On September 12, a special gathering took place in the UK Parliament, bringing together members of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and representatives from the Iranian Resistance.
The aim was to commemorate the first anniversary of the 2022 uprising in Iran and to express continued support for the Iranian people’s ongoing pursuit of freedom and democracy. A clear message was also sent to the UK government, urging them to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Iranian opposition President-elect Maryam Rajavi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), addressed the assembly. She expressed gratitude for the support of 525 members from both Houses of the UK Parliament. Mrs. Rajavi highlighted an international gesture of solidarity, revealing, “Some 1,000 prominent women from around the world…have issued a statement supporting the vanguard role of women in the Iranian Resistance.”
Mrs. Rajavi was candid about the current state of the regime in Iran, dismissing claims of its stability. She highlighted the deepening economic, social, and political crises. She said, “The escalation of executions, mass arrests, and intensified suppression indicate the regime’s weakness and fear of another uprising.”
Mrs. Rajavi also called for a change in the Western approach towards Iran. Drawing a parallel with the Shah’s regime, she warned of the fragility of the current Iranian government and criticized policies of appeasement.
Message to the Conference at the UK Parliament: “One Year into #Iran's Popular Uprising”#IranRevolutionhttps://t.co/H3DRnNuRuhhttps://t.co/LLlCsxP02p
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) September 12, 2023
MP Theresa Villiers, UK Secretary of State for Environment and Northern Ireland (2020), echoed Mrs. Rajavi’s sentiments, emphasizing the IRGC’s responsibility for human rights abuses in Iran. She called for the IRGC to be proscribed.
Baroness Sandip Verma, the former Minister of Energy, Climate Change, and International Development, lamented the human rights abuses in Iran. She highlighted the Ten-Point Plan led by Madam Rajavi as a way forward for a democratic Iran.
Baroness Nuala O’Loan expressed deep concern for the safety of young Iranians taking to the streets, expressing admiration for their bravery. She emphasized the human rights violations in Iran, particularly the executions, and stressed the importance of the UK’s role in supporting the Iranian people’s pursuit of freedom.
On the anniversary of the brutal death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Iranian regime, I had the honour to speak to members of the Iranian resistance movement. Whose courage and determination is a signpost for all those who seek freedom, democracy and justice. pic.twitter.com/7itgByZXPF
— Dr Liam Fox MP (@LiamFox) September 12, 2023
MP Toby Perkins, Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, hailed the bravery of the Iranian people. He emphasized the importance of proscribing the IRGC as a terrorist organization for the peace of the Middle East.
Lord Indarjit Singh touched upon the regime’s long history of human rights abuses, emphasizing the significant number of Iranians who have been executed by the regime.Naghmeh Rajabi, representing the Anglo-Iranian community, emphasized the sacrifices made by Iranians and their demand for a democratic Republic.
Baroness Liz Redfern, MP Martyn Day, former UK Defense Secretary MP Liam Fox, and MP Anna Firth also echoed similar sentiments, calling for tougher actions against the IRGC and supporting the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan.
Baroness Nuala O’Loan also said, “I have some experience of violent scenes because I come from Northern Ireland. I have been bombed, I have experienced the kinds of things that we’ve watched here, but nothing, nothing on the scale of what is happening in Iran today.
The event was a potent reminder of the sacrifices made by the Iranian people and served as a call to action for the international community to recognize and act against the oppressive regime.
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 – YouTu