Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw
By Iran Freedom staff writer on 13 February 2019
Simultaneous to Warsaw summit, the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw was held in support of democratic change in Iran and to voice the Iranian people’s quest for a secular and democratic Iran. The key members of the international community have attended the Warsaw summit whose focus is on Iran and its destabilizing role in the Middle East.
The supporters of the organized Iranian resistance, National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), led by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, urged the Warsaw summit to recognize the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the despotic autocracy regime ruling Iran and to establish a free republic.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Algerian Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali, former US Senator Robert Torricelli; Marcin Święcicki, a Polish MP and former Mayor of Warsaw, and several Polish Members of Parliament and Senators were among scheduled speakers of the rally.
In a video message, Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi addressed the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw, she said:
“You have come together today to convey to the World Summit in Warsaw the voice of the people of Iran yearning for freedom and democracy. You are the voice of Iranian protesters calling on the world to break their silence over the abuses of our nation’s rights.
The pain of our political prisoners in Khamenei’s dungeons, the sufferings of our Kurdish, Turk, Balochi and Arab compatriots, and the stifled desires and hopes of Iranian women, youths, workers, farmers, teachers and students are resonating in your cries.
Their immediate demand from the world and their lawful expectation from the Warsaw Summit is for them to recognize the right of the Iranian people’s Resistance to overthrow the mullahs’ theocratic regime to achieve freedom.”
Mrs. Rajavi declared the demands of the people of Iran and the Iranian resistance as the following:
“1. Blacklist the Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) by placing their whole entities on the terror lists of the U.S. and European Union;
2. Expel the agents of the Iranian intelligence services and the terrorist Quds Force from the U.S. and Europe;
3. Refer the dossier on violations of human rights in Iran to the UN Security Council;
4. Refer the dossier on the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran to the International Criminal Court;
5. Oust the mullahs’ illegitimate regime from the U.N. and recognize the representatives of the Iranian people’s just Resistance;
6. Evict and sweep away the forces of Iran’s ruling religious fascism from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and Afghanistan;
7. Compel the government of Iraq to compensate for the properties, equipment, arms and base camps of the PMOI/MEK and the National Liberation Army of Iran;
8. And finally, recognize the right of the Iranian people’s just Resistance to overthrow the mullahs’ theocracy, the Iranian people’s right to achieve freedom and democracy, and the Iranian people’s right to establish a popular sovereignty.”
The participants in the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw expressed their support for Mrs. Rajavi’s message, by chanting : “Democracy, freedom with Maryam Rajavi.”
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani made a speech to the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “It’s a great honor for me to be here with you to make a very important point to the government officials attending the Warsaw Summit. In order to have peace and security in the Middle East, there needs to be a change of the theocratic regime in Iran. It must end. The Iranian regime is the greatest source of dissension. I commend Maryam Rajavi for her courageous leadership in her struggle for a free and democratic Iran. The Ayatollah’s regime is the number one state sponsor of terrorism not only in the Middle East but in the whole world.
The Iranian people have the right to freedom and democracy. They have a right to be free. We will soon achieve the dream of seeing Maryam Rajavi in a free Iran. We have the answer to who will be the alternative to the regime. Maryam Rajavi has laid out a 10-point program which we should support.”
Senator Robert Torricelli, from the US, was the next speaker to the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw:
In all the world, there is no better place to meet to speak of freedom than in Warsaw, Poland,
For 70 years, the Polish people did not negotiate with their oppressors. They didn’t hope for change. They didn’t accommodate their loss of freedom. They never gave up the idea that Poland would be free. Today we come here to demand the same for the Iranian people.
Well, we congratulate those nations represented here today to discuss the future of the Middle East and Iran. We all speak to those nations that are not here. We understand your desire for accommodation and reconciliation, but there comes a time in life when reality must triumph over hope. We have tried to negotiate with Tehran. There have been negotiations with Tehran. We have hoped for for last 40 years and they have answered us with terrorism or oppression and death. The thousands of martyrs in Iran lying in their graves are a testament to the fact there is no negotiating with this regime. The regime must end now.
A government that murders its opponents, cannot be trusted to respect the nuclear agreement. A murderous regime cannot be a trustable regime.
Those nations who believe we have no other choice than to accommodate Iran, we say to them: We are the choice! The democratic alternative. The thousands and thousands of Iranians who have risked their lives in the streets of Iran, they are the choice. The NCRI is the choice, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi is the choice.”
Senator Ryszard Majer, the prominent member of the Polish Senate, addresses the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “We respect freedom and solidarity. Are those values important to you? Yes, every nation needs freedom and solidarity, freedom to decide for themselves. Also in Iran freedom for Iranian people is necessary for the entire world.
As a Pole, I understand this. For many years there was no freedom of assembly, no freedom of speech, for all of those who wished for change. Today I admire all of the efforts of Mrs. Rajavi who works for solidarity and well-being in Iran.
Those actions are very important, they are conducted in a peaceful manner. I have met with people who work with her, who are dedicated to change. Their belief in respect for life and solidarity are not just empty words. We can talk about the future, looking back, thanks to your efforts your nation will be free and democratic and also full of solidarity. A free Iran is necessary for all of us. The world needs a free Iran.”
Marcin Święcicki, a Polish MP and former Mayor of Warsaw, addresses the rally. He said: “The NCRI movement has a 10-point plan which among other things calls for abolishing the death penalty. We want to see the establishment of peace and democracy in Iran.”
Mr. Zbigniew Cichoń, a member of the Polish Senate from the PIS party, addressed the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “As Polish people, we have previously experienced a regime that had oppressed people. We have become a sovereign state.
We have a lot of very good ties with Iranians going back to WWII when you hosted our army that was leaving the Soviet oppression and going through Iran to fight the fascists. As a nation, you have a right to fight. This is a dream that will soon become true. It will become true because our dream in Poland became true.
I believe very soon Iran will become a free state, a state of rule of law, not the rule of a few individuals against the people. Long live a free Iran. Long live free happy Iranians.”
Sid Ahmed Ghozali, the former Prime Minister of Algeria, was the next speaker to the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “The MEK is the only force capable of freeing Iran. If we love peace and stability in this region, we need to eliminate the threat of Iran’s regime and in order to do that, the only option is to support the Iranian Resistance led by Ms. Maryam Rajavi. I hope and pray to God that next year we can hold this meeting in Tehran.”
Mr. Javad Dabiran, the member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NCRI, addressed the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “Forty years after the downfall of the Shah’s dictatorship, it is time for the overthrow of the mullahs. This regime has brought nothing but misery and corruption and death and killings. So, it is time they go. They have only faced one strong opposition, that of the MEK (PMOI).
Forty years ago, the slogans were freedom, democracy and independence. Today the people of Iran are repeating the same slogans.
In the past four decades, the people of Iran have risen up. We have gathered here to declare our full support for NCRI President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the People’s Mojahedin (MEK) and its “Resistance Units” inside Iran.
The terrorist plot of the Iranian regime against the biggest rally of the Iranian opposition in Paris last June should be condemned by the international community. The Iranian regime’s human rights dossier should be referred to the UN Security Council. This regime must be expelled from the UN and in return, the NCRI should be recognized as the democratic alternative to the regime by the nations of the world.”
Ms. Malieh Malek Mohammadi, as the representative of the Iranian communities in Europe, made a speech to the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “The mullahs’ regime sees no way other than resorting to terrorism against its democratic opposition as we saw in Europe and in Albania. They want to discredit the Resistance but they don’t have a chance as the world is watching and seeing the truth
It’s the era of uprisings and of the overthrow of the mullahs. This opposition, the MEK, has more than forty years of experience. Time has come for payback for the dictator in Iran. Democracy and freedom will come to Iran.”
Mr. Matin Doustmohammadi, as the representative of the Iranian youth associations in Europe, addressed the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “We had 40 years of repression. But I am proud that in these 40 years, the MEK and their supporters continued their Resistance. I salute the MEK’s “Resistance Units” inside Iran that are leading all the protests.
The regime is not paying any price for its crimes. If the Western government want to respect their own laws, they should arrest the regime’s agents and put the IRGC on the blacklist and expel the diplomat-terrorists of this regime.
We are here also to support Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for freedom and democracy.
Let’s hope that in the near future we will join hands to bring down this regime and sing the songs of freedom. “Down with Khamenei, long live Rajavi.”
On behalf of the Iranian communities in Europe, Mr. Homayoun Sim-Laqaee addresses the Iranian opposition rally in Warsaw: “The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK/PMOI) and NCRI are the only movements with a clear plan for freedom and democracy in Iran as they are reflected in Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan. This reflects the freedom and democracy that we want for the Iran of tomorrow.
The fake ‘alternatives’ to the regime that have been formed by the Iranian intelligence ministry only aim to discredit the MEK, but they will not lead anywhere.
The time has come for the downfall of the mullahs with the leadership of Mr. Massoud Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance.
We call for the IRGC and MOIS to be placed on the EU and US blacklists. This is the demand of every Iranian.
The Iranian people’s resistance has to be recognized as the alternative, and the mullahs’ regime must be thrown out of the UN.”
Following the speeches, the participants in the Iranian opposition rally began their march in the streets outside the Warsaw Summit.
