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Press briefings in Europe and U.S. throw light on biased nature of report |
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martedì 14 giugno 2005 |
At a press conference in Paris, the National Council of Resistance of
Iran (NCRI) unveiled a document that showed the political motives
behind the recent report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch
against the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin
(PMOI).
Mohaddessin disclosed the content of an email distributed by Gary Sick,
chairman of the HRW Middle-East advisory board and a long-time advocate
of rapprochement with the mullahs’ regime, to a list of like-minded
persons on the day the HRW report was released. The message stated
clearly that the report by HRW was published at the right time to
thwart attempts by PMOI supporters in U.S. Congress to change U.S.
policy towards the group.
Sick’s email noted that Iran Freedom Bill presented by Republican
Congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, from Florida and Republican Senator
Rick Santuram from Pennsylvania provides for support for opponents of
the current regime in Iran, but the email emphasized that the new HRW
report would disqualify PMOI from being considered as a recipient of
such aid. Sick’s email message clearly shows the political motives
behind the HRW report that have nothing to do with human rights.
The HRW report which targets the victims of human rights violations in
Iran, rather than the perpetuators, drew the ire of participants in the
panel, who included Bishop Jacques Gaillot; Pierre Bercis, president of
New Human Rights; Jean-Jacques Kerkicharian, UN representative of
French civil rights organization MRAP; Mocarzel, lawyer, Gilles
Paruelle, former chairman of Val d’Oise Bar Association; and
Mohammad-Reza Rowhani, chair of the NCRI’s Commission on Minorities.
Ms. Mocarzel and Mr. Paroel discounted the HRW report as it totally
contradicted their observations in the Camp Ashraf when they visited
last year.
A graphic footage of public hanging that took place in western Iran and
smuggled out of Iran recently was screened at the press conference and
shocked