Ashraf 3,Bernard Kouchner,Free Iran rally,Iran Protests,Maryam Rajavi,MEK,MEK Abania,Mujahedin-e Khalq,NCRI,PMOI,Stephen Harper,Tom Ridge
Duress, Albania 13/07/2019 – The annual Free Iran Conference for the first time at Ashraf 3, the headquarters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (Mujahedin-e Khalq, MEK or PMOI) on July 13, 2019, near Duress in Albania. Politicians from across the globe are attending this conference. Paris 1 Mayor, Mr. Legaret announced that Paris’s 1st District has officially declared Ashraf 3 as its sister city
On July 13, 2019, on the largest conference during the 5-day Free Iran rally in Ashraf 3, representatives from many European and North American countries, expressed their support for the Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK / PMOI)‘s struggle to free Iran. Excerpts from some of the speeches from prominent politicians and dignitaries from around the world follow:
Michèle Alliot-Marie
Former Foreign, Defense, Interior and Justice Minister of France
“I thank you for representing a vision, a direction that unites all Iranians and many people in the world,” said Alliot-Marie. “Iran is behind all the crises in the Middle East. Iran destabilizes the whole region. Iran finances terrorists and supports them with weapons,” said Ms. Alliot-Marie.
“When we talk about Iran we don’t talk about the Iranian people. I refer to the regime that destabilizes the region. The Iranian people aren’t like that,” she emphasized. “We should not be illusional, we have cultural and political differences, but we have values that are common, and we should fight for them,” she added.
Stephen Harper
Former Canadian Prime Minister
“The need for change in Iran is greater than ever before and the need of the work of this organization for change in Iran is also greater than ever before,” said Harper.
The former Prime Minister emphasized the importance of a firm policy toward the Iranian regime. “The only realistic policy towards Iran is firmness, and post-sanctions do what my government did in Canada: close down the regime’s embassies around the world,” he said.
“What is the argument against firmness?” asked the former Prime Minister. “They say the world has no choice. Appeasement or war. This is not true. Appeasement is accepting the war that the regime is already waging against its neighbor through proxies,” he added.
“The right response is not to surrender, but to stand with the Iranian people and against this regime,” Harper continued.
“Your ten-point plan is the future, future Iran and the world needs. Do not give up hope and do not relent in your efforts in any way,” Harper concluded.
Dr. Bernard Kouchner
Former Foreign Minister of France
Dr. Kouchner said that the world should not confuse the Iranian regime with the Iranian people and enumerated Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s Democratic Future.
“I don’t think anyone is against this policy,” he said, referring to Mrs. Rajavi’s plan. “I agree with Mr. Giuliani. We believe the people of Iran do support the [Iranian regime]. Mr. Giuliani was right. The mullahs are murderers. They are the origin of all terrorist attacks,” he said.
“We are ready to relieve this people from this awful religious system. We are not against religion. But we are against using religion to kill people,” he said. “Religion is also the liberation of the people. Madam Maryam Rajavi, you are persistent and a fantastic model for the women of the world…We are completely with you to support such a fantastic program,” he concluded.
Pandeli Majko
Former Albanian Prime Minister
The former Albanian Prime Minister became visibly emotional as he compared his country’s past of sheltering Jews with providing sanctuary to the MEK. “In World War II, German Nazis required Albania to transfer its gold to the bank in Berlin and give up a list of its Jewish citizens. The Albanian answer was short: ‘Gold yes, Jews no!’” said Majko.
“Lately in Albania, politicians have been in tough arguments with each other, but there is no debate about your stay here in Albania. You are in our hearts,” he added.
“If the Iranian regime wants to touch you, they must know that we said to the Nazi invaders, ‘Gold yes, Jews no.’ The ambassador of Iran has been kicked out of Tirana. So, don’t push us,” he warned. “‘’Gold yes, Mojahedin no!’ I hope to come soon to see you in Tehran,” he concluded.
Fatmir Mediu
Chairman of the Albanian Republican Party
“We have to think about the next steps, but all of us agree that the time for a change in Iran is long overdue. The American government has stood up for change in Iran, and we wish that Europe also stands up for liberty and freedom for the people of Iran as God-given rights,” said Mediu.
“Last year the Albanian government expelled the Iranian ambassador because they planned to attack us when we gathered with Mayor Rudy Giuliani to discuss iran,” Mediu said in reference to the terrorist plot against last year’s Free Iran Rally.
“Madam Rajavi, your ten-point plan is for sure the future of Iran. Here in Albania we have our political differences, but we are united in your cause to support you for a free Iran,” said Mediu. “We’d rather be remembered by history as people who fought with you for the freedom of the Iranian people than people who stood by and watched,” he concluded.
Judge Ted Poe
Former U.S. Congressman
Judge Poe referenced the false terrorist designation of the MEK in his speech. “It was a mistake for the U.S. to put the MEK on the terrorist list in the first place. But at the end, a federal judge ordered the State Department to delist the MEK,” he said. “How ironic is this that the MEK is not on the terrorist list now but the IRGC and the Iranian government is on the U.S. terrorist list,” he added.
“There is nothing more powerful than a woman who has made up her mind. And that woman is Madame Rajavi and she has made up her mind for freedom for all of you,” Poe said.
