change for freedom is blowing.
The activities of the PMOI calling for the regime’s overthrow is gaining ground. We are halfway through 2021. It has been a year marred by pivotal changes in Iran.
We are aware that as long as there is a supreme leader and clergy jurisprudence who’s only empowered because of repression at home and advocating terrorism abroad, the world will not see a free Iran, an Iran that is respecting the rest of the world.
This regime advocating terrorism and repression is danger to the whole world. We therefore are united in the Albanian parliament to support your goal and the force to bring freedom and democracy to Iran under great leadership of Madame Rajavi. And we will not stop doing it. We want a free Iran. Thank you.
Klevis Balliu, former Albanian MP
Madame Rajavi’s alternative is an alternative based on freedom of speech, the values of democracy and human rights, which is exactly the values and the rights that the Iranian people are fighting for.
I’d like to congratulate you once again on your amazing and very inspiring work and express my support for the fight of democracy in Iran.
Prof Dr Rita Süssmuth, Speaker of the German Bundestag, former Federal Minister
The regime shies away from changes that are so urgent and indispensable for the people. But there are alternatives. Yes, there is a resistance and there is new beginning. There is courage that the great organization of President Maryam Rajavi has developed with her ten-point plan.
You should be able to live in a world where you can freely develop and shape your life, and this will only be possible if we support such an alternative.
Maryam Rajavi fights with a whole series of emancipated women. Women are not only the force of change but also the force that is building the future. Women are strong and live responsibly, and this belongs to the future of Iran.
Martin Patzelt, member of German Bundestag
We as Europeans searched in vain for moderates in Iran for years. We made two big mistakes: we set on hopes on an illusion that could never become the truth and we excluded the democratic alternative to this regime, which is the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
Nationwide boycotts of the presidential election in Iran have revealed that the regime has completely lost trust of the people. On the other hand, it shows that the resistance enjoys popular support.
Kees de Vries, Member of German Bundestag
The fact that the majority of the Iranian friends has certified the illegitimacy of this regime by abstaining from the election is important. I stand by the Iranian people on the path to freedom and democracy.
Lucio Malan, Senator and Secretary-General of the Italian Senate – Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Enough with appeasement. We must acknowledge that in Tehran there is a clerical regime whose only principle is to increase its power. The western world must stop pretending to think that Iran is a real democracy and it must acknowledge the real situation. It must recognize the resistance in Iran led by Maryam Rajavi.
Antonio Tasso, Italian MP
The theocracy has reached its final stage. Raisi is the only face of the regime, a cruel regime. Now the people has have shown that they don’t want this regime and the western world Europe and Italy must be by the side of the Iranian people and of the organized resistance.
The regime is not the solution to the problem the regime as the cause a of the problem. Iranians must see that we are with them in their fight for freedom and democracy in their country.
I ask Europe and Italy to choose human dignity, honesty, courage, rights, and freedom. We must support the right side of history.
Stefania Pezzopane, Italian MP
I have been following for a long time the situation of the Iranian people with great interest and the work of the Iranian resistance of the National Council. Once again I would like to assure you that I fully support your right cause for freedom and democracy in Iran.
We will continue to insist on the fact that the our relations with Iran must be conditioned to the improvement of the human rights. This is a priority. We should not give up our convictions and the EU must not accept to have someone like the current president as a reference point for Iran.
Kimmo Sasi, former Finnish Minister for Transport and Communications
Iran is unfortunately a dictatorship. It means soft nice talk will not help. The only way to come forward to make a change is through popular revolution.
It is now time for the European Union to act up to her expectations. It means the EU must defend human rights.
It’s very important that the EU brings all the crimes of the Iranian regime to the International Court of Law to guarantee that these people cannot escape the proceedings of the court of law.
It’s time for the European Union to cooperate with Iranian people and give all the resources to the people in Iran to use to make a better world.
