NCRI
– 150 Parliamentarians called on the British government and the European Union
to have dialogue with the Iranian Resistance and its President-elect Mrs.
Maryam Rajavi, while imposing rigorous sanctions against the Iranian regime.
– 150 Parliamentarians called on the British government and the European Union
to have dialogue with the Iranian Resistance and its President-elect Mrs.
Maryam Rajavi, while imposing rigorous sanctions against the Iranian regime.
The
announcement was made in a press conference on Wednesday at the British
Parliament on the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty by the
MPs and Lords representing the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom.
announcement was made in a press conference on Wednesday at the British
Parliament on the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty by the
MPs and Lords representing the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom.
Statement
by the Parliamentary Committee follows:
by the Parliamentary Committee follows:
The
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
British
Parliamentarians urge EU action against Iran regime over rights abuses150
Parliamentarians urge EU action against Iran regime over rights abuses150
Parliamentarians
sign statement urging referral of Tehran’s human rights file to Security
Council
sign statement urging referral of Tehran’s human rights file to Security
Council
A
cross-party group of lawmakers from both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday
denounced recent systematic human rights violations by the Iranian regime and
cross-party group of lawmakers from both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday
denounced recent systematic human rights violations by the Iranian regime and
urged
the British Government and the European Union to impose comprehensive sanctions
against Tehran. The MPs and Lords put on display signed statements by more than
150 Parliamentarians condemning Tehran’s flagrant human rights abuses..
the British Government and the European Union to impose comprehensive sanctions
against Tehran. The MPs and Lords put on display signed statements by more than
150 Parliamentarians condemning Tehran’s flagrant human rights abuses..
At
a press conference in Parliament on the occasion of World Day Against the Death
Penalty, the MPs and Lords representing the British Parliamentary Committee for
Iran Freedom said that the EU’s appeasement policy with regards to the Tehran
regime had emboldened the mullahs to violate repeated UN Security Council
resolutions over their clandestine nuclear work and perpetrate waves of group
executions as part of a clampdown on political opposition in society
unprecedented in recent history.
a press conference in Parliament on the occasion of World Day Against the Death
Penalty, the MPs and Lords representing the British Parliamentary Committee for
Iran Freedom said that the EU’s appeasement policy with regards to the Tehran
regime had emboldened the mullahs to violate repeated UN Security Council
resolutions over their clandestine nuclear work and perpetrate waves of group
executions as part of a clampdown on political opposition in society
unprecedented in recent history.
Shocking
footage of police brutality and public executions in Iran which had recently
been smuggled out of Iran by supporters of the main Iranian Resistance group,
the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), were shown for the first
time at the meeting.
footage of police brutality and public executions in Iran which had recently
been smuggled out of Iran by supporters of the main Iranian Resistance group,
the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), were shown for the first
time at the meeting.
“There are 600
political prisoners under threat of execution this morning in Iran. One hundred
and fifty fellow Parliamentarians and I expect and demand from our Government
and the UK’s representatives at the UN in New York to draw attention to these
executions”, Andrew MacKinlay MP (Labour, Thurrock) told the conference. He
described the mass execution of 30,000 PMOI members and supporters by the
regime in 1988 as “genocide”.
political prisoners under threat of execution this morning in Iran. One hundred
and fifty fellow Parliamentarians and I expect and demand from our Government
and the UK’s representatives at the UN in New York to draw attention to these
executions”, Andrew MacKinlay MP (Labour, Thurrock) told the conference. He
described the mass execution of 30,000 PMOI members and supporters by the
regime in 1988 as “genocide”.
“There can be no
meaningful dialogue with the present regime in Tehran”, said Roger Gale MP
(Conservative, North Thanet), adding that the Iranian Resistance had
cross-party support in Parliament. He termed the PMOI’s proscription in the UK
as “illegal”.
meaningful dialogue with the present regime in Tehran”, said Roger Gale MP
(Conservative, North Thanet), adding that the Iranian Resistance had
cross-party support in Parliament. He termed the PMOI’s proscription in the UK
as “illegal”.
“From torture to
public executions, the Iranian regime, even by its own brutal standards, has
surpassed itself in recent months”, said Brian Binley MP (Conservative,
Northampton South). He called on the Government to support the activities of
the PMOI, saying that the group’s sole aim was the creation of a “democratic
and free Iran”.
public executions, the Iranian regime, even by its own brutal standards, has
surpassed itself in recent months”, said Brian Binley MP (Conservative,
Northampton South). He called on the Government to support the activities of
the PMOI, saying that the group’s sole aim was the creation of a “democratic
and free Iran”.
“150 MPs have signed a
statement on Iran requesting the British Government and the EU to have dialogue
with the Iranian Resistance and its President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, while
imposing rigorous sanctions against the regime”, he added.
statement on Iran requesting the British Government and the EU to have dialogue
with the Iranian Resistance and its President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, while
imposing rigorous sanctions against the regime”, he added.
Former
Conservative Home Secretary Rt. Hon. Lord Waddington GCVO DL QC told the
meeting, “There is a need for fundamental change in Iran to rid us of a regime
which is a threat to world peace. … Removing the present restrictions on the
PMOI is essential for world peace”.
