#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- Saudi-Saudi royal joins Iranian opposition meeting in

Saudi royal joins Iranian opposition meeting in

 

By Murat Unlu

PARIS

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Turki al-Faisal has joined a giant meeting held by a Paris-based Iranian opposition movement, Free Iran.

Faisal is a former director general of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency and head of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

Speaking on Saturday, he blamed the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution – Ayatollah Khomeini – and the Iranian government which followed him of spreading revolution to other parts of the world.

Claiming that Iran followed an isolationist policy after the revolution, Faisal said that not only political activists but also ethnic and religious minorities were against authoritarianism and totalitarian ideology.

“Khomeini’s first victims were the Iranian people,” Faisal said, adding that Arabs had always been respectful of Iran's people.

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition group in exile, also spoke at the gathering.

Rajavi said that the effect and the number of people resisting the Iranian regime were increasing every day.

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#Maryam_Rajavi

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

Maryam Rajavi-MEK Interview

#Iran-Essential to Counter to Iran’s Regional Misconduct

Essential to Counter to Iran’s Regional Misconduct

I  Lord MaginnisAn independent member of the UK House of Lords and member of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom (BPCIF),www.iran-freedom.org

As we approach the first anniversary of the Iranian nuclear deal, tens of thousands of activists and Iranian dissidents are set to rally this Saturday in Paris, calling for Tehran’s nefarious conduct at home and in the region to be tackled. One of the primary messages at this rally will be to condemn Iran’s role in the massacre of the Syrian people and to demand an end to its assistance to the Assad government.

Little attention has been paid to Iran’s role in not only propping up a dictatorship in Syria, but in fuelling a sectarian strife there and in Iraq that has created and sustains groups like Daesh. Iran’s behaviour has been nothing short of criminal, and its ongoing involvement in the spread of terror has to be confronted in order to obtain a durable peace in the region.

Iran’s policy of aggressive expansion has not slowed down after the nuclear deal, but has in fact intensified during the Presidency of that over-rated and so-called “moderate” Hassan Rouhani. Besides the continuing military and logistical involvement in support of the Syrian dictatorship, there is support of Shiite militias in Iraq, and ongoing support for armed groups in Yemen. Behind each of these conflicts is a callous strategy by Tehran designed to expand its sphere of influence and gain a stronger foothold throughout the Middle East.

In Iraq, Tehran has taken advantage of the calamity created by Daesh in order to reassert its hegemony in the country. Despite the removal of its chief ally in Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, the rampant sectarian repression inflicted by his government continues and Iran continues to pour its military and logistical strength into the conflict. This includes armed forces, and the presence of IRGC commanders to lead Shiite militias, many of whom should clearly be deemed guilty of war crimes.

It’s fairly obvious that, had Iran not propped up the dictatorship of Assad, the chaos from that country would not have spilled over into Iraq and Daesh would be virtually non-existent. Instead, we are left with a bloodbath in Syria, genocide in Iraq, and a crisis in Yemen, as Iranian backed rebels march across the country.

Iran’s policy of “exporting the revolution” is intended to re-energise a demoralised base, to maximise whatever is left out of its legitimacy abroad and to cover up its failures at home. The regime has sought to create icons out of its war heroes by popularising their exploits abroad, as evidenced by the fervour surrounding its General Qassem Soleimani. The regime recognises its diminishing appeal at home, particularly among Iran’s youth. It uses, therefore, an aggressive foreign policy in order to maintain a perpetual state of crisis internally - a strategy it employed to prolong the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980’s, and to excuse its crack-down on dissent and opposition internally.

Long past is the time to end the West’s policy of appeasement towards the mullahs in Tehran. It only emboldens their lust for power and expansion. The international community must meet its responsibility to effect an end to Tehran’s inflammatory actions in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. The U.S., with the U.K., has surely some obligation to identify with the Iranian people and with their organized resistance, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Its President, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, has for decades been unwavering in her promotion of NCRI’s 10 point plan for a democratic Iranian future. As common dissent grows within Iran, the ayatollahs would become more vulnerable to domestic pressure if that were able to display more evidence of international sympathy. Their extreme sensitivity to the activities of the Resistance in general and Mrs. Rajavi in particular points toward Tehran’s Achilles heel.

Three years after the emergence of the Rouhani front it is ever more evident that finding “moderates” in his ruling theocracy is mere wishful thinking - a dangerous delusion. Confronting Iran for its egregious conduct at home and its belligerence in the region is an essential first step to avoiding further sectarian bloodshed and future warfare. The Western governments should surely recognise this reality.

#MEK #MaryamRajavi

#MaryamRajavi #MEK

#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

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#free Iran #Iran