Magnus Oscarsson, Swidish MP
Geir Toskedal, Norway MP
Edvard Júlíus Sólnes, Former Ministers for the Environment, Iceland
Presidential elections in Iran are only for show. The election proved clearly that any reform in the regime is impossible. The resistance has said this time and time again. Those who wanted to empower “moderates” within the regime are now faced with the reality. The regime has only contempt for western democracies.
I say to all political leaders: Do you really think you’re dealing with a democratic government in Iran? No, they are a bunch of criminals. I express my respect for the NCRI and Madam Rajavi.
Uffe Elbaek, Former Minister of Culture in Denmark
We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran. You deserve to live in a democratic republic. Iran’s election was not free and the man who became president is a criminal. I support Mrs. Rajavi and her plan for human rights and a democratic Iran.
Former Norwegian MP Lars Rise
The regime will continue to conspire whether in the field of terrorism against resistance or threats against the foreign people who support this resistance. We are committed to supporting the overthrowing of the regime by MEK and NCRI as soon as possible and we believe that this day is not far away.
The so-called president [of the regime] is in a completely wrong place. He should be in the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
I congratulate president Madame Rajavi with her efforts to bring democracy freedom and human rights to Iran.
Azzam al-Ahmad, President of Fatah faction in the Palestinian Parliament
In Palestine, we are proud of our friendship and brotherhood with the Iranian Resistance, which goes back more than half a century. We stand up against injustice and human rights violations. You have been so brave. We in Palestine are struggling, too. We are struggling to obtain our independence.
Despite the suffering that is inflicting on you and us, we will triumph through our determination and organization. Your organization draws the jealousy of your enemies. You will be able to overcome the barriers. The Iranian Resistance, led by my dear brother Massoud Rajavi, will reach victory. The mullahs’ regime will never defeat you.
No one will stop us. You are our loyal friends, and we are yours. The worldwide participation in your summit is proof of the righteousness of your cause. You and we, we fight for a right cause.
Zamaswazi Dlamini- Mandela, Advocate of women’s rights
Madame Rajavi, ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a pleasure and honor to talk to you today. In keeping with the theme, solidarity with the women of Iran in the struggle to secure basic fundamental human and gender rights.
It is important for us all to remember and draw strength, that despite the adversity we confront in our crusade to secure our inalienable human rights, we shall and will not capitulate to the torture, violence and barbarism brought upon us, just like the women everyone are experiencing and are currently being subjected to, and capturing the history of our liberation struggle against apartheid.
It is usually the faces of men that are presented as the heroes to the world. But it was often women who embraced the idea of mass campaigns, and went to jail for the protests long before amended. Alongside the comrades, women enjoyed unimaginable loss, humiliation, detention interrogation, banning orders, house arrest and murder in the struggle for dignity, equality and freedom.
Under the current dictatorship in Iran, women are unable to leave their houses without being accompanied, unable to attend school, unable to work unless permitted by their husbands and are mandated to wear hijabs whenever in public. This is despite Iranian women being at the forefront of the revolution, and a piece done by CBC Radio Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in March 2019, titled The Stolen Revolution: Iranian woman of 1979, centered on how the regime had betrayed the women of Iran.
Mere weeks of the Ayatollah Khamenei power, Iranian women marched to show their fury at the new regime, which now seem to be turning against them. The rallying cry which brought 10s of 1000s of Iranian women together onto the streets of Tehran on March 8, 1979, was we didn’t have a revolution to go backwards.
The women’s support is at the main opposition to the Mujahideen-e-Khalq who are Muslims, but we’re at the forefront of defending the rights of women to choose their own attire. Suppression of women in Iran has been institutionalized. The mullahs’ Sharia laws have been used to oppress, subjugate, humiliate, abuse, undermine, and strip the women of Iran, their dignity, just like apartheid did to the black woman of South Africa.
The genocide of some 30,000 young men and women who were killed because of their political beliefs against the system. We call upon the international community to condemn and demonize such acts against the many lives lost. They need to support everyone against this brutal regime. We must acknowledge the brave women and men who have laid their lives at risk against the system.
