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. Ms. Judy Chu, 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. Also, 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.

Judy Chu, member of the U.S. House of Representatives joined to the summit. In her remarks, Ms. Chu said, “The Iranian regime must know that we oppose this violence and oppression.  That’s why I support it, and that’s why I am a co-sponsor of House Resolution 374.  This critical resolution condemns Iranian state sponsored terrorist attacks and expresses support for the people of Iran.”

Judy Chu, member of the U.S. House of Representatives

I’m Congress member Judy Chu.  I’m so sorry the coronavirus pandemic has kept us from joining together in person this year, but I’m so grateful that you found a way to still come together to support human rights in Iran, and I stand with you.

Today, we remember the thousands of political prisoners who were massacred in Iran in 1988, simply for having the courage to express their political opinions.  But even decades later, Iran refuses to acknowledge the killings or even tell the families where their loved ones are buried.  That is because many of those responsible are still in power today, and Iran’s mullahs are continuing to oppress their people in export terror.  In fact, just this month, we saw the cruelty and the inexcusable execution of Navid Afkari. 

The former Olympic wrestler was executed in secret after a sham trial.  But he’s not the only one.  While Navid’s case gained international attention, we cannot forget the thousands who remain in prison in Iran today, including over 7,000 arrested, detained, and tortured, following last year’s protests.  And even as Iran battles one of the world’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks, the mullahs have made it illegal to even share real data about the virus, making the situation worse.  It is important that the Iranian people know that we reject this assault on human rights and that we stand with the people in their fight for freedom and democracy. 

We also need to reject Iran’s support of terrorism and violence at home and abroad.  I was shocked, but not surprised to read reports this month that Iran’s leaders had planned to assassinate American’s ambassador to South Africa.  This is part of Iran’s long history of sponsoring terror attacks against U.S. citizens and officials, as well as against Iranian dissidents, including a plan to attack in Paris. 

The Iranian regime must know that we oppose this violence and oppression.  That’s why I support it, and that’s why I am a co-sponsor of House Resolution 374.  This critical resolution condemns Iranian state sponsored terrorist attacks and expresses support for the people of Iran.