Iranian Opposition Leader: Western Countries Should Make Their Relations With Tehran Conditioned on Guaranteeing Human Rights

PARIS, April 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

On Saturday, the leader of the Iranian opposition called on Western countries to predicate their relations with the regime on the resolution of the human rights issue in Iran, especially abolishing executions, ending torture and suppression and accepting respect for the freedom of speech.

Maryam Rajavi was the Keynote speaker of the first international gathering of Iranian youth associations, which was held in Paris.

The President-elect of the Iranian Resistance called upon the West to "stop the policy of appeasement and offering concessions to the regime" and addressing them directly said, "Do not close your eyes on the regime's crimes against Iranian people, and do not look the other way regarding the role of this regime in the genocide in Syria, the deadly invasion of Iraq, and meddling in the affairs of other countries in the region."

While citing the regime's frantic reaction to the recent resolution by the European Parliament regarding human rights abuses in Iran, Rajavi underscored that Tehran's "profound fear of issue of human rights has a reason. The slightest fissure in this regard, would pave the way for massive uprisings and break the spell of repression."

The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning human rights abuses in Iran. It declared that the June 2013 Presidential election, which resulted in Hassan Rouhani's ascension to President, was a far cry from the democratic standard known to the free world.

Representatives of some 50 Iranian youth associations took part in the gathering on Saturday.

The representatives of Iranian youth associations underscored the points accentuated by Mrs. Rajavi at the European Parliament last week, "Human rights is the Achilles heel of this regime."

The young Iranian activists stipulated: "Ten months into the farce presidential election of the clerical regime, Rouhani has demonstrated that he is part and parcel of the religious fascism rule with no mission but to preserve this regime. The number of executions during this period has exceeded 700 and the execution of those minor at time of arrest has spiked. The institutionalized discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities has deepened and broadened. The censorship and restrictions on the Internet has ratcheted up and more than ever the youth are deprived of the ability to freely exchange information and exercise their freedom of expression."

According to final resolution of the gathering "due to sanctions and various crisis engulfing the regime, it was compelled to retreat one step, but it is waiting to implement its vicious projects as soon as it finds an opportunity. The only option is to require the acceptance of the Additional Protocol and implement UN Security Council resolutions."

The representatives of Iranian youth associations reiterated: " the only way to put an end to the current crisis facing Iran is via regime change. We declare our support for the 10 point plan of Mrs. Rajavi."

In addition to representatives of Iranian youth associations, and representatives of youth associations from France and Norway, a number of American dignitaries, including Rudy Giuliani (Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001), Governor Howard Dean (Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009), Judge Michael Mukasey (the 81st Attorney General of the United States), Judge Louis Freeh (Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1993 to 2001), Professor Alan Dershowitz (America's most renowned civil liberties lawyer and one of the most distinguished defenders of individual rights), and Senator Robert Torricelli (senator from New Jersey from 1997 to 2003) were among the speakers at the event.

The event marked the third anniversary of a massacre of residents of Camp Ashraf, home to Iranian dissidents for a quarter century in Iraq on April 8, 2011. Iraqi armed forces stormed the camp at the behest of Iran, and murdered 36 defenseless residents, wounding hundreds.

Rajavi referred to the multiple massacres at Ashraf and repeated attacks to Camp Liberty, the new place of residence of Iranian dissidents in Iraq saying: "We demand that the UN Secretary General unequivocally and steadfastly put an end to any collaboration and ignoring the crimes against humanity and to establish an independent investigation on mass-executions and hostage takings in Ashraf. These steps are necessary to prevent future crimes against humanity and for preserving the credibility and honor of the UN."

She also reprimanded the U.N. for its "abhorrent lack of action", along with that of the US regarding repeated missile attacks on residents of Camp Liberty. President Rajavi urged both the U.N. and U.S. to compel the Government of Iraq to carry out its commitments to provide safety and security to the residents. These protections include installing protective T-walls, and revoking the anti-human medical treatment imposed on the Camp's residents. Rajavi underlined the plight of those still held prisoner saying: "We demand the release of residents of Ashraf who were taken as hostage, and transfer of all residents of Camp Liberty, in particular the wounded or sick residents to Europe and the US."

The resolution of the gathering while referring to the destructive impact of warmongering and the export of terrorism in the Middle East stressed: "This regime ought to be banished from the international community and the seat of Iran at the United Nations should be given to the Iranian Resistance, which is the democratic alternative to this inhumane regime. It is the duty of the international community to stand with the Iranian people and their legitimate demand to topple this regime, rather than to be silent and complacent as it carries out its medieval actions.