“Yesterday, Governor Tom Ridge said that we are all given certain rights by God. There is a right mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. Governments are instituted among people to secure their God given rights. And if governments don’t do that, the people have the right to abolish that government, like the mullahs in Iran,” Poe continued.
“Don’t fear the mullahs,” urged Poe. “Don’t let them deprive you of sleep at night. It is important that the mullahs fear you and you keep them awake at night. You speak for the voices that have been silenced by the murders that have taken place against them. They cry out for justice. Justice demands that the people of Iran rule their own country. The illegitimate regime of the mullahs is through.”
“When you have a snake, you must cut off the head of the snake… I’m here to tell you that the lion with the sword [the emblem of the Persian flag] will cut off the head of the serpent in Tehran,” he emphasized.
“Somethings are worth living and dying for and I don’t see anything more worth to live and if necessary die for, than the cause of freedom in Iran,” Poe concluded.
Dana Rohrabacher
Former U.S. Congressman
“The most powerful force in the world are those people who believe in freedom and are ready to sacrifice their lives for freedom. I’m saying this to the dictators in Tehran: Your days are numbered and the people here will carry the cause of freedom to Tehran,” Rohrabacher said.
“You are the most powerful force on the planet,” Rohrabacher said to the MEK members at the conference. “You will prevail. As long as we have courageous people like you we don’t need to send American boots to the region.”
“I know you will win and I will be with you when we go to Tehran and declare free elections,” he added.
Lance Goodan
U.S. Congressman
“The first thing I learned about Iran is that the most respected individual among the Iranian community is Madame Maryam Rajavi,” said Goodan.
“I encourage the young people across Iran to get together to fight and spread the message. Young people are the future of Iran,” he concluded.
Matthew Offord
British MP
“I am proud to be part of a successful cross party effort to secure your resettlement here in Albania,” said Offord. “Your movement with Madame Maryam Rajavi is at the forefront of the cause of freedom of Iran and you are a beacon of hope.”.
“My colleagues and I urge our government to increase the number of people on its sanctions list for human rights violations in Iran. We urge our government to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist group, and we support the US sanctions on the regime’s Supreme Leader and urge the government to expand this to other regime officials,” Offord stated.
“I support Madame Rajavi’s ten-point plan that provides a clear alternative to the current Iranian regime,” Offord affirmed. “I call upon the UK government to recognize Madame Rajavi’s ten-point plan,” Offord added.
Baroness Sandip Verma
U.K. House of Lords
“There is no one stronger than a woman fighting for her children and land. Brave women in Iran are challenging the regime in every possible way. Many have been imprisoned and tortured in Iran. The prominence of women in the resistance is reflective of the role of women in Iran. It is time for the world to stand up and support the work of the NCRI,” said Baroness Verma.
“The regime in Iran considers women activists as enemies of the state,” continued Verma. “My sister, Maryam Rajavi, a Muslim woman, makes the Resistance a unique example in the Middle East. We hope to celebrate Madame Rajavi’s success, your success, our success in Iran soon,” she concluded.
Bob Blackman
British MP
“I welcome the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the U.S. decision to sanction the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader,” said Blackman.
“I hope that the UK will join our American allies in this effort soon,” he added. “The mullahs only understand the language of firmness. The international community must make it clear that we in the free world stand with the Iranian people and their resistance, NCRI, to bring democracy and freedom in Iran.”
Tom Ridge
Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary and Governor
“You can imprison a man or a woman but you can’t kill an idea. You can exile a man or a woman but you can’t kill an idea,” said Secretary Ridge.
“I say to each one of you: we pay tribute to your relentless pursuit for justice and freedom in your homeland which has a rich history of culture and has contributed much to the rest of the world,” Ridge said to the MEK members in attendance.
“You fight for all who cherish freedom and democracy around the world,” he added.
“There are probably millions in the world whose prayers are with you in your cause. Sometimes in your lives you have to pursue causes bigger than yourself. 120,000 men and women of the MEK have died embracing a cause bigger than themselves. You are embracing a cause bigger than yourself, and you will prevail,” Ridge emphasized.
“Your courage and sacrifice will be responsible for the freedom and democracy of generations; the same privileges that we take for granted in our countries,” he concluded.
Sid Ahmed Ghozali
Former Algerian Prime Minister
Former Prime Minister praised the Albanian government for their support of the MEK. “Albanians have shown that they are not big for their size but for the size of the ideas that they defend. When you defend democracy and freedom you become great people,” he said.
“The Ashrafis have shown that the Iranian Resistance will survive under pressure,” said Ghozali. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is a cruel and bloody religious dictatorship which wants to dominate the Arab-Islamic world,” he concluded.
Louis Freeh
Former FBI Director
“We will see amazing change and we will see it quickly. We have to get ready for is the prosecution and conviction of the thousands of criminals who have murdered, assassinated and killed, not by accident, but by a designed plan to mass murder a group of people,” stressed former Director Freeh.
“I see your museum here in Ashraf 3 as an evidence room that has photographs and digital records of the Iranian regime’s crimes. All the evidence that exists and that can’t be erased,” said Freeh.
“Apply your skills and start preparing for criminal prosecutions by an international criminal court. What will terrify terrorists more than anything is the prospect that they will be arrested and prosecuted under the rule of law,” advised the former FBI Director.
“I think of Ashraf 3 as temporary quarters. It’s Ashraf 4 that we would want to visit – that’s in Iran,” he concluded.
Staff writer
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