The National Council of resistance of Iran led by the president like Mrs. Maryam Rajavi is the Iranians’ people’s opposition to the current regime. It is a four decade old coalition of democratic forces that have persevered against the mullahs’ fascism. Mrs. Rajavi advocates a 10-point plan for the future of Iran.
This impressive plan affirms the people’s sovereignty in a problem founded on universal suffrage and tourism, support social, religious and political freedoms, seeks justice for those massacred in purpose of torture and the death penalty, ensures gender equality pursues the independence of the judiciary employs equal opportunities within a free trade market economy and provides for non-nuclear one as well as the protection of the environment.
The regime ruling Iran must be held to account by world governments and the United Nations for its heinous crimes against humanity. Now it’s time to hold Ebrahim Raisi to a conference role in the 1988 massacre of MEK supporters and other political prisoners. Now is not the time for silence and inaction.
We must forge your way forward together and find a collective way against Iran’s regime for the freedom and prosperity of this generation and the next. As my grandmother remarked, “There is no longer anything I can do. There is nothing that the government has not done to me, there isn’t any pain I haven’t known.” As the mother of the nation, she showed strength and the invisible spirit is done against a brutal, racist and oppressive system.
In conclusion, what I have tried to emphasize is if we as women want to drive meaningful change together to bring about human rights and equality, we can only achieve this if we bring about meaningful systemic, structural and prevalent societal changes, which requires a paradigm shift in our societal system and belief system. I thank you.
Aude de Thuin, Founder and President of Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society – France
We have to cry out to the world. We can’t remain silent against this regime. Women have an important role to play. In Iran, they led the 2019 protests. They are courageous. They send courageous messages. We cannot close our eyes to what is happening in Iran.
Valentina Leskaj, Vice-President of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly – Albania
This conference is a testimony of great support for the resistance and the strong commitment of the organizers and PMOI leadership.
The Iranian regime has shown that they do not change, they don’t listen to their people who protest in the streets, and they don’t listen to the international community.
In my international activities I have seen so many Iranian women who have bravely chosen to fight for human rights and justice against the dictatorship. But I strongly believe that the PMOI has given us a strong message regarding women’s rights.
This resistance has shown respect for women rights and justice when they choose to have Madame Rajavi, a woman leader in front of the mullahs.
Dominique Attias, former deputy head of chair of the Lawyers Guild of Europe
What is Europe going to do with a regime that is led by a criminal? The 1988 massacre was a crime against humanity. Europe didn’t say anything because of their economic interests. How are we going to make our people believe that we stand for human rights?
We can’t tolerate this situation. We must have an inquiry to make some clarifications about this crime. Iranians must be aware of what is happening and that their government can be condemned. This inquiry commission is very important.
Europe is playing the regime’s game. We lawyers of Europe cannot tolerate this silence. We must do something. EU must end its silence, or they will lose all their credibility.
Ranjana Kumari, Director of Centre for Social Research (India)
Mrs. Rajavi’s ten-point plan on women’s freedom inequality is tomorrow’s Iran, which I fully support. It is a plan against the 40 years of old misogynist laws that rule Iran. It includes respecting fundamental freedom and rights, equality before the law, and equal participation in political leadership.
The women of the resistance have attained an incredible ability to make sacrifices.
When you target the mullahs’ misogyny you are aiming at the heart of their ideology. This is why it is important to stand with Mrs. Rajavi and the women of Iran.
Susana Medina de Rizzo, President of International Association of Women Judges
Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, Swiss MP
The women of Iran have stood against the misogynistic regime of Iran. The Iranian resistance is a source of hope for the women of Iran. They deserve our support in restoring democracy in Iran. We will continue our campaign to rally Swiss parliamentarians to support the struggle of the people of Iran.
I call on the Swiss government and other governments of the world to end appeasement and hold the Iranian regime and its president Ebrahim Raisi to account for their crimes.
John Perry, Former Irish Gov Minister
President-Elect Madam Rajavi, people of Iran, honorable colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, our message today from the Free Iran Summit with solidarity and support for the maintenance of Iranians, who had enough of the religious dictatorship that has denied their most fundamental rights and freedoms.
Another important message is the urgent matter of justice and accountability. I joined the other speakers in support of the Iranian people’s demand for justice and call of the Irish government and the EU to use their prominent voice at the UN to demand an independent UN investigation into the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran, especially as one of the main perpetrator Raisi has a set to become president in Iran.
Just last week, we saw a new wave of forces across the country with a proper chance of death to humanity, that to the dictator in many cities, including terrain following continuous power outages in the country. This is another reminder that the regime does not have the best of its people on this agenda, but rather invests billions of dollars from the country’s wealth, nuclear program, and it is certainly destabilizing activities in the region.
By appointing Raisi as the next president, the Supreme Leader signals that the dictatorship will continue to press for the head as the same on a safer path eroding with repression, terrorism, and events in a nuclear program that has no civilian use. This shows that the regime in Iran cannot be trusted with dialogue, essentially, and the only way forward is to firm and pressure Iran to abandon its unacceptable behavior.
However, today, at this summit, we have seen and heard that there exists another alternative to the regime, a democratic alternative that sets the priorities and aspirations of the Iranian people first, a democratic alternative that wants Iran to live in peace with its neighbors, and cooperate with the outside world.
This democratic alternative is represented by the National Council of Resistance (NCRI) and stipulations in the 10-point plan of the NCRI President-Elect Madam Rajavi as this clearly demonstrated joined the Free Iran Summit. It has strong support among Iranians and international recognition, which is often repeated by the regime that the democratic opposition is finished and has no proper support.
It is now time to for the EU and European leaders, including our own leaders, indeed our all foreign minister, Minister Coveney, who is currently sits on the UN to accept this reality and admits that the best way forward is to stand with the Iranian people and the NRCI for a free and democratic Iran.
Yes, stand on the side of millions, not the mullahs. I’m delighted to be invited to this very important conference. I really am impressed with the massive array of impressive speakers, and I congratulate everybody involved.
Thank you very much indeed.
Els Van Hoof, Member of the Federal Parliament of Belgium, of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Iran is at the bottom of the global gender gap index of the World Economic Forum and has even dropped 10 places in two years time. Only 5% of Iranian parliamentarians are women. Only three out of 27 million women are employed. Iranian women’s income constitutes only 18% of that of men. women are constantly being discriminated in their daily life.
I think our government in Belgium as well as the EU should play a more active role in supporting Iranian people struggle for their rights. All relations with Iran must be conditional on improvement of human rights and women’s rights.
Mark Demesmaeker, Member of the European Parliament
Raisi, the executioner of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, is Khamenei’s last card for the regime survival.
That Ebrahim Raisi has been installed as president instead of being prosecuted for crimes against humanity is a tragic demonstration of the international community’s failure to address the structural crisis in Iran.
We support Mrs. Rajavi’s 10 point plan and call for a change in the European policy of appeasement of the regime in Tehran.
Luis Leite Ramos, Vice-President of the PPE at the European Parliament
The mullahs should be tried by an international court for all the crimes they have committed. We cannot remain silent toward Iran. It is really time to react now. We know that Raisi is a criminal and he should be tried. I don’t know how European leaders can accept this regime.
James Bezan, Canadian MP
It’s an honor to join everyone at this year’s Free Iran World Summit. I first want to offer my unwavering support and admiration for the hard work you’re all doing to create a better future for free and democratic Iran.
