Cross-party MPs and peers in the UK Parliament, together with members of the Anglo-Iranian Community, celebrated the Persian New Year, Nowruz, on March 16th.

This celebration was organized by the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) to show solidarity with the people of Iran and their resistance movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). At the reception, the MPs and peers condemned the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on the uprising that has continued since September last year and expressed support for the popular uprising across Iran. They expressed hope that the new Persian year would be the year the people of Iran realized their aspiration of a free, democratic, and secular republic.

In a video message, NCRI President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi thanked members of Parliament for their continued support of the Iranian people’s resistance and fight for freedom and democracy. She called for the blacklisting of the IRGC and the reactivation of UN resolutions to prevent the spread of terrorism and warmongering abroad and to prevent the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. She also emphasized that the people of Iran reject all forms of dictatorship, whether it be Shah’s regime or religious tyranny, and seek the Democratic Republic.

Bob Blackman MP, Co-president of the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran (ICPDI), reiterated his call for the UK government to proscribe the IRGC and refer to the UN Security Council the appalling human rights and terrorism dossier of the regime with the view of holding regime leaders to account for acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity in an international tribunal. The Co-president of the BCFIF, Professor Lord David Alton, also called for a UN delegation with human rights experts and the Special Rapporteur on Iran to visit the country and meet with detained protesters and political prisoners.

MPs and peers also called for the UK to lead efforts and actions at the international level and at the UN to shift the balance of power from the regime to the Iranian people and the true representatives of their aspirations, the NCRI. Baroness Verma and MP Anna Firth urged the UK government to recognize Mrs. Rajavi’s 10-point plan as a viable roadmap to secure and advance women’s and girls’ rights in Iran.

“The Iranian resistance wants freedom and democracy for the people of Iran. The uprising in Iran demonstrated the number of women involved in fighting for freedom and justice in Iran. We have seen the brutality of the regime, and I admire and congratulate the people of Iran for fighting this regime. The world is watching,” said the Rt Hon. Lord Dholakia.

The MPs and peers’ gathering to celebrate the Persian New Year highlights the continued support for the Iranian people’s fight for freedom and democracy. They call for the UK government to take action to hold the regime accountable for its human rights abuses and crimes against humanity and to support the Iranian people in their struggle for a free, democratic, and secular republic.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTub