Conference in Paris: Ramadan, A Month of Brotherhood and Tolerance in Contrast to the Velayat-e Faqih and Fundamentalism
At a significant conference in Paris, Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), addressed a distinguished audience on the occasion of Ramadan, emphasizing the themes of religious tolerance, freedom, and resistance to fundamentalism. The gathering, held at the headquarters of the Iranian Resistance, brought together representatives from various Muslim nations, intellectuals, and advocates of democracy.
Mrs. Rajavi’s message underscored Ramadan as a symbol of unity among Muslim nations, standing in defiance of the oppressive regime of Velayat-e Faqih in Iran. She extended her greetings to Muslims worldwide and expressed solidarity with the people of Iran, Palestine, and other oppressed nations. She also reflected on the significance of Syria’s newfound freedom from dictatorship, marking a major setback for Tehran’s influence in the region.
Conference in Paris: #Ramadan, A Month of Brotherhood and Tolerance vis-à-vis the Velayat-e Faqih and Fundamentalism
No Religious Coercion, No Compulsory Religionhttps://t.co/DmAvfLvCwr pic.twitter.com/xVIXz65qgI— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) March 6, 2025
Remembering Sid Ahmed Ghozali
A central part of Rajavi’s address was dedicated to the late Sid Ahmed Ghozali, former Prime Minister of Algeria, whom she honored as a staunch advocate of democracy and an unwavering supporter of the Iranian Resistance. She highlighted his efforts in forming the Arab-Islamic Committee in Defense of Ashraf in 2009, his consistent condemnation of the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses, and his commitment to exposing the 1988 massacre of political prisoners.
Ghozali, she noted, firmly believed in the necessity of a democratic alternative to the clerical regime in Iran. He recognized the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as a grassroots movement representing the aspirations of the Iranian people. In his speeches and writings, he urged intellectuals and freedom-loving individuals across the Arab and Muslim world to support this resistance.
Rajavi also recalled Ghozali’s admiration for Massoud Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance, and his belief that only through a democratic and organized opposition could the people of Iran overthrow the clerical dictatorship and establish a free and just society.
The Decline of the Iranian Regime’s Regional Strategy
In her remarks, Rajavi pointed to significant geopolitical shifts in the region over the past year. The collapse of Syria’s dictatorship and the weakening of Tehran’s influence in Lebanon, she argued, marked a severe blow to the Iranian regime’s long-standing strategy of exporting crisis and conflict under the guise of revolutionary expansion. Amid escalating domestic unrest, economic collapse, and growing international isolation, Rajavi asserted that the regime now faced its most existential threat: an organized and democratic alternative.
She framed this alternative as a vision of democratic Islam—a stark contrast to the Iranian regime’s oppressive and extremist ideology. This interpretation of Islam, she explained, is deeply rooted in Iran’s history and culture and champions freedom, equality, and resistance against both the Shah’s dictatorship and the mullahs’ theocracy.
A Call for Religious Freedom and Separation of Religion and State
A key pillar of Rajavi’s speech was the emphasis on religious freedom and the rejection of compulsion in faith. She reiterated the core belief of the Iranian Resistance: “No religious coercion, no compulsory religion.” Citing the teachings of Islam and the Quran, she rejected the clerical regime’s efforts to impose its will on the Iranian people under the pretext of religious authority.
She also highlighted the NCRI’s long-standing commitment to the separation of religion and state. Since 1981, the NCRI has advocated for a secular, democratic Iran where no religious group holds political privilege, and the people’s vote determines governance. She pointed out that this vision, formulated decades ago, remains the most viable solution to Iran’s crisis and serves as a model for other Muslim nations seeking to break free from religious tyranny.
A Prayer for Freedom and Peace
Concluding her speech, Rajavi echoed the words of Sid Ahmed Ghozali, who had once prayed for the liberation of the Iranian people, the success of the resistance, and an end to the suffering of those oppressed by the regime. She added her own prayers, calling for an end to war and bloodshed in the region and the ultimate downfall of the Velayat-e Faqih system in Iran.
Her speech was met with widespread support, reinforcing the message that true Islam stands for peace, tolerance, and democracy—values that stand in stark contrast to the oppressive rule of Iran’s clerical establishment.
