#Iran UN Security Council must take tough stand on Iran's ballistic missile test

UN Security Council must take tough stand on Iran's ballistic missile test:

 The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss Iran's Sunday ballistic missile test, its second after the signing of the July 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, and its first since the inauguration of President Trump. While world powers discuss this clear violation of the spirit of the nuclear deal and affront to U.N. resolutions, two stark realities should not be forgotten. First, the latest episode shows that Iran has no intention to become a peaceful member of the international community, as was hoped by former President Barack Obama and other 

proponents of the nuclear deal and the appeasement policy toward Tehran.

#Iran-Iran’s Massive Crackdown On Opposition Shows The Regime’s Vulnerability and Fear

Iran’s Massive Crackdown On Opposition Shows The Regime’s Vulnerability and

Fear

Patrick J. Kennedy

Patrick J. Kennedy is a former U.S. Representative (D-RI)

who currently lives in New Jersey

Independent Journal Opinion is an opinion platform and any opinions or information put forth by contributors are exclusive to them and do not represent Independent Journal

On July 9, the Free Iran rally near Paris attracted tens of thousands of Iranians from five continents and gained support from political leaders from many countries, including the US, several EU member nations, and the Gulf States. It also provoked the predictable ire of the Iranian regime, which has persecuted the constituent groups of the main opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, since the beginnings of the Islamic Republic.

Approximately 120,000 political dissidents have been killed since 1981, most of them from the NCRI’s main constituent group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK). Tens of thousands were put to death in the summer of 1988 alone. UN special rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed has said that this year the rate of executions reached levels not seen for more than 25 years

VIDEO: OPINION JOURNAL: IRAN’S ‘NEW SPRING

Meanwhile, foreign policy analysts and critics of the Iranian regime have observed that the repression of dissent is surging to levels not seen since the end of the Iran/Iraq War, when the long-term survival of the Tehran regime was very much in doubt.

Participants in the rally underscored that Iran’s deteriorating domestic situation signals the increased vulnerability of Tehran’s leadership. Just as MEK dissidents were executed in great numbers to compensate for the weakness shown in accepting the end of the war with Iraq, the current crackdown seems aimed at making the regime look strong, despite last summer’s compromise over nuclear negotiations and the lingering social effects of the 2009 popular uprisings.

The clerical regime fears for its survival, and as with any insecure bully, that fear manifests as bluster. This was evident in a series of provocations made toward the West, including the January seizure of 10 American sailors who had strayed into Iranian territorial waters, the five illicit ballistic missile tests that have taken place since the conclusion of last summer’s negotiations, and gestures of force in the Persian Gulf.

Reacting to the rally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps even went so far as to dispatch several patrol boats to follow an American warship through the Gulf. No doubt the incident was used as a source of propaganda in Iranian state media, much like the images and video of the 10 sailors – who were released within 24 hours – were aired for weeks on end.

But such questionable propaganda victories will not do the regime much good – not as long as that propaganda is countered by an organized resistance abroad and the regime fails to win more serious victories against the resistance and its international network of supporters.

The expressions of international support for the NCRI included a speech by Prince Turki al-Faisal, an influential member of the Saudi royal family and former Saudi intelligence chief. With his declaration that Muslims around the world support the Iranian resistance “heart and soul,” he turned the annual event into a celebration of unprecedented Middle Eastern unity. In the words of Howard Dean, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he “redrew the map of the Middle East.”

The extraordinary foreign support removes any doubt that the Iranian resistance is an existential threat to the clerical regime. Moreover, the Saudi capacity to unify Arab nations behind the resistance explains why Iranian officials, including Brig. Gen. Ramazan Sharif, the Revolutionary Guards Spokesman, accused Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other powerful Arab states of “flagrantly interfering in Iran’s internal affairs.”

Such comments can only be seen as the desperate protests of a vulnerable regime. Iran has engaged in its own “flagrant interference” in the region for years. Examples include its all-out defense of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, fomenting of a Shiite rebellion in Yemen, threats to instigate one in Bahrain, and empowering the crusade by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to drive minorities out of Iraq’s government. All have stoked deep resentment, both at home and abroad.

