The Passing Away of Rita Süssmuth, Former President of the German Bundestag and a Distinguished Champion of Human and Women’s Rights

With profound sorrow, I extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of my dear friend, Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth. She was a former President of the German Bundestag, an eminent advocate of human rights and women’s rights, and an unforgettable, steadfast ally of the Iranian people and their resistance. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends, and to the people and Parliament of Germany.
In contemporary German history, she was truly exceptional: a pioneering woman whose integrity, commitment, and deeply humane approach to politics inspired generations. At critical and challenging moments, she stood firmly with the people. Her name is inseparably associated with courage, compassion, and political honesty.
For the people of Iran, Dr. Süssmuth was also a familiar and cherished figure—a sincere friend and a constant supporter who, for more than two decades, courageously upheld the Iranian Resistance and the Iranian people’s right to freedom.
During the most difficult years, when members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Ashraf, Iraq, were subjected to relentless attacks and grave threats, Dr. Süssmuth stood by them with genuine commitment, playing a significant role in their protection and eventual relocation. Her memory will forever endure in the history of the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom.