On the brink of the U.N. General Assembly’s annual session, an online international summit, entitled “Trans-Atlantic Summit on Iran Policy, Time to Hold the Iranian Regime Accountable,” was held September 18. The Summit brought together Iranians in various countries around the world from 10,000 locations. Mr. Gus Bilirakis, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, joined the Summit.
Among the personalities who addressed the summit were 30 bipartisan U.S. lawmakers from the House and the Senate. Personalities including:
Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Roy Blunt, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Bob Menendez, and dignitaries like Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, General James Jones, National Security Advisor to President Obama (2009-2010), Newt Gingrich, 50th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Joseph Lieberman, former U.S. Senator, as well as a delegation of U.K. lawmakers, and Ambassador Giulio Terzi, former Foreign Minister of Italy.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the keynote speaker of the summit
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the NCRI was the keynote speaker of the summit. She paid tribute to Navid Afkari, a rebellious national hero recently executed by the regime. Mrs. Rajavi said: “Faced with executions and massacres, the people of Iran urge the U.N. and the U.N. Security Council, in particular, to restore snapback sanctions stipulated in the six U.N. resolutions against the clerical regime in Iran.”
She continued,”Otherwise, Khamenei will continue to ravage the nation as his regime’s survival depends on murder and suppression. If Khamenei were to stop executions, he would lose control of the situation, and uprisings simmering in the depths of Iranian society would erupt and overthrow the mullahs’ religious fascism.”
At the summit, speakers demanded justice for over 30,000 MEK and other activists, political prisoners massacred in 1988. As a result they urged an end to the appeasement policy and requested those who ordered and carried out this great crime, who currently occupy high positions in the regime, to be brought to justice.
Gus Bilirakis, member of the U.S. House of Representatives joined to the summit. In his remarks, Mr. Bilirakis said, “We will continue to stand with the Iranian citizens until their goal of a free democratic society becomes a reality.”
Gus Bilirakis, member of the U.S. House of Representatives
This is Congressman Gus Bilirakis. Iran has been a destabilizing and antagonizing force in the Middle East for far too long. The Iranian regime continues to wage a campaign of terror against those who only wish for a free society. Their attacks on those advocating for democratic reform should shock all Americans and freedom-loving people around the world.
As co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, I was proud to be an original cosponsor of HR 6986, Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act. This incredible piece of bipartisan legislation authorizes the State Department and U.S.A. to respond with diplomacy and development assistance when countries use the pandemic to justify cracking down on freedom of the press, increasing unchecked surveillance, and consolidating executive power. I have spent my time in Congress fighting to defend for the basic human rights of people all over the world, and I’m proud of the work we are doing to end the persecution around the globe of those who are simply exercising their basic human rights.
We must continue to empower the oppressed and ensure that their voices are not silenced during this difficult time. The United States will always stand with those fighting for the right for free speech and democracy. We will continue to stand with the Iranian citizens until their goal of a free democratic society becomes a reality. The Iranian regime would love nothing more than to dismantle the west and the values we hold dear. As Americans, we must never let them succeed.
Thank you so very much for having me here today, and may God bless you. Appreciate it very much.
