Women’s Leadership: A Democratic Future for Iran

Maryam Rajavi: The Only Viable Alternative for Iran Is a Movement in Which Women Play a Decisive Role

Distinguished lawmakers,
On the eve of International Women’s Day, I extend my sincere congratulations to you. This day is a time to renew our commitment to the ideals of freedom and equality.
This year, International Women’s Day belongs to the courageous women and young people of Iran.
In the month of January, they rose in a major nationwide uprising. Thousands lost their lives and they paid a heavy price for freedom.
Now, with the death of Khamenei, one of this century’s most brutal criminals, the mullahs’ religious dictatorship is nearing its end.

The Force Deciding the Future

Dear friends,
In recent days, a war has erupted over the nuclear and missile programs of the mullahs’ regime.
Three decades ago, the Iranian Resistance exposed this program. It did not allow a fundamentalist and terrorist regime to surprise the world with an atomic bomb.
Today, everyone can clearly see that this dangerous program has brought nothing to Iran except the loss of national wealth, destruction, and war.
We can also see that thirty years of Western appeasement toward this regime was a serious mistake.
Now, although war is ongoing on a wide scale, the force that will decide the future is the people of Iran—the Resistance Units, the Liberation Army, and the organized uprising.
Fortunately, during the January uprising, the people once again demonstrated the great power of their will to establish a democratic republic.
In recent weeks, the Resistance Units and the Liberation Army have also demonstrated their remarkable strength in dealing significant blows to the regime in the heart of Tehran and in the most heavily protected areas in Iran.
These blows have shown that regime change by the people and their organized resistance is not an unfounded theory but a realistic strategy with concrete support on the ground.
Likewise, four days ago, the National Council of Resistance of Iran announced the formation of a provisional government to transfer sovereignty to the people and establish a democratic republic based on the Ten-Point Plan of the Iranian Resistance. This measure guarantees a peaceful transition of power and the establishment of democracy and popular sovereignty after the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime.

The Iranian People’s Resolve for Freedom

Allow me to emphasize a few points in light of the special circumstances today:
First, the death of Khamenei marks the death of religious tyranny and the end of the system of absolute religious dictatorship.
Therefore, the efforts of his remnants to designate a new supreme leader will not succeed. Such attempts cannot stand against the determination of the Iranian people to overthrow the regime.
Second, the Revolutionary Guard Corps and all institutions involved in executions, torture, espionage and internet control must be dissolved.
Third, now is the time for solidarity and unity against the remnants of religious dictatorship and against monarchic fascism that seeks to hijack the democratic revolution and the result of forty-seven years of suffering and sacrifice by the people of Iran and their brave sons and daughters.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran has presented a plan for a National Solidarity Front based on democratic and patriotic principles. This plan calls on all political forces within the front of the Iranian people who are committed to overthrowing religious tyranny and establishing a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state. It calls on them to stand united, despite their differences.
The defense of the violated rights of the Iranian people and of oppressed ethnic nationalities, including our Baluch, Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen compatriots, lies at the heart of this solidarity.
Fourth, the religious dictatorship is dying. No one can replace it with another form of dictatorship.
The people of Iran have sacrificed more than one hundred thousand of their finest sons and daughters. They did not give their lives to move from religious tyranny back to monarchical rule.
The noise made by a neo-fascist current that dreams of returning Iran to the Shah’s dictatorship will not succeed.
The struggle of the Iranian people will succeed under the guiding principle: neither Shah nor the mullahs.
Fifth, I declare to the international community that only the people of Iran have the legitimacy to determine the political future of their country.
We have always said that the destiny of Iran is written by its people, with the sacrifice of their brave sons and daughters. There is no need for foreign intervention.
We have always stated clearly that we do not seek money, nor do we seek foreign forces on Iranian soil.
In the face of religious fascism and monarchist neo-fascism, the people of Iran have created a democratic alternative through their long and painful struggle. This alternative is the longest-standing democratic and independent coalition in Iran’s history.
According to the resolutions of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, once the provisional government is established on our country’s soil, it is required to hold free and fair elections within six months to form a National Constituent and Legislative Assembly.

Prospects for Victory

Dear friends,
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I must stress that the only viable force to replace the collapsing dictatorship in Iran is a movement in which women play a decisive role.
Women’s leadership is the true measure of a democratic alternative.
There can be no passage through the current conditions and the overthrow of the regime, without the central role of women.
The one thousand heroic women in Ashraf-3 are pioneers in the struggle to overthrow the mullahs’ misogynist regime and an inspiration for women and youth in Iran in their struggle for regime change.
And on the day after this dictatorship falls, women’s leadership will guarantee democracy, gender equality, and the resolution of the critical issues in society.
This is one of the main reasons why the Iranian Resistance has succeeded in building a democratic alternative standing for so many years.
For the past four decades, women have held key leadership positions in this resistance. They also make up half of the members of the Resistance’s parliament. As a result, they have become a source of inspiration for the struggle of women and young people across Iran, Particularly through the movement’s progressive slogans: no to compulsory hijab, no to compulsory religion, and no to compulsory governance. This is a struggle whose prospects for victory are today brighter than ever before.
At this critical moment in the history of Iran and the region, supporting this democratic alternative and the struggle of the Iranian people to overthrow the regime is not only an expression of friendship and solidarity with the people of Iran, but also essential for global and regional peace and security.
Recognizing the struggle of their brave sons and daughters against the Revolutionary Guard Corps is crucial to combating terrorism.
I hope that the honorable representatives will take the necessary initiatives to this end.