This has been a long, hard fight, and each time I am invited to speak here or meet with the Iranian community in Canada, I’m inspired by the tenacity and heart of the Iranian people. You are relentless in your fight, and you must be for the sake of all around. Maryam Rajavi‘s 10-point plan clearly lays out our angle of adjusting to a democratic, free, and peaceful future for all Iranians. It also reminds me how much Canada can and must do to support Maryam Rajavi and each and every one of you to achieve the Iran of the future you deserve: Iran that respects human rights, the rule of law, liberty, democracy, and individual liberty.
Over my time as a member of Parliament, one of my proudest moments was in 2017 when Senator Raynell Andreychuk and I successfully saw our bill, the justice for victims of foreign officials act, Canada’s own Sergei Magnitsky law, passed with unanimous support in both the Senate and House of Commons.
It was a monumental and emotional occasion. Parliament had taken a clear stand and gave the federal government the tools needed to combat international corruption and the abuse of human rights, in addition to naming and shaming despots, tyrants and kleptocrats. The Magnitsky law ensures Canada cannot be used as a safe haven by corrupt foreign officials and gross human violators, who have all illicitly enriched themselves for the abuse of their authority and want to take advantage of Canada’s lucrative financial and real estate markets and stable economy.
Sadly, speaking to you now, four years later, I’m deeply frustrated and disappointed to say Canada has largely allowed these powers to collect us. Well, the crimes were designed to punish for happening with alarming frequency, especially in Iran under the terrorist regime in Tehran.
Myself, my colleagues and Her Majesty’s loyal opposition have spoken in the House of Commons sent many letters to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted events on Parliament Hill, and still the Government of Canada has refused to use Magnitsky sanctions against President Raisi, Supreme Leader Khomeini, former President Rouhani, and any other Iranian officials responsible for the ongoing human rights abuses against Syrian citizens, the systemic corruption, the horrific 1988 massacre and the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752.
The liberal government’s own report on the cause of downing and passenger flight PS752, showed a disgusting and willful blindness. They refuse to blame the Iranian regime for firing the missiles that brought down the aircraft. Questions are also being raised on why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police very quickly declined to investigate the shooting down of PS752 as the largest murder of Canadians since the downing of the Air India flight 182 in 1985. In my opinion, that decision must be revisited. Terrorist atrocities committed against Canadians wherever they are in the world must be fully investigated by the proper authorities. It is simply not good enough to leave these matters in the hands of bloodthirsty terrorist regimes and take their word for what happened.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Liberal government has done in Canada. Families of the victims of flight PS752 have shared with me their deep disappointment in the Canadian government as it continues to appease the Iranian regime by refusing to lay any accountability on the Iranian theocracy, refusing to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization or take legal action at the International Court to bring to justice all who are responsible for this atrocity.
Let me be clear, the IRGC is a terrorist entity. I know that, you know that, the Parliament of Canada passed a motion to declare that in June 2018, and just last month, the Superior Court of Ontario ruled the IRGC a terrorist organization. Unfortunately, the Trudeau government has sat on its hands for over three years, and has failed to officially list the IRGC as a terrorist entity.
This combined with the video of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau glad handing and backslapping around so-called Foreign Minister shows that the current Liberal government would rather shamefully appease the oppressive and brutal regime and Tehran than seek justice for victims of terrorism.
So today, I, along with other like-minded Canadian parliamentarians, pledged to fight for all pro-democracy Iranian activists and ensure Canada does more to support you in fulfilling your aspirations for free and inclusive Iran. I can assure you that a future Conservative government, Canada, can and will do more.
Until then. I’ll continue to use my voice in Canada’s House of Commons and take every opportunity to push our government to better support all Iranians for fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. Together, we will succeed. Thank you.
Candice Bergen, Canadian MP
Freedom, democracy, gender equality, the separation of religion, and government. These are basic fundamental rights and desires of every human being, but it is the desire of those living in Iran.
Hi, everyone. I’m Candice Bergen. I’m the deputy leader of Canada’s Conservative Party. And I’m here to lend our support to the great movements for freedom in Iran.
Canada’s conservatives support your desire and the work that you’re doing. In fact, we have put forward a motion in the parliament in Canada to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity.
We also at when we were in government, shut down the embassy, the Iranian embassy, these are concrete actions to support freedom in Iran. The people of Iran have had enough of this regime. Only 10% of Iranians showed up for this so-called election, which put in power one of the most horrific and violent men that even Amnesty International has described as a butcher. I’m here to tell you that the people of Iran deserve freedom.
They deserve equality, they deserve opportunity. And that horrible regime in Iran needs to be taken down. And so, we support you. We are so happy to be part of the Free Iran Conference 2021, and we look forward to hopefully all being together in the very near future. I wish you health. I wish you success. I wish you victory. Thank you.
Eric Abetz, Australian Senator
The Australian parliamentarians stand in solidarity with all those in this online Free Iran World Summit for 2021. We, here from the Liberal Party of Australia, my name is Senator Eric Abetz, and I’m joined by my colleagues, Senators O’Sullivan and Rennick.
We know that we are among many hundreds of other elected members of Parliament’s from Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East, all calling for urgent democratic change in Iran, all here to support the people of Iran against the tyrannical destructive dictatorship.
Very little news reaches us through the mainstream media about the internal situation faced by the people of Iran, but we are informed through the consistent and reliable reports reaching as from the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
We express our big concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Iran. Under President Rouhani‘s administration, 114 Iranian women who have been executed, Iran is the number one executioner of women in the world.
The general failure so far of the international community to address the alarming human rights situation has emboldened the dictatorship to escalate the crimes, such as the conviction of the Iranian diplomat and his accomplices in Belgium in February 2021. On charges of trying to bomb the annual gathering of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Paris, demonstrated that Tehran’s foreign ministry is just as involved in terrorism is the regime’s of ministry of intelligence and security.
This is a cause of deep concern to us. We know that the prolonged wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq are driven by Iran’s own armed forces and proxy militias. It is so long overdue that this torture of the peoples of the region should end. We voice our strong concerns and urge united action by the international community to curb Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
During nationwide protests over the past few years, the Iranian people have clearly and loudly expressed the desire for genuine change and rejected the notion of moderates versus the hardliners. We wholeheartedly support the emphatic calls of the huge Iranian protest movement for a government based on free and fair elections, separation of religion and state, gender equality, non-discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, and a non-nuclear Iran. Greetings and support from democratically elected members of the Australian Parliament.
Robert Mitchell, Vice Speaker of the Australian Parliament
I want to see in Iran where there is a freedom of religion peace and friendship in the region. Iran must support the Universal Declaration of human rights. We support the Mariam rajavi 10 point plan for free and democratic Iran.
Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the EP, Chair of ISJ
Distinguished guests, this year, the annual global free Iran summit is being held under very different circumstances in the past years, particularly, because a mass murderer is about to take office as heads of state in Iran. The International Committee in Search of Justice(ISJ), of which I have the honor to be the president, has backed this summit for many years, and we are very proud of it.
I would like to express the ISJ’s gratitude to all the distinguished speakers from all over the world for their very valuable support for the Iranian people and their resistance on day one and day two of this event, and I’m sure there will be more of them tomorrow. I do not intend to repeat what our guests have said. As ISJ President, I would like to share with you our conclusion from these unique and eloquent events. And this conclusion is the following.
There remains no excuse for tolerating the evil regime of Iran anymore. Determination of the National Council of Resistance of Iran for a free Iran as we have all heard from Mrs. Rajavi‘s speech in this event leaves no note that Iranian people are resolute to change this regime.
Also, we have heard clear messages from inside Iran by those who are risking their lives to reach out to express their desire for regime change. All the valuable contributions made in this unique three-day summit indicate a strong international support for the Iranian people’s will for such change.
So, I am addressing the European leaders and the regime in pieces to say this. Let us face it. Despite all your placements, the regime has not given nor will it give you sentiment concessions. By appeasing the mullahs, you will only be distancing yourself from the Iranian people, who want to get rid of the mullahs.