Conservative Home Secretary Rt. Hon. Lord Waddington GCVO DL QC told the
meeting, “There is a need for fundamental change in Iran to rid us of a regime
which is a threat to world peace. … Removing the present restrictions on the
PMOI is essential for world peace”.
“Women, who are
suppressed in Iran, get comfort in knowing they have a magnificent champion in
Mrs. Rajavi. … Mrs. Rajavi is a real champion of the people of Iran. We should
give her all our support”, Lord Waddington said.
suppressed in Iran, get comfort in knowing they have a magnificent champion in
Mrs. Rajavi. … Mrs. Rajavi is a real champion of the people of Iran. We should
give her all our support”, Lord Waddington said.
Henry
Bellingham MP (Conservative, North West Norfolk) said, “Demonstrations by
students in Iran at a time when the regime is executing opponents shows their
courage and bravery”. He called for the PMOI’s removal from the blacklist.
Bellingham MP (Conservative, North West Norfolk) said, “Demonstrations by
students in Iran at a time when the regime is executing opponents shows their
courage and bravery”. He called for the PMOI’s removal from the blacklist.
Ms.
Mehrafrouz Peikarnegar, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National
Council of Resistance of Iran, told the meeting, “We in the NCRI believe it is
time for the UN Human Rights Council to appoint a Special Rapporteur to monitor
the systematic abuse of human rights in Iran. We also urge the EU to refer
Tehran’s human rights dossier to the Security Council for the imposition of
binding measures against the regime”.
Mehrafrouz Peikarnegar, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National
Council of Resistance of Iran, told the meeting, “We in the NCRI believe it is
time for the UN Human Rights Council to appoint a Special Rapporteur to monitor
the systematic abuse of human rights in Iran. We also urge the EU to refer
Tehran’s human rights dossier to the Security Council for the imposition of
binding measures against the regime”.
Elaborating
on the options the world community had to tackle the regime’s threats to world
peace, Ms. Peikarnegar said, “Neither appeasement of the regime, nor foreign
military intervention is the solution to the Iranian crisis. The international
community has a third option: democratic change in Iran by relying on the
Iranian people and their resistance”.
on the options the world community had to tackle the regime’s threats to world
peace, Ms. Peikarnegar said, “Neither appeasement of the regime, nor foreign
military intervention is the solution to the Iranian crisis. The international
community has a third option: democratic change in Iran by relying on the
Iranian people and their resistance”.
Blasting
the Tehran regime for oppression of women, Labour Peer Baroness Turner of
Camden said, “In Iran women’s rights are non-existent”.
the Tehran regime for oppression of women, Labour Peer Baroness Turner of
Camden said, “In Iran women’s rights are non-existent”.
“It is unacceptable
for our Government to regard the PMOI as a terrorist organisation when the real
terrorists are the religious police in Iran”, she said.
for our Government to regard the PMOI as a terrorist organisation when the real
terrorists are the religious police in Iran”, she said.
The
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Lord Dholakia, said he was “deeply
disturbed” by the footage of executions in Iran that were shown at the meeting.
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Lord Dholakia, said he was “deeply
disturbed” by the footage of executions in Iran that were shown at the meeting.
“No democratic
Government should ever appease a regime with such brutality. We should never
negotiate with a dictatorship since a dictatorship has no mandate from its
people”, he said, adding that the EU should adopt economic sanctions against
the regime.
Government should ever appease a regime with such brutality. We should never
negotiate with a dictatorship since a dictatorship has no mandate from its
people”, he said, adding that the EU should adopt economic sanctions against
the regime.
“I want to make an
appeal. There should be an international war crimes tribunal to bring to
justice those in Iran who have perpetrated such crimes.
appeal. There should be an international war crimes tribunal to bring to
justice those in Iran who have perpetrated such crimes.
“I want to associate
myself with the work that is being carried out by the Iranian Resistance”, Lord
Dholakia said, adding that he supported the effort to have the PMOI
de-proscribed in the UK.
myself with the work that is being carried out by the Iranian Resistance”, Lord
Dholakia said, adding that he supported the effort to have the PMOI
de-proscribed in the UK.
Other
panellists included Mr. David Drew MP (Labour, Stroud) and Ms. Azadeh Zabeti,
co-chair of the Committee of Anglo-Iranian Lawyers. Ms. Zabeti said,
“Constructive engagement, if it was ever considered a viable policy option, is
now a farce. This failed policy has and is costing lives. The Iranian people
are paying for the international community’s inaction with their blood”.
panellists included Mr. David Drew MP (Labour, Stroud) and Ms. Azadeh Zabeti,
co-chair of the Committee of Anglo-Iranian Lawyers. Ms. Zabeti said,
“Constructive engagement, if it was ever considered a viable policy option, is
now a farce. This failed policy has and is costing lives. The Iranian people
are paying for the international community’s inaction with their blood”.
The
speakers said that in addition to UN action on Tehran’s illegal uranium
enrichment programme, Britain and the EU must refer Tehran’s human rights
dossier to the Security Council for the imposition of comprehensive sanctions
against the regime.
speakers said that in addition to UN action on Tehran’s illegal uranium
enrichment programme, Britain and the EU must refer Tehran’s human rights
dossier to the Security Council for the imposition of comprehensive sanctions
against the regime.
The
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
10 October
2007
2007