July 9, 2016 – Paris, France
At the Free Iran rally held in France, a delegation of France’s parliament and more than 500 mayors signed a statement urging the EU to suspend business relations with the Republic of Iran until certain preconditions have been met. These would include the ending of human rights abuses and political repression. The executed document, which was signed by all the major political parties and was released days earlier, expressed support for the rally and leader of the Iranian Resistance and Maryam Rajavi’s 10 Point Plan.
The document condemns the fundamentalist ideology of the Iranian government, its use of political repression, its disrespect for international norms and its use of execution. Throughout the rally, various delegates continued to point to the record of President Rouhani’s record during his three years in office. Over documented 2,500 executions have been carried out during this time period, more than any other period in the last 25 years. Rouhani has been quoted describing executions as “the enforcement of God’s commands.”
These mullahs will be gone, as all dictators have gone, was just one part of the Arab delegates’ points of support. “Victory is always for people. Iran will conquer the mullahs and they will be victorious,” said Atef Makhalif, member of Egypt’s Parliament. Palestine and Syria were also given support by the Arab delegation. Mohammed Allahham, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that Iran was violating international law by “sending militias to border to fight in Iraq and Syria.” He blamed Iran for making the occupation of Palestine worse by their terrorist actions, by “what Iran has made of our internal affairs.” This included supporting attacks in Gaza and other actions within Palestine. “It has harmed our fight to get the freedom and make us more united as a country,” said Allahham.
Iran has been noted for its support of terrorism, including 70,000 troops to Syria. The Iranian regime is primarily responsible for the continuation of the carnage in Syria. Iran has continued to support Assad’s regime and its survival. In January 2016, they have also ransacked and set fire to the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Tehran. “He (Ali Khamenei) is trying to destroy this country and he is fighting against those who stand for freedom and independence.”
Arab delegates asked hard questions of Iran during the rally, including why the money they were spending to support terrorism were not being spent on education and food for the Iranian people to give the country a better future.
In March 2015, Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special reporter for human rights in Iran, has stated that since Rouhani took office, despite his claims of moderation, the “situation has worsened.” Makhalif noted that there are massacres occurring in the prisons throughout Iran, stating that the “torture was hundred times worse,” than before.
Arguments against giving Iran economic support were continually given throughout the rally, including Iran’s support of the unrest in the Middle East, the damage they are doing to their own people in terms of human rights, and the continued oppression of Camp Liberty residents.
The statement and rally comes as Iran continues to ramp up efforts to access the European markets. Since the lifting of the nuclear sanctions, Iran has not seen the rapid economic ascendency that they anticipated. Today, Iran still is suffering from a deep and sustained economic crisis with high rates of unemployment. Oil prices have impeded their efforts to leverage their chief export in their efforts to reintegrate into the global marketplace. There are also ongoing political barriers that are a result of democratic countries not wanting to do business with religious fundamentalists.