And also you are discrediting Europe, discrediting the European Union, in the minds of millions of Iranians, who see the appeasement policy with a mocking look.
If our governments do not turn their back to the mullahs to face the Iranian people, they will be their absolute losers, and we will trample upon the European values for which millions of people, millions of Europeans lost their lives in the 20th century. In the end, let me inform you that the International Committee in Search of Justice has pledged more than ever before to achieve change of the European Union policy in Iran.
And in this regard, we will welcome all the dignitaries participating in the summit to join and help. Thank you very much.
Struan Stevenson, Scottish MEP(1999 – 2014)
Ebrahim Raisi, the president-elect of Iran pulling a sham election, is due to take up his office in August. According to the Tehran Times, he may make Scotland his first international destination as President. Raisi has apparently been invited to attend The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow from 31st October to 12th November of this year. The talks will bring together heads of state, climate experts, and campaigners to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.
200 world leaders and more than 30,000 delegates are expected to attend. But as we all know, Raisi is on the US sanctions list for serial human rights violations. He is a murderer and a perpetrator of genocide, who was openly boasted of his role as a member of the death commission, which oversaw the massacre of more than 30,000 political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Most of those executed, including many teenagers, and even pregnant women, were supporters of the main opposition Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK).
Raisi was until his elevation to the presidency Chief of Iran’s judiciary, where he was able to indulge his expertise as a mass executioner. He has directed the hanging of 251 people in 2019, 267 people in 2020, and scores of executions so far in 2021.
According to eyewitness survivors, Raisi often supervise the torture of men and women, and then personally attended their execution. Agnes Callamard, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, has called for Raisi to be investigated for crimes against humanity and for his involvement in murder, and forced disappearance and torture.
Now, I want to make it clear today that Raisi is not welcome in Scotland. The Scottish people do not like mass murderers. I’m calling the UK government who are hosting the summit and the Scottish Government to ban Raisi’s entry to the UK. He is a pariah president of a pariah state, and he should be treated as such.
The last mass murderer who came to Scotland was Hitler’s Deputy Rudolf Hess. He flew to Scotland in 1941 and was immediately arrested and spent the rest of his life in prison.
Raisi should take note. He will be held accountable for his crimes. There can be no impunity for mass murder and genocide.
Paulo Casaca, former MEP
Conscious that the theatrics of moderates versus conservatives is no longer able to fool people within or outside its borders. The clergy decided to bet on the one who over 40 years has shown to be its bloodiest and unscrupulous mass murderer. The message is clear.
Gone are the days of suppose reform. The regime intends to openly continue the blunder and mismanagement of the country to fuel the terrorist and expansionist apparatus, and to repress, imprison, and assassinate in order to keep the privileges of the ruling class.
The mullahs are, however, underestimating Iranian society rage against the rule. Immediately after the sham elections, workers of the Petrol industry have multiplied strikes. The population demonstrates against the lack of electricity supply.
Lawyers defied the regime rules to silence that capacity to defend citizens. The Iranian population massively ignored the sham presidential election and discussion that the regime is completely unable to reform itself, and that popular aspirations can only be achieved by a free secular and democratic regime, not guided by the mullahs fanatic plan to subvert the world, but by the will to improve its living conditions.
The Democratic world should recognize the Iranian people right to full self-determination and to choose freely and democratically its government.
This is the only way to satisfy the aspirations of the people to free the nations of the region from the terrorist as expression in which are the Islamic Revolutionary Guards(IRGC) and for the free world to gain a committed and reliable partner.
Our duty is to stop appeasing the fanatic terrorist expansionist Iranian clergy and to stand with the Iranian people.
Fawzia Nasiryar Guldarye, Afghan MP
Our people share language, religion, and pain. We have suffered from fundamentalism for years. The regime of Iran is spreading fundamentalism across the region. We the women of Afghanistan support the Iranian Resistance and Maryam Rajavi.
