Terence Young: “We assemble here today from all over the world as one voice to speak for the many voices silenced by the Iranian regime. Political representatives joining a great people come together in their faith to remake their homeland. To call the Iranian regime to account for its appalling human rights violations, to insist Iran cease its support for terrorism at home and abroad, to ensure peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue. We stand with the Iranian people and their quest for the rule of the law not men in their demands for democratic freedom and justice and human rights. Because the Iranian people deserve the right to define their own future.

Canada and the world have heard millions of voices from inside Iran through the global dialog on the future of Iran. It has been one year since Hassan Rouhani was the elected president of Iran with the promise of reform and we have heard that the situation is far worse. Political prisoners tortured and killed and in one case minority member Hashem Shabani tortured and executed for writing poetry. On June 16th the Canadian Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Human Rights called for the United Nations to immediately establish a permanent presence inside Camp Liberty to address the humanitarian crises and protect the residents, and to launch an independent and impartial investigation into the September 1 2013 massacre at Camp Ashraf. Without such an investigation this crime would be committed with impunity and the world is watching events in Camp Liberty for safe and secure settlement for those stranded there.
 So what is our long term hope? To see Iran bloom as a truly free and pluralistic state in education, the arts, science and commerce and every other area of endeavor. Why would the people succeed? Because faith can overcome throught power. Because poetry can be more powerful than terror. Because in 2014 even a law introduced under president Rouhani that would criminalize criticism of the state could never hide the truth about their corruption. The Iranian regime could never understand the incredible resolve filling this convention hall today. The strength of hearts and minds dedicated to freedom in the people who will never give up until democracy and human rights unleash the long constrained aspirations and talents of the Iranian people. And Iran joins the family of truly free nations to thrive in peace and prosperity.”