On Wednesday October 22nd, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance entered Rome to attend a parliamentarian session in which the majority of Italian Senate joined the majority of Italian parliament to announce their declaration in support of the Iranian Resistance and the option for a democratic change in Iran.
Mrs. Rajavi was welcomed by Italian political and parliamentarian personalities, as well as Iranians residing in Italy who had gathered in the Leonardo da Vinci airport.
She attended a parliamentarian session in the Italian Senate where a number of members of Italy’s Parliament and Senate had taken part.
In the beginning of the session, which was held in the Stampa Hall of the Senate, Senator Andrea Fluttero, secretary of the environment commission of the Senate who chaired the session, said: “Our today’s gathering here is to announce a declaration signed by the majority of Italian Senators in support of the ‘Third Option’ suggested by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi for a democratic change in Iran.”
He added, “Please allow me to present Mrs. Rajavi the book of the documents signed by the majority of Italian Senators.”
Then, Mrs. Rajavi presented Senator Fluttero and the majority of Italian Senate the list of 20,000 martyrs of the PMOI which holds the names and particulars of part of 120,000 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in struggle for freedom against the religious fascism in Iran.
Part of the declaration reads:
“We the signatories of this document announce:
1.We urge the Italian government to declare its explicit opposition in the Council of Ministers of the European Union to keeping the PMOI in the terrorist list, and ask for removing the PMOI from the list. We ask the Senate presidium to discuss this issue with the government immediately.
2.The Ashraf residents are political refugees and protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention , covered by the principle of non-refoulement. They enjoy the protections provided by the International Humanitarian Law and the International Law; their judiciary security must also be guaranteed in this context. Under existing circumstances, the U.S. forces are the only competent entity to protect them. Transferring protection will violate the above mentioned principles and laws.
3.We express our support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran and its President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and the ‘third option’ suggested by her.”
In part of her speech, Mrs. Rajavi said:
“Europe must recognize this reality that the appeasement is neither a way for containment, nor an option for change of behavior of the Iranian regime; it is not either a way for keeping away from the war. The people of Iran want a regime change, but not through appeasement. Nobody wants a foreign military intervention and repeat of Iraq’s experience in Iran.
“A third option is accessible: democratic change in Iran by the people and the Iranian Resistance. This is the only way to avoid a war. The people of Iran and their organized resistance can bring about a democratic change.
“Under the pretext of terrorist label, the mullahs are conspiring against the lives of 3,500 members of the PMOI in Ashraf City.
“ Last month, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in a declaration, while underscoring the rights of Ashraf residents, reiterated that continuing their protection by the U.S. forces is essential for respecting International Humanitarian Law, International Law, the principle of non-refoulement, the Convention Against Torture, and the Fourth Geneva Convention. “
In the session, mayor of Italian city of Cuneo, where is considered as a symbol of resistance before the fascism in the World War II, presented the gold medal of resistance of Cuneo to Mrs. Rajavi. He also called ‘Cuneo’ as “the sister city of Ashraf”.
Mrs. Rajavi, reciprocally, saluted the people of Cuneo and called it the city of resistance and freedom; she also presented the medal of Ashraf City to the Mayor and people of Cuneo.
Then Lord Slynn and some Italian Senators delivered speeches:
Senator Malan, secretary of Senate Speaker: “We should ask our government and the EU to delist the PMOI from the terrorist list. Our support of the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom is not only useful but essential.”
Senator Silvana Amati, secretary of Senator Speaker: “I am honored to participate in this session where a woman who is the prominent symbol of change and advance for women. In my view, the vast and active participation of the women in this resistance movement and what Mrs. Rajavi said about the movement programs for restoring the rights of women bears an important message. “
Senator Luigi Campania, member of Senate Foreign Commission: “We should put an end on the appeasement policy and futile dialogue that only buys time for the Iranian regime; we should support the resistance of the Iranian people inside the country and abroad”.
Senator Rosanna Boldi, chairman of the European policy commission in Italian Senate: “I believe the Italian government and the EU must make their choice and stand by the side of Iranian people and the resistance that carries the banner of freedom.”
