Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin Supported Free Iran Convention In Paris

   

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin supported free Iran convention in Paris

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland Democrat

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all attending this year’s free Iran convention held in Paris. The well-being of the Iranian people is a critical issue to me, and that is why I am pleased that this event exists to spread awareness and build support for change in Iran.

In the decades since the revolution of 1979, millions of Iranians have struggled under the weight of an oppressive and hard-line regime. While I am proud that the United States and many others have continuously stood up for the freedom of the Iranian people, I know that there is still much we can do to demand change. Advocates such as you make it clear to all that the Iranian people have had enough and are eager for reform.

It is tragic that the people of your homeland have had to endure numerous abuses of fundamental human rights and freedoms in recent decades. Thanks to efforts such as yours, the challenges facing Iranians have been brought to international attention. I commend each of you for all you have done to strengthen ties among the regime’s opposition and for all you have done to fight for a government that represents the interests of its people. Please know that I will always remain a friend of the Iranian people and be their champion in the U.S. Senate.

• Sen. Cardin is the Ranking Member on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues.

Speech by Robert Torricelli at Free Iran : The Alternative Gathering 2018 Villepinte , Paris

Speech by Bill Richardson at Free Iran: The Alternative Gathering 2018 Villepinte , Paris

Protests in Shapour, Isfahan, Central Iran

Protests in Shapour, Isfahan, Central Iran, Continue Over Corruption and Dire Economy

By Staff Writer

On Wednesday, for the second consecutive day, the people of Isfahan rallied against the Iranian regime’s corruption and the declining economic situation.

Clashes continue between protesters and state security forces, as seen in videos from Shapour. A unit of security forces attempted to attack protesters, but retreated when they resisted. Instead, tear gas was fired at the protesters.

President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, hailed the people of Isfahan for their resistance and said they are “heralding liberation of their land occupied by the mullahs’ religious tyranny.”

Maryam Rajavi

✔@Maryam_Rajavi

Today, the world can see that the voice of Iranians cannot be silenced despite massive repression, and their uprisings are carrying on until victory. These are the blazing flames of a resistance with over 100,000 martyrs, flaring up in the streets after forty years.#Iran

9:51 PM - Jul 31, 2018

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Hail to the courageous people of #Isfahan and their fearless revolt against the mullahs' oppression. In Shapour-e Jadid, valiant youths counter tear gas and repressive forces’ savagery, heralding liberation of their land occupied by the mullahs’ religious tyranny.#Iran

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) August 1, 2018

According to the videos coming out of Isfahan, the protesters are chanting, “Khamenei, shame on you. Let go of your rule” — a direct challenge the highest authority in the Iranian regime, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Protesters have set fire to tires to counteract the effects of tear gas fired by security forces. Rocks and bricks litter the streets where protesters clashed with security forces. According to local reports, anti-riot police are afraid to engage in clashes with protestors and have even retreated from the angry demonstrators.

One of the popular chants is, “They’re lying that it’s the U.S.” in reference to the regime’s media propaganda that blames the country’s economic problems on foreign powers. The protesters of Isfahan are also calling for solidarity and resistance against the regime, chanting, “Don’t be afraid. We’re all together.” And this seems apparent, as the number of protesters has reached in thousands.

A large group of people gathered in the city’s Amir Kabir industrial district — renamed to Shapur — to protest against the increased cost of living, the continuous power outages, and the corrupt policies of the Iranian regime.

Merchants and retailers have closed their shops and gone on strike. Shop owners held banners in protest to high prices and their economic difficulties.

The people are chanting slogans that reflect the current economic woes, such as, “Death to high prices. Death to unemployment. Iranians, Shapuris, support the protesters. Corrupt authorities must resign.” Slogans like, “Death to the dictator. Reformists, principlists, the game is over,” target the regime in its entirety. The protesters also call the regime’s promises “hollow lies”.

While a large contingent of its suppressive forces have been dispatched to control the situation, the protesters continue to confront the security forces, and carry on with their protests.
Many cities, including Isfahan, have seen continuous unrest since nationwide protests that spread across the country in late December, early January.

Recently, the farmers of Isfahan have also been protesting against lack of access to water and the regime’s corrupt and incompetent management of the country’s resources.

#FreeIran2018 #IStandWithMaryamRajavi #IranRegimeChange #Iran #MEK Free Iran:Excerpts from Speeches of John Baird and Rudy Giuliani in the ...

#IStandWithMaryamRajavi #Iran #MEK #IranRegimeChange #FreeIran2018 Speech by Frances Townsend at Free Iran: The Alternative Gathering 2018 ...

MEK ENJOYS WIDE SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF IRAN

MEK ENJOYS WIDE SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF IRAN

by Mahmood Hakamian 

The Iranian Regime would have you believe that the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) are highly unpopular both inside and outside of Iran, but nothing could be further from the truth.

We have dedicated several articles to the intense popularity of the MEK inside Iran and amongst the Iranian diaspora, which you can see for yourselves by looking at the ongoing Iranian uprising (organised by the MEK to incite regime change in Iran) and MEK TV (run by the MEK to provide news and information about the true nature of the Regime), so in this piece we will look at the evidence for wide support for the MEK outside of Iran.

There is an incredible amount of evidence that the MEK enjoys wide support amongst the international community, from activists to heads of state to everyone in between.

We can see this in small ways, through MEK supporters using the hashtag #IStandWithMaryamRajavi (the leader of the MEK) on social media, and in big ways, like highly-ranked foreign dignitaries making speeches in support of the MEK and advocating for their countries to recognise the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) - a coalition of dissident, democratic groups, including the MEK – as the government-in-exile of Iran.

