On November 20, 2024, the European Parliament in Brussels invited Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), as the keynote speaker for a landmark conference focused on the Iranian people’s fight for freedom and democracy.
The conference, which addressed pathways toward a free and secular Iran, featured participation from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), their staff, and members of the Iranian European community. Mrs. Rajavi outlined the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan as a roadmap for a democratic Iran and called for international support for the Iranian Resistance.
Prominent speakers included Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament; MEP Arkadiusz Mularczyk of Poland; MEP Carlo Ciccioli of Italy; MEP Isabel Benjumea of Spain; MEP Estelle Ceulemans; MEP Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the LIBE Committee; MEP Matej Tonin of Slovenia; MEP Milan Zver, Co-chair of Friends of Free Iran; MEP Petras Auštrevičius of Lithuania; MEP Rasa Juknevičienė of Lithuania; and MEP Ryszard Czarnecki of Poland.
The conference highlighted broad support for the Iranian Resistance’s goal of regime change and the European Union’s role in addressing Tehran’s human rights violations and destabilizing activities.
Key Messages from the Conference:
Maryam Rajavi’s Vision for Iran
Mrs. Rajavi presented the NCRI’s Five Key Elements for democratic change: Resistance Units, the PMOI/MEK’s legacy, the NCRI’s diverse coalition, Iranian diaspora support, and international endorsement of the Ten-Point Plan. She emphasized, “The NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan offers a vision for a secular, democratic, and non-nuclear Iran, securing human rights, gender equality, and autonomy for ethnic groups. Supporting regime change in Iran is key to global and regional peace.”
Condemnation of Appeasement Policies
She criticized decades of Western appeasement, urging the EU to adopt a firm stance against the mullahs’ regime and calling for recognition of the Iranian people’s demand for change.
European Leaders’ Support for the Iranian Resistance
MEP Petras Auštrevičius, hosting the event, highlighted the regime’s threats to Europe and global peace, emphasizing the need to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. He praised Maryam Rajavi’s leadership and the NCRI’s democratic platform, adding, “Under Madam Rajavi, the NCRI has presented a vision based on human rights, gender equality, and the rule of law.”
MEP Milan Zver affirmed the NCRI’s readiness to lead Iran toward a democratic future, stating, “The NCRI is equipped with Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan and is capable of change when the responsibility for Iran’s future is accepted.”
Calls for Decisive Action Against the Iranian Regime
MEPs emphasized the urgent need for EU policies to counteract Tehran’s destabilizing influence. Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras described the regime as a “pitiless killing machine” and condemned its escalating human rights abuses.
MEP Javier Zarzalejos warned of the regime’s regional and global threats, urging the inclusion of the IRGC on the EU’s terrorist list. He praised the Ten-Point Plan as a roadmap for a democratic Iran and highlighted the role of Iranian women in the resistance.
MEP Estelle Ceulemans, from a feminist and trade unionist background, promised to amplify the voices of Iranian women in the European Parliament. “Women like you who stand strong are leading this resistance,” she stated.
Advocacy for International Unity
MEP Matej Tonin rejected false alternatives to the regime and drew parallels between Slovenia’s fight for independence and Iran’s struggle for self-determination. “Iranian people deserve the freedom to decide their own future,” he remarked.
MEP Rasa Juknevičienė called for global solidarity against Tehran, warning of the regime’s destabilizing actions and collaboration with Russia. She urged the EU to blacklist the IRGC and declared, “Iran must be free from the control of the current regime.”
Expressions of Hope and Commitment
MEP Arkadiusz Mularczyk and former MEP Dorien Rookmaker emphasized the urgency of recognizing the Iranian Resistance and increasing political pressure on Tehran. Rookmaker commended Mrs. Rajavi’s leadership and called for the Ten-Point Plan to be implemented swiftly.
Former MEP Paulo Casaca reflected on decades of advocacy for a free Iran and expressed optimism about the regime’s imminent fall. “We have never been so close to the end of this regime,” he said.
The conference concluded with resounding commitments from European leaders to continue supporting the Iranian Resistance and advocating for freedom, democracy, and human rights in Iran.
