March 28, 2023: Honorable Judy Sgro, a Canadian MP, reaffirmed her unwavering support for the Iranian people’s quest for freedom and democracy in the House of Commons. Hon. Judy Sgro emphasized that most Iranians dream of having a secular and free Iran, and she urged all parliamentarians to continue to be their voices and pressure the regime.
In addition, she expressed solidarity with the Iranian people who reject all forms of dictatorship and desire a secular and democratic republic.
Below is the partial text of her remarks, revised and edited for clarity:
I want to share with the House I had an opportunity last year, as well as several of my colleagues from other parties, to attend a meeting with representatives of the NCRI and talked about democracy and their quest for freedom for the Iranian people.
For over 40 years, NCRI has been standing and protesting against this brutal regime and its dream. And the dream of most Iranians is to have a free and democratic, secular Iran. That’s what people want. That’s what NCRI wants. That’s what the United States wants. They recently, I believe two weeks ago, congress passed Motion 100, and it was endorsed by hundreds of congressmen and senators supporting the Ten Point Plan put forward by NCRI. But again, the goal is to have a free and democratic Iran. That’s why we all want to see an end to their brutality.
We’re so fortunate to live in this wonderful country of ours and to have the freedom that we have to come and go as we please, to say the things that need to be said, our freedom of speech, freedom of dress, all of the things that we take for granted. That’s what the Iranian people are fighting for now.
And I think it’s critically important that we, together as parliamentarians of all stripes, continue to be their voice, to continue to keep that pressure on them, so that ultimately there will be many parties to choose from, whether it’s NCRI or others that get together. It’ll be up to the Iranian people that don’t want to have a dictatorship, that wants freedom as we have.
And I have heard that word so many times. The Iranian people want what we have, that freedom of choice, freedom to vote for who you want to do.
