Maryam Rajavi at French National assembley: Predicate economic ties with the Iranian regime on a halt in the violations of human rights

Before all else, I would like to thank you for holding this meeting in the house of democracy in France. I particularly appreciate the efforts undertaken by the Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran to defend universal values and the struggle of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy.

The situation of human rights in Iran is critical. Since the election of Hassan Rouhani, more than 700 have been executed.

On April 17, the ruling theocracy launched a barbaric, premeditated assault on political prisons in Ward 350 of Evin prison, severely beating and injuring a large number of them and preventing the hospitalization of those injured. In the face popular rage and families’ protests, the regime tried, as it does so routinely, to blame the victims. Regrettably, Western governments ignored these crimes and did not even utter a nominal word of condemnation.

With Rouhani taking office, some have tried to pretend as though change is on the way in Iran. The international community had hoped to neutralize the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program.

In dire economic straits, the regime signed the Geneva Accord in bid to secure the lifting of international sanctions. But this “Action Plan” has only postponed the regime’s acquiring of nuclear arms. Tehran has been able maintain its nuclear facilities and even increase its enrichment capabilities. In parallel, it has pursued its ballistic missile program with impunity. Supreme Leader Khamenei said in a recent meeting with the regime’s nuclear experts and functionaries that none of the nuclear installations would be dismantled.

Simultaneously, the regime continues to foment crisis in the Middle East region. With thousands of its revolutionary guards, Iraqi proxies and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Tehran is the main party to the war in Syria. It also controls the Iraqi government and directs the main terrorist groups in the region.

It is not without reason that Rouhani appointed an envoy to represent the regime at the UN, who was a hostage taker and involved in the 1993 assassination of Mohammad Hossein Naghdi, the representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Italy. Interestingly, the regime has dubbed this man, Hamid Abutalebi, as its best diplomat. It is of course telling the truth because this regime’s best diplomat could only be a hostage taker and a terrorist.

The regime attempted to show that by prolonging the talks it can overcome the crises it is facing. But the 35 percent inflation and the 30 percent unemployment have confronted the regime with a rebellious population. More than any other time, the regime has to grapple with the risk of being overthrown and with an expanding spirit of resistance.

Concomitant with the daily increase in executions, the Iranian regime has stepped up the suppression of the Mojahedin in Ashraf and Liberty through its proxy government in Iraq. On the eve of the nuclear talks the regime organized the massacre in Camp Ashraf on September 1. The daily pressures on Camp Liberty along with the medical and food blockade have increased.

On April 28, Mohammad Babaii died in Camp Liberty. He was the 19th victim of the medical siege. And there is still no word on the fate of Ashraf hostages, six women and one man, who were abducted by Iraqi forces on September 1.

Here, I want to congratulate France over the recent release of four French journalists in Syria. This reflected an exemplary solidarity and unity between the people of France and political parties.

We hope that France would take the lead in the protection of the residents of Liberty and in saving the lives of Ashraf hostages. This is necessary because the United States, the EU and the UN have forgotten their earlier calls for an independent investigation into the crimes of Maliki’s forces in Ashraf and Liberty. Their inaction concerning the protection of the residents has given free reins to the Iranian regime and the Iraqi government to perpetrate more crimes, particularly at a time when war, crisis and instability have dramatically aggravated the threats against Camp Liberty.

Regrettably, western countries are currently engaged in nuclear talks with the Iranian regime. In pursuit of economic and trade interests, they have overlooked the violations of human rights in Iran and the protection of Camp Liberty residents.

More regrettable is the fact that the Iranian regime is exploiting visits by European parliamentary and trade delegations to Iran to tell the Iranian people and political prisoners that despite the killings and suppression inside Iran, the West is standing with the mullahs. I ask parliamentarians and industrialists to reject such invitations as many others in Europe cancelled their trips and refrained from giving the mullahs carte blanche for more atrocities.

Dear Friends,

The Islamic World abounds in crises which not only impact the fate the region but in large measure the fate of Europe and the world. The religious dictatorship ruling Iran is the primary source of these crises. For this reason, adopting a decisive policy vis-à-vis this regime is not only an imperative in resolving the Iranian crisis and the region, but indispensable to international peace.

With its history and its capacity, France can play a decisive role in the adoption of such a policy on the international stage. As such, we invite the international community, in particular France, to:

1. Press the regime to accept NPT’s additional protocol and completely halt its enrichment and missile programs;

2. Predicate economic ties on a halt in the violations of human rights and an end to executions and torture. The Security Council must launch an investigation into the barbaric raid on prisoners at Evin Prison and mass executions in Iran and bring those responsible before justice.

We call on the UN, the U.S. and the EU to initiate an independent probe into the massacres at Ashraf and Liberty. These are the highest guarantees to stop these crimes. The Iraqi government must be compelled to allow the installation of protective facilities and equipment at Liberty.

We urge the speedy relocation of the residents of Liberty, especially the sick and the wounded to Europe and America. We count on the support of France’s elected representatives as regards human rights in Iran and protection of the residents of Liberty.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your great attendance here, from all tendencies and convictions, from right to left, to defend the common values and the human rights against the religious fascism, signifies your dismissal in face of the disinformation spread by the mullah’s regime

In the hope that someday, the Iranian people could honor their friends of times of hardship in an Iran liberated from the oppression of religious fundamentalism; a secular and democratic Iran.

Thank you very much.