Iran now stands to suffer the consequences of its actions, as powerful forces offer their justified support to a legitimate Iranian opposition movement. The regime’s ongoing reaction to the Free Iran rally will continue to demonstrate that it recognizes the threat to its power. As long as the world community stands firm against Iran’s violent response, we will see that it is inadequate to suppress, dissent or preserve the regime

 IRAN’S ‘NEW SPRING#

#iran-Iran political prisoner Saleh Kohandel speaks out against regime’s appeasers

NCRI - A message from a political prisoner has been smuggled out of Iran’s notorious 

Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison in Karaj, north-west of Tehran

Saleh Kohandel released this statement on July 19, against the claims of the apologists of the Iranian regime that try to portray the mullahs in a positive light

He began with a short fable about a man shopping for a clay jar. The merchant shows him various options; ones owned by philosophers, kings, dictators and even one used by Jesus

The shopper chooses one which is inscribed with human rights but the seller warns him that the jar has a hole in the bottom and will never be able to hold water without having a plate placed underneath

The buyer laughs and buys the jar along with a plate

It is an interesting metaphor for the Iranian regime’s shallow commitment to human rights; no matter how fancy the delivery, the promise is useless if it has loopholes

Kohandel went on to criticize the regime’s protectors for their support of Iranian policies which were detrimental to its civilians.

He criticized the eight-year-long war between Iran and Iraq which was responsible for thousands of deaths and wasted billions of dollars. This war held no benefit to the civilians and only served to strengthen the regime but regardless, the people seeking peace were suppressed as supporters flocked to the regime.

Kohandel continued to speak out against the nuclear deal. He said: “None of the apologists protested against it, instead they became unanimously united behind it chanting that ‘nuclear energy is [Iran’s] inalienable right’. Those who revealed the harmfulness of such a project were accused of treason and betrayal

He said: “The [regime apologists] went silent when thousands of prisoners were brutally killed in the 1980s. They helped the oppressive people and neglected the oppressed

He was referring to the prison executions including the massacre of 30,000 activists of the main Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) who stood firm on their beliefs

The regime’s apologists did not intervene in the Fatwa against British author Salman Rushdie or the crises caused in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen by the mullahs' regime or in the 300,000 people that have been killed by the regime in these countries or the millions that have been displaced, he said

He said: “While the men, women, and children of this country were calling out for freedom at the gallows or when thousands of prisoners were waiting in solitary confinement for their execution, the appeasers were looking for false heroes

Like the clay jar, the appeasers have one defect but by its very nature, it threatens the core of its purpose

#iran #political _prisoner

#Iran- Grand Iranian Gathering in Paris, July 9, 2016 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass is an independent member of the UK House of Lords and prominent member of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom (BPCIF), A Striking Contrast to the Mullahs’ Iran

Grand Iranian Gathering in Paris, July 9, 2016

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass is an independent member of the UK House of Lords and prominent member of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom (BPCIF),

A Striking Contrast to the Mullahs’ Iran

The nuclear deal will not bring a moderate Iran. To achieve that, Iran’s democracy activists need our support

By Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

The Diplomat, July 19, 2016 - A full year has passed since the Iranian regime accepted a nuclear deal with the West which would boost the regime and allow economic sanctions against Tehran to be lifted. The reciprocal of that entailed an abandonment of the nuclear program and hopefully could be a precursor to moderation — a softer, gentler Iran. Now that year has passed with these hopes being far from reality. The sad lesson must surely be apparent — the only real opportunity for change must lie in giving tangible support to active and moderate Iranians like those who assembled in Paris last weekend. The Iranian regime has increased its support for the murderous Assad regime; for Hezbollah; for Shiite militias and other terrorist groups abroad. It continues to directly participate in regional conflicts and at home the execution, in record numbers, of their own people. Far from being a moderate, President Hassan Rouhani has exceeded the brutality and extremism of his predecessor, and all the while the nuclear program remains largely covert, while more overt segments show signs of further development. Ballistic missiles, executions, and regional turmoil are not signs of moderation by any stretch of the imagination. Just because the Iranian regime is full of hard-liners does not mean that the Iranian people are. Last Saturday, an impressive 100,000 Iranian expatriates and their international supporters gathered in Paris in a massive show of force. The keynote speaker was Maryam Rajavi , the charismatic president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran ( NCRI ) who has assembled a solid show of support among Iranians at home and abroad. Mrs. Rajavi has for some years presented a stark contrast to the Iranian status quo, calling for a truly democratic Iran and saying, “A new era will dawn in Iran; a society based on separation of religion and state, and gender equality will blossom.” Her words, while drawing a strong reaction from the highest levels of the Iranian regime were warmly received by both supporters in Paris and those other supporters who still must run the gauntlet within Iran’s borders. It is this moderation that not only brought thousands of Iranian supporters, but a large contingent of leading international politicians as well. The most striking aspect of the NCRI’s international political support is that the list of politicians attending would rarely, if ever, be seen together except at this kind of event – a response to the national tragedy that exists under Rouhani and the Mullahs. U.S. Democrats such as Howard Dean and Bill Richardson were joined by Republicans Newt Gingrich and John Bolton. Likewise, European politicians in attendance, parliamentary delegations, and global political personalities covered the entirety of the political spectrum. In such a polarized political era, to have such cooperation and agreement on a single issue should not be understated. Among the more notable attendees was Turki bin Faisal Al-Saud, a prominent member of the Saudi royal family, a former ambassador to the United States and UK. Surely this is a significant and major indicator that the momentum is shifting against the Iranian regime. Prince Turki’s attendance marked the first time Saudi support was given publicly to any group so opposed to the Iranian regime. This was not simply a gamble, but a purposeful and calculated statement by the Saudis, indicating an expectation that the NCRI will continue to gain momentum that could ultimately lead to regime change. Tehran’s immediate hysterical reaction to the gathering and its message included summoning the French ambassador to Tehran with the aim of intimidating the French for allowing a peaceful rally to take place in the “City of Light.” Surely that’s a clear indication that the theocratic regime in Tehran is feeling the heat and that NCRI opposition is, increasingly, making an impact internationally. The huge numbers of grassroots supporters, the political attendees of every political and democratic hue from so many countries is a huge endorsement. The reaction of the Mullah’s regime sends a very clear message. Though regime change is unlikely to happen overnight, the NCRI is a viable, moderate alternative that the hard-liners in Tehran regards as a threat. Western governments and others in the region should take this message seriously and perhaps reconsider their position in how they seek to reform a regime that has, time without number, broken its commitments and been consistently so deceitful and destructive. Mrs Rajavi and her formidable workforce have a clearly enunciated, pluralistic, and democratic vision. The free

world should not be content to relegate this to merely a once-a-year event

care for Humans in Iran

Extraction

#Iran# freeIran

Iran-James Bezan MP from Canada supports ‘Free Iran’ gathering

James Bezan MP from Canada supports ‘Free Iran’ gathering

3. James Bezan MP from #Canada supports #RajaviYes 4 #FreeIran gathering http //bit.ly/290iYnN #Iran https://t.co/6SehU3icn1 #HumanRightsJames Bezan MP from #Canada supports #RajaviYes 4 #FreeIran gathering http //bit.ly/290iYnN #Iran https://t.co/6SehU3icn1 #HumanRights

Saturday, 25 June 2016 10:46

NCRI - Canadian lawmaker James Bezan has sent a message of solidarity to the upcoming "Free Iran" gathering in Paris to show his support for a free and democratic Iran that will ultimately respect human rights and civil liberties.

James Bezan, a member of the Canada's House of Commons, said: "I want to send my greetings to everybody that is planning on attending the gathering of the People's Mojahedin (PMOI or MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)."

  

 He added: "This is a very important time for everyone to come together and show their support for the NCRI and also to condemn the continued human rights violations of the Iranian regime. President Rouhani and Ayatollah Khamenei continue to violate the international norms of the rule of law and respecting the civil liberties of their people."

"I also want to ensure that all of us continue to stand up against Iran's continued oppression of political activists by imprisoning them, by condemning their actions against those practicing their freedom of religion and also Iran's continued interference in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen by undermining UN security forces as well as coalition partners who are in the fight against ISIS and the atrocities being committed by the Assad regime in Syria."

"I plead with everyone to continue to work towards the safety and security of those who are living at Camp Liberty outside of Baghdad, and also plead upon the government of Iraq and the US and the UN to ensure that their safety is first and foremost during these very tenuous times in the battle against ISIS in Iraq and Syria."

"And finally, I just want to confirm my support for Mrs. [Maryam] Rajavi’s ten point plan and ask the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States and other allies, to stand with the NCRI, the PMOI and really take this positive position that will ultimately bring peace and security to the region and democracy in Iran itself. Again, please join everyone as the gathering in Paris, for the gathering and showing their support for a free, democratic Iran that will ultimately respect human rights and civil liberties,” he added.

The major gathering of Iranians and their international supporters in Paris on July 9, which will be attended by hundreds of senior political dignitaries, parliamentarians, human rights and women's rights activists and religious leaders from the United States, Europe, and Islamic countries, will bring together international support for the cause of democracy and freedom in Iran.

3. *****
4. #RajaviYes 4 #FreeIran
   #RajaviYes

#Iran-AFTER ATTACK ON CAMP LIBERTY, MEPS CALL FOR EXPULSION OF IRGC TERRORISTS FROM IRAQ

AFTER ATTACK ON CAMP LIBERTY, MEPS CALL FOR EXPULSION OF IRGC TERRORISTS FROM IRAQ

By INU StaffINU - Members of the European Parliament, from different political parties, today appealed to the member states and institutions of the European Union: to denounce Monday night's missile bombardment of Camp Liberty; to press for an independent inquiry into the attack; and to work to dislodge the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from Iraq.

The European Parliament group, Friends of a Free Iran, which enjoys the support of several hundred MEPs, strongly condemned "the terrorist attack against Iranian opposition refugees." 

At about 20:30, local time, on 4 July, more than 50 missiles were fired at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad International Airport, the home of unarmed members of the main Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK).

The fifth assault in four years, the attack left more than 50 people injured and large parts of the camp consumed by fire. 

The MEPs stated that, "Camp Liberty has been systematically attacked by militias affiliated with the fundamentalist regime in Tehran. In October last year, a similar attack took the lives of 24 residents and left many more wounded."  

In addition, the missile bombardment came more than a week into a siege of the camp which has seen Iraqi forces preventing food, medicine, hygiene products and fuel from entering the camp. This blockade by the Iraqi state has to be seen in the context of both temperatures of 50oC and fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. 

The MEPs' statement continued: "We call on the European Union High Representative and the member states to immediately condemn this brutal act against these defenceless refugees. This is clearly a crime against humanity as it is part of a systematic attack directed against a civilian population."

After calling for an inquiry into the bombardment, the MEPs demanded the ejection of the Quds Force from Iraq. The Quds Force of the IRGC "regularly plans and executes terrorist plots against the civilian population," the statementfrom Strasburg ended

**

#free Iran #Iran

#Iran - Maryam Radjavi appelle les États-Unis et l'ONU à garantir la sécurité de camp Liberty jusqu'à ce que tous les résidents quittent l’Irak - vidéo

Iran - Maryam Radjavi appelle les États-Unis et l'ONU à garantir la sécurité de camp Liberty jusqu'à ce que tous les résidents quittent l’Irak - vidéo

Attaque à la roquette sur Liberty – N°6

Après le bombardement aux roquettes de lundi soir contre le camp Liberty par des milices affiliées à la Force terroriste Qods, Mme Maryam Radjavi, présidente élue du Conseil national de la Résistance iranienne, a salué la persévérance héroïque des habitants de Liberty et souhaité prompt rétablissement pour les blessés dans cette attaque criminelle.

Elle a déclaré que l'attaque aux roquettes contre le camp Liberty, en particulier suite à un siège inhumain imposé au camp depuis huit jours, bloquant le carburant et l’entrée de nourritures, démontre que la dictature religieuse en Iran est terrifié par l’existence de l'Organisation des Moudjahidine du peuple (PMOI / MEK) et de la Résistance iranienne, qu'il considère comme une menace pour son existence.

Mme Radjavi a souligné : C’est pour cette raison que le régime des mollahs s’oppose à toute solution pour les habitants de Liberty qui permettrait d'assurer leur sécurité et tente de faire obstacle à une issue. Les seules options acceptables pour le régime et soit d’obliger les résidents de Liberty à se rendre et abandonner leur lutte soit les éliminer physiquement.

