Sunday, December 14, 2008
Press Release
Following is a translation of the text from French
1,160 French mayors and council chairmen from seven French districts call on the EU presidency to immediately implement the ruling of the European court ordering the removal of the PMOI from the list of terrorist organizations
A statement endorsed by 1,160 mayors in France, which declared solidarity with the Iranian Resistance, was unveiled at a press conference in Paris Friday. In the statement, the mayors demanded from the French government, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, to implement the EU court ruling ordering the removal of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) from the EU terror list. In addition to the mayors, the statement was also signed by 40 chairmen and deputies of councils in different districts and provinces in France.
The mayors’ signatures, the entirety of which was put together as a book, were presented to Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the Iranian Resistance’s President-elect, at the press conference.
This marks the first time that such a high number of mayors and elected district and provincial representatives from 97 French provinces and overseas territories adopt such an initiative. 135 of the mayors are also members of the French National Assembly and 31 others are members of the Senate.
Today’s conference took place through the initiative of Jean-Pierre Béquet, mayor of Auvers-sur-Oise, Maurice Boscavert, mayor of Taverny, Pierre Castagnou, mayor of 14th District of Paris, Dominique Lefebvre, mayor of Cergy, Senator Roger Madec, mayor of 19th District of Paris and Jacques Salvator, mayor of Aubervilliers.
The statement reads in part, “It is the responsibility of the EU Council under the French presidency to implement the court rulings and the desire of the elected representatives of the people of Europe, and delist the PMOI. Maintaining the PMOI on the list is tantamount to defying the court ruling and trampling upon the rule of law, and would cause serious harm to the legacy of France as the EU president.”
The initiative takes place a week after the Court of First Instance of the European Communities annulled the terrorist designation of the PMOI. In its December 4th verdict, the Court stated that the Council had violated the PMOI’s rights of defense and had deprived them of effective judicial protection. The ruling affirms that the allegations presented by France as the basis of the Council’s decision to list the PMOI had not relied on serious and credible clues or evidence. The allegations were not against the PMOI as such, but against persons alleged to be members of the organization, and so the Council could not expand those charges to encompass the PMOI. In addition, the allegations had come from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and not from a competent judicial authority.
The statement signed by mayors also pointed out that, “A realistic policy dictates that the institution of democracy in Iran and respect for peace and calm in the region, as advocated by the National Council of Resistance of Iran and its President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, must be supported. This proposal rejects both war and appeasement, and introduces a third option, which is democratic change by the Iranian people and the Iranian Resistance.”
Mrs. Rajavi thanked the French mayors and told them that through this effort, you sent a very strong message to the cities and remote villages in Iran; A message to the Iranian people, who pursue freedom and are fighting for a democratic and secular government.
Mrs. Rajavi added that the terrorist label caused the most damage to the real fight against terrorism. Fortunately, European justice did not tolerate the disregard toward democratic values. Now, the time has come for the Council to surrender to justice, and in accepting the Court’s ruling, also acknowledge the legitimacy of the PMOI. Otherwise, the Council stands to lose its own credibility and legitimacy.
Pointing to escalating protests by the students’ movement in Iran, Mrs. Rajavi concluded that this regime is bound to fall, and the era of investing on the religious fascism has come to an end. No one can prevent the coming of an inevitable change in Iran. My hope is that the French government, instead of investing on this inhumane regime, would stand with the Iranian people and their Resistance, and invest on the future of Iran and friendship with our people.
Mayors for Solidarity with the Iranian Resistance
Maurice Boscavert Jean-Pierre Bequet
Mayor of Taverny Mayor of Auvers-sur-Oise
December 12, 2008