Auver-sur-oise, February 26, 2008
On the eve of the International Women’s day a conference entitled ” Women, the force of change” was held at the residence of the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance in Auver-sur-oise, north of Paris, in which hundreds of prominent personalities of equality movement, parliamentarians and researchers and university professors from different countries of Europe, United States and Canada took part.
The speakers of this conference which was held on the invitation of the Women’s Commission of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), besides Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, were:
Mrs. Senator Isabelle Debre’, member of the French Senate from the ruling Party UMP, member of the Social Affairs Commission and member of the delegation of women’s equality in Senate.
Baroness Verma, Member of the British Lords’ House and the opposition’s parliamentary moderator and the spokeswoman of the British Conservative Party in children’s education, and family education.
Mrs. Edit Bauer, Member of European Parliament from Slovak, and member of EU’s Christian Democratic group, largest EU parliamentary group, and member of the EU Women’s Rights’ and gender equality Commission.
Mrs. Karin Resetarits, Member of European Parliament from Austria
Mrs. Karin Weber, Member of Germany’s Brandenburg’s provincial Parliament
Mrs. Elizabeth Sidney, Chairwoman of Women’s Federation for Equality and against Fundamentalism
Mrs. Melli Faye, Member of Canadian Parliament
Mrs. Denise Kessler, Chairwoman of Women’s section of Geneva Christian Democratic Party in Switzerland
Professor Carole Fontaine, Theology Professor at Maryland University.
Mrs. Daniel Mitterrand, head of the France Liberte’ Foundation, and former French first Lady, sent a message for the conference and emphasized: “My best wishes and solidarity to you for your efforts for a democratic and peaceful Iran, without religious rancor and human rights violation, and with a future in peace with its neighbors.”
Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice President of the European Parliament, and Mrs. Amparo Vidal-Quadras, Mrs. Anissa Boumediene, former Algerian first lady and Mrs. Nena Vanet-Sano, the famous Greek artist were among the participants in the conference of “Women, the force of change.
Mrs. Rajavi welcomed the participants and said in her speech:
“Religious fascism that misogyny and export of terrorism are its attributes has exposed the whole world and its achievements , including the equality movement, to devastation.The fundamentalism is roaring everywhere that: “Forget equality”
The appeasers, who victimize peace and democracy for the sake of supporting the mullahs, ridicule: When it is possible to have deals and trades, what is ‘equality’ good for? “
I call all my sisters and daughters all over Iran to look at the resistance of the women in Ashraf, and to overwhelm desperation, intimidation and humiliation against women that is spread by the mullahs’ regime. Look at Ashraf; vanquish misogyny, discrimination and humiliation, and rise and unite to overthrow the mullahs.
In the name of ‘equality movement’, to rescue the women of my homeland, who are being flogged brutally, hanged and stoned, and to confront the fundamentalism monster that its infelicity has destroyed the lives and fate of all people, especially the women, and for a more just world which could be realized by equality, I seek help from you and call you to fight against the appeasement policy toward the mullahs and to support the Iranian people’s resistance to overthrow the religious fascism.”
After Mrs. Rajavi’s speech, Senator Isabelle Debre’, Member of French Senate, in her speech said: The Iranian women’s problems will be solved in the path of their struggle for freedom and Justice and I desire success for the Iranian women in this path.
The next speakers were Baroness Verma, Mrs. Elizabeth Sidney, Mrs. Edit Bauer, Mrs. Karin Resetarits, Mrs. Karin Weber, Mrs. Melli Faye and Mrs. Caroline Fontaine