La présidente élue du CNRI a appelé le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU, l'Union européenne et leurs Etats membres à condamner résolument l'attaque criminelle aux roquettes contre le camp Liberty. Elle a ajouté : maintenant qu’il ne subsiste aucun doute quant aux intentions du régime iranien à causer davantage de carnage au camp Liberty, il devient urgent que les États-Unis et les Nations Unies prennent des mesures pour garantir et assurer la sécurité et l’intégrité des résidents du camp Liberty jusqu'à ce qu’ils quittent tous, l'Irak. Elle a souligné que ceci serait conforme avec les engagements répétés et les garanties écrites des États-Unis et de l'ONU concernant la sécurité et l’intégrité des résidents du camp Liberty.

Plus de 50 roquettes ont été lancés contre le camp Liberty, dont plusieurs ont atterri à l'extérieur du périmètre du camp. L’attaque a causé des destructions majeures et des incendies dans le camp. Les impacts ont provoqué des cratères de deux mètre de large et d’un mètre et demi de profondeur. Sur la base des rapports reçus jusqu'à minuit, 40 habitants ont été blessés suite à l'attaque.

Secrétariat du Conseil national de la Résistance iranienne

#free Iran #Iran

Le 4 juillet 2016

#Iran-Congress is rightfully concerned over possible Boeing-Iran deal

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/06/congress_is_rightfully_concerned_over_possible_b

oeingiran_deal.html

#iran #free_Iran#

#iran-stop women Abuses-Donot ignore human rights violation in Iran

stop women Abuses-Donot ignore human rights violation in Iran

#iran-stop women Abuses-Donot ignore #human_rights #violation in Iran#

#Iran-MARYAM RAJAVI: DEFEAT OF MULLAHS' AGGRESSION IN THE REGION IS ESSENTIAL TO SECURE THE IRANIAN PEOPLE'S FREEDOM

 MARYAM RAJAVI: DEFEAT OF MULLAHS' AGGRESSION IN THE REGION IS ESSENTIAL TO SECURE THE IRANIAN PEOPLE'S FREEDOM

Message to the British Parliament on the declaration by the majority of UK’s elected representatives in support of the Iranian Resistance
Honorable members of the British Houses of Parliament
Dear friends of the Iranian Resistance
I salute your conference!
I am grateful for the initiative by the majority of United Kingdom’s elected representatives in support of the Iranian Resistance for freedom and democracy. This is a commendable step towards the adoption of a responsible policy vis-a-vis the Iranian regime and the entire Middle East. In light of the Iranian regime's nefarious role in the crisis in the region, this initiative has also addressed the interests of the people of the region, the people of Europe and the world, in general
Also let me congratulate you for officially registering the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom in the British Parliament
There is no doubt this has been a great achievement and a result of all your tireless efforts and the enduring support by the honorable elected members of the UK parliament for Iranian resistance movement throughout many years