Tariq Mahdi Abdel Tawab, Former Chief of Staff – Egypt
The regime is preventing people from enjoying liberty and freedoms. But there is an Iranian opposition. I support you in the interest of my country and a stable region. We are fed up with fundamentalism. I salute you and wish for a better tomorrow and future in Iran and the Arab World.
Aiham Alsammarae, Iraq’s former Minister of Electricity (2003-2005)
We are fighting a common enemy: the mullahs’ regime and its proxies in Iraq. We need to overthrow this regime that is creating danger and chaos in the region. This regime created and nurtured ISIS. They destroyed our country with sectarian violence. We support the MEK and will continue to have our brotherly relations. We will not forget your support. We also support the NCRI and Madam Rajavi’s ten-point plan for the future of Iran. We stand behind you.
Sen Khadija Al-Zumi, Morocco Senator
I respect and support Maryam Rajavi. She has defied dictatorship and all challenges. She has stood for democracy. We need to cherish as the women of the world. You are a role model that women will not accept anything less than justice, dignity, liberty, and equality. Defending democracy is a great responsibility on our shoulders. We stand behind Madam Rajavi.
Mohamed Amin Chakhari, former Tunisian Minister of Industry
The Shah, with all the support he had, wasn’t able to withstand the Iranian revolution. The mullahs’ regime will not be able to last either.
Muhammed Muqbel Al-Humairi, Former MP of Yemen
This regime has scattered millions of people across the world and oppressed their rights. We celebrate this annual summit with you and are proud of your struggle. The entire world has suffered at the hands of this regime. Therefore, we announce on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Yemen that we, too, are suffering from this regime. This is why we all have to stand in solidarity to topple this cancer that has spread in this region. We ask all international organizations to support the Iranian people because they face so much injustice. They are honorable people who seek life and peace.
Hatim Elsir, Former Sudan’s minister of Trade & Transport
I speak as a voice of solidarity from Africa, from Sudan. We stand in solidarity with you in your national, legitimate struggle for freedom, democracy, and dignity. We will continue to put pressure to stop the regime from meddling in the affairs of other countries. The chaos being spread by the regime has nothing to do with the people of Iran. This is the policy of the regime. The people of Iran are paying the price of the regime’s warmongering.
Jordanian MP Ata Ebdah
The situation in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen is the result of the Iranian regime’s meddling, which is coming at the cost of the Iranian people’s lives. The people of Iran are living in poverty because of the regime’s policies. The regime is exporting fundamentalism and terrorism and wants to create an empire that it calls the Shiite Crescent.
This regime has now become very weak and fragile because of the blows they have received, and the boiling situation inside Iran and the international isolation. It is time for the international community to sever its relations with the regime. Otherwise, we will not witness peace in the region. The legitimate solution is to support the organized resistance led by Maryam Rajavi.
Ahmed Al-Jarallah, Kuwaiti journalist – Head of the Kuwaiti Press
The regime is waging war in the region in addition to repressing its own people. But the situation in iran is boiling and Khamenei can’t control it. This is why he has brought Raisi as president. Khamenei isn’t looking for any way to reconcile and establish peace. He want to continue to rule through oppression and killing and creating more wars in the region. This is why I call on everyone to stand by the great Iranian people and the Iranian Resistance. The NCRI and Madam Rajavi are the only alternative to the regime of the mullahs. They represent tolerant Islam. The Arab and Islamic world must come together and get rid of this regime that has cause mayhem in our countries.
Sabir Rustamkhanli, Azerbaijani MP
We have great dedication and love towards the Iranian people and their Resistance Movements, the MEK and brave protesters in Iran.
Delegation of Albanian people, neighbors of Ashraf 3
We support the MEK. They are our friends and excellent neighbors. The Iranian regime has committed horrendous crimes against their people in the past 40 years. We stand with the Iranian people. The people of this region have great respect for the people of Iran and the MEK. They speak the language of heart.