International support for the MEK transcends party politics, national borders, and traditional alliances, proving that the MEK is far from an “insignificant” group.

Support for the MEK

Here, we’re going to look at some of the biggest ways that the MEK has received support from the international community.

• France allows the NCRI to operate pubically inside its borders, despite intense 

pressure from the Regime
• Albania is sheltering 3,000 MEK refugees, who were under attack from the Regime whilst in Camp Liberty in Iraq
• The US military defended the MEK from the Regime in Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf

• The UN declared that the MEK were protected persons under the Geneva Convention and should be protected from harm in Iraq

These are all great examples of the international community’s support for the MEK, but one of the most important ways to judge MEK support is through the Free Iran Grand Gathering, which is held annually in Paris. It is regularly attended by over 100,000 people from politicians to human rights activists to Noble Prize winners to monarchs.

The Free Iran Gathering

This event marks the anniversary of the June 20, 1981, MEK demonstration in Tehran, where 500,000 people protested against the mullahs’ regime. Each year, more people than ever before come out to support the MEK in their fight for democracy in Iran.

This year’s gathering, held between June 29 and July 1, featured some of the best and brightest people from around the world speaking in support of the MEK. Let’s look at just a few.
• Maria Candida Almeida, Deputy Attorney General and former Attorney General of Portugal
• Sir David Amess, British MP
• Giulio Terzi, former Foreign Minister of Italy
• Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian Senator, and presidential candidate
• Ranjana Kumari, Equality movement activist from India
• Eduard Lintner, former German deputy Interior Minister
• Pandeli Majko, former Albanian Prime Minister
• John Baird, former Foreign Minister of Canada
• Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada
• Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City
• Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the US House of Representatives
• General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (2007 to 2011)
• Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI
• Michael Mukasey, former US Attorney General
• Frances Townsend, former assistant to the US President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
• Jérard Deprez, MEP
• Bernard Kouchner, former Foreign Minister of France
• Rama Yade, former French Minister of Human Rights

This list, which is outstanding in itself, does not even take into account the support for the MEK by those in the current US Cabinet, like national security advisor John Bolton. This makes many believe that soon Donald Trump will recognise Maryam Rajavi as the true president of the Iranian people and make US policy on Iran about regime change.

MEK Support Outside of Iran

By Pooya Stone

The Iranian Government often likes to portray the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as highly unpopular inside and outside of Iran, which is an outright lie.

We’ve already covered various topics, including the current Iranian uprising and MEK TV, which show how much support the MEK has within Iran, so this time we will be focusing on how the MEK actually enjoys wide support from politicians and activists in the international community.

The MEK is supported by many people across the world, from monarchs to politicians to human rights activists to military heroes to intelligence directors to Noble Prize winners, with hundreds of thousands of people publically pledging their support for the MEK. This support shows that the MEK is widely recognised by the world as Iran’s government-in-exile, making it far from “insignificant”, and shows that there is great support for change in Iran.

WE CAN SEE THE WORLD’S SUPPORT FOR THE MEK IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING:

• France allows the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) - a coalition of dissident, democratic groups, including the MEK - to conduct its business, as a government-in-exile, inside France

• Albania is currently sheltering 3,000 MEK refugees, who were under attack from the Government, in Camp Liberty in Iraq

• he US defended the MEK from attack in Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf in Iraq

• The UN declared the MEK in Iraq to be protected persons and should be protected from harm

Of course, one of the most important ways to judge MEK support from the international community, is at the Free Iran Grand Gathering, which is held in Paris each summer, and attended by over 100,000 people.

THE FREE IRAN GATHERING

This annual event marks the anniversary of a 1981 MEK demonstration in Tehran, where half a million people protested the mullahs’ rule. Every year, it draws more and more people to express solidarity with the MEK, including many prominent dignitaries from around the world.

The 2018 event was held last weekend, so let’s take a look at some of the biggest names who spoke in favour of the MEK at the Free Iran Gathering.

• Jean-Francois Legaret, Mayor of the 1st district of Paris

• Jérard Deprez, MEP

• Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City

• Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the US House of Representatives

• Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico

• Bernard Kouchner, former Foreign Minister of France

• Philippe Douste-Blazy, former Foreign Minister of France

• General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (2007 to 2011)

• Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI

• Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian Senator and presidential candidate

• Frances Townsend, former assistant to the US President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

• Pandeli Majko, former Albanian Prime Minister

• Rama Yade, former French Minister of Human Rights

• Ranjana Kumari, Equality movement activist from India

• Maria Candida Almeida, Deputy Attorney General and former Attorney General of Portugal

• Eduard Lintner, former German deputy Interior Minister

• Michael Mukasey, former US Attorney General

• John Baird, former Foreign Minister of Canada

• Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada

• Sir David Amess, British MP

• Giulio Terzi, former Foreign Minister of Italy

That right there is a veritable who’s who of the best and the brightest leaders in the world and they support the MEK, but they are far from the only people. Indeed, many people in the US Cabinet support the MEK and the belief is that they will encourage Donald Trump to recognise MEK leader Maryam Rajavi as the true president of the Iranian people and advocate a policy of regime change in Iran.

We support the NCRI, the only democratic alternative led by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, and her 10 Point plan #IStandWithMaryamRajavi #Iran #IranRegimeChange #FreeIran2018 Grand Gathering for a Free Iran - The Alternative, Paris - 2018