Dear friends
One year after the nuclear agreement, contrary to some expectations in the West, there has not been any opening in Iran; the situation has dramatically worsened
There have been more executions and arrests, flogging of workers for demanding their past-due wages, arrests and lashing of youths for taking part in coed parties. Concerts have been banned, and political prisoners have come under more pressure
On the other hand, the Iranian economy is in a deep recession, with banks near bankruptcy, unemployment rate reaching 50 percent and the majority of the people living in poverty
The internal power struggle has escalated. The sham elections in March further reinforced the position of the most repressive mullahs in power. Once again it was proven that there would be no moderation within the religious dictatorship ruling Iran. The clerical regime lacks the capacity to change its behavior. No solution is conceivable within the regime
The mullahs have stepped up their meddling in Syria. In Iraq, the Quds Force has repeatedly massacred the Sunnis. The important development in this regard has been the successive defeats and heavy casualties suffered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its militia in Syria. The indisputable fact is that the Syrian conflict has turned into a quagmire for the regime
The regime has stepped up repression and warmongering because it faces growing discontent at home. It is intent on preventing any expression of discontent, or a repeat of the 2009 uprising. But, the regime’s aggressive behavior in the region must be viewed as a sign of its weakness and not power; it needs to export its crises abroad
Khamenei and other leaders of the regime have acknowledged that if they do not fight in Syria, in Iraq and in Yemen, their power base in Tehran would be undermined. This explains why Iran's ruling regime has turned into the main source of instability in the region. On the one hand, it repeatedly breaches the sovereignty of other nations in the Middle East. On the other hand, it cracks down on Sunnis and other dissident and democratic forces. This provides a breeding ground for Daesh. Many attest to the fact that Daesh and IRGC have a symbiotic relationship. In practice, both benefit from one another.
Because the mullahs’ warmongering in the region is contrary to the highest interests of the Iranian people, prevents the Iranian Resistance from establishing freedom and democracy in Iran, and has also destroyed the Iranian economy, the Iranian Resistance is putting forth a plan to counter the mullahs' belligerence and its attempts to occupy the region
The plan calls on the U.S., Europe and regional powers to adopt several practical steps, outlined as follows
1. Compelling the Iranian regime to remove its forces and affiliated militia from Syria. Adopting punitive measures, including sanctions, against the Iranian regime if it refused to do so. Blocking the Iranian regime’s participation in the talks on the transfer of power to the people of Syria.
2. Refraining from cooperation or coordination with IRGC and the militia under its command as well as other military and security forces of the Iranian regime on the pretext of fighting Daesh in Iraq or in Syria.
3. Strictly implementing Security Council Resolution 2231 by taking effective practical measures to prevent the Iranian regime from sending arms to terrorist groups and to countries in the region, especially to Iraq and Syria. Holding it to account for any breaches
4. Cutting ties with the Iranian regime by Arab and Muslim countries and expelling the regime from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation until it ends its regional meddling
5. Providing all-out political, financial and military support to the moderate Syrian opposition already recognized by many countries.
6. Predicating all political and economic relations with the Iranian regime on ending its meddling in the region, banning all deals with IRGC-affiliated companies, and investment in their projects as well as exchanges with the Iranian regime's banks, which engage in money laundering and fund terrorist groups
Dear friends
On behalf of the Iranian people and Resistance, I would like to appreciate your efforts in support of the Iranian people's freedom and human rights as well as 

your support for the safety and security of the freedom fighters in Camp Liberty

Iran #free_Iran#

#iran-Iranian opposition mass gathering in Paris, France- 2015-One Year After Nuclear Deal, Senior US Figures to Attend Paris Rally For a ‘Free Iran’

 One Year After Nuclear Deal, Senior US Figures to Attend Paris Rally For a ‘Free Iran’

A group of prominent American figures, Republican and Democrat, are planning to make their way

to Paris next weekend for what has become an annual show of strength for a major movement 

dedicated to the downfall of the regime in Tehran.

On July 9, the National Council of Resistance of Iran ( NCRI )/People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (MEK) plans a mass “Free Iran” rally in the French capital, following a series of round-table events a day earlier. Last year’s event attracted a reported 100,000 Iranian expatriates and supporters.

Among the high-profile Americans who organizers say have confirmed their attendance are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich – said to be a strong contender to be Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate – who has taken part in previous years.

Others include former ambassadors to the United Nations John Bolton and Gov. Bill Richardson, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former FBI Director Louis Freeh, and former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean.

Joining them, organizers say, will be former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control Robert Joseph, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, and former Democratic lawmakers Sen. Robert Torricelli (N.J.) and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (R.I.), among others.

Military figures are also on the list, among them former Marine Corps commander Gen. (Ret.) James Conway, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. (Ret.) David Philips, who was responsible for training the Iraqi Police after the 2003 U.S. invasion, and Col. (Ret.) Wesley Martin, who served as senior anti-terrorism and force protection officer for coalition forces in Iraq.

Supporters view it as a viable opposition to the clerical rulers in Tehran, and say criticism leveled against it is largely due to a successful lobbying effort on the part of the regime and its supporters. They also point to the fact the NCRI/MEK has provided the West with valuable intelligence on Iran. Notably, a then senior member of the group, Alireza Jafarzadeh, in 2002 helped to uncover Iran’s clandestine nuclear program.

