MEP Milan Zver, former Minister of Education and Sports of Slovenia, addressed at the 2nd Day of The Free Iran World Summit on July 11, 2021.
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.
