For a time this past Saturday, June 13, 2015, the Parc des expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte convention center just outside of Paris became perhaps the largest Persian city not located in Iran. According to the Examiner, as many as 100,000 Iranian dissidents, and their supporters, descended upon the convention center to advocate for regime change in Iran, according to organizers of the massive rally.
Getting a proper headcount proved difficult, but hundreds of buses brought in attendees from across France. The center’s massive convention hall was filled to the brim with attendees waving Iranian flags and repeatedly chanting “we can and we must” in Farsi, voicing their desire for regime change.
Many more Iranians were gathered on the grassy areas outside of the convention hall, demonstrating their support for regime change, and enjoying Paris’s mild summer weather.
The June 13th rally was attended by a wide range of organizations and was sponsored by the French-based Foundation for the Study of the Middle East, Alliance for Public Awareness and Organization of Iranian American Communities.
The biggest players, however, were arguably the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), an Iranian opposition group in exile, and the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an umbrella group representing the MEK and other Iranian dissident organizations.
Speakers from around the world addressed the gathered Iranian diaspora. From American politicians, to former UN officials, many leading public figures voiced their support of the MEK and its on-going efforts to seek regime change in Iran.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the delegation of former American officials was arguably the most vocal in their calls for regime change. Freed from the restraint often required of public officials still in office, several former public leaders had strong words of condemnation for the current Iranian regime, and an equally strong message of support for the MEK.
Rudy Giuliani blasted the current U.S. policy towards Iran, stating:
“We have allowed this for years, hundreds of thousands of Iranians slaughtered, more being slaughtered today than before. American soldiers killed by the Quds Force. For how much longer are we going to allow this? What happened to the America that supports democracy and freedom?”
Governor Bill Richardson took a similar line of attack, arguing “this regime has tortured and repressed its people for too long a time. The regime should stop helping Hezbollah, Hamas, the regime in Syria … free political prisoners, free the American marine, the American journalist, and all political prisoners.”
Addressing the MEK, Richardson continued, “Do you know where the democratic alternative is? It is right here, it is you. It is democracy, it is the people of Iran that you represent. I’m proud to be with you, this huge crowd.”
The speaker who got the crowd up and on its feet and whipped into a frenzy, however, was not an American but instead Maryam Rajavi, the president- elect of the NCRI.
Mrs. Rajavi emphasized the need for ““freedom, democracy and equality” in Iran. The Iranian dissident leader has also built up a reputation for being among the most ardent supporters of gender equality in the Middle East. Like most of the speakers, Mrs. Rajavi called for a regime change and democracy.