After the fall of Saddam, MEK members in Iraq were disarmed by agreement with U.S. forces and confined to Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. Iraqi authorities in 2012 moved them to Camp Liberty, a former U.S. military base near the Baghdad airport.

Some 2,000 members of the group are still housed at Camp Liberty, with U.N.-led efforts underway to relocate them to a secure third country.

Both in Liberty and Ashraf, they have come under attack a number of times, most recently last October, when 24 were killed and more injured in a rocket attack claimed by an Iranian-backed Shi’a militia.

According to Shahin Gobadi, a member of the NCRI’s foreign affairs committee, this year’s event in Paris will be especially significant because of its timing.

It comes shortly after the first anniversary of the announcement of the nuclear agreement reached between the U.S. and five other powers and Iran.“One year after the nuclear deal,” Gobadi said in a statement, the event “provides a different perspective on the situation and will offer a policy alternative to Western countries’ approach by emphasizing that the voice of Iranian people must be heard.”

The Paris event also takes place one week before the Republican National Convention and two weeks before the Democratic National Convention. The administration’s Iran policy has featured prominently during the presidential campaign, with presumptive nominees Trump and Hillary Clinton taking very different stances on the issue.

Gobadi noted the planned attendance of prominent Americans from both sides of the political spectrum.

“In the midst of a very contentious U.S. presidential campaign, there will be bipartisan support at the July 9 event for the goals and aspirations of the Iranian people.”

Gobadi said the event will provide Iranians with the opportunity to highlight that the notion of “moderation” under President Hasan Rouhani is “a total myth.”

“The only solution for Iran is regime change by Iranians and the organized resistance,” he said. “The first step to that effect will be imposing further sanctions on the clerical regime for flagrant human rights abuses and its role as the main state-sponsor of terror the world over.”

Apart from senior American attendees, organizers listed prominent European participants including former French, Italian and German cabinet ministers, other European officials and lawmakers, and French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was held hostage by Colombia’s FARC rebels for six years before being rescued in 2008.

They said senior politicians and activists from Islamic countries would also take part, “including a delegation from the moderate Syrian opposition who are themselves victims of the Iranian regime’s support for Bashar Assad’s state machinery of terror

Source: CNS News, 1 July 2016

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Iran #iranians# 

#Iranian_Resistance rally in Paris

#Iran_human_rights

#Iran-Iranian resistance’s annual meeting in Paris comes at decisive moment for movement country-Grand Iranian Gathering in Paris.

Iranian resistance’s annual meeting in Paris comes at decisive moment for movement 

country

Grand Iranian Gathering in Paris where more than a 100,000 people are expected to attend

Media Express, July 1, 2016 - On July 9th, the National Council of Resistance in Iran ( NCRI ) will hold its annual meeting, also known as “Free Iran”, in Le Bourget, France, near Paris.

The meeting, which is expected to attract  visitors from all around world, arrives at a turning point for the country and the region, falling near the 1-year anniversary of the “Iran Deal”, when Iran and U.N. Permanent Security Council members signed a deal to prevent Iran from enriching uranium in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions against Iran. Despite the deal’s significance little has changed within Iran, where economic hardship and political repression are still the norm.

The conference is the key annual event for the NCRI, the primary organ of resistance and a form of parliament-in-exile for Iran. Speeches from  major foreign dignitaries including prominent U.S. Democrats and Republicans, and countless other supporters of regime change in Iran will take place. The cause of replacing Iran’s clerical government has been a source of international political cooperation among actors from opposite sides of the political spectrum.

The event will also highlight women’s rights, a key battleground for progressives in Iran, where women face various forms of social and political repression. Domestic abuse is protected by law in Iran, and women represent 30% of all executions in Iran. Rajavi and others have called on women to be the driving force behind the changes they seek in Iran.

Last year’s event featured an enormous turnout and a joy-filled atmosphere. Momentum for regime change in Iran has increased due to the inefficacy of the Iran Deal on human rights issues, as well as Iran’s increased use of political repression and execution in recent years.

The event will take place 12:30-9:30PM in the Parc des Expositions, Le Bourget, Île-de-France.

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#Iranian_Gatherings

#Iranian_Resistance_activities

#Iranian_Resistance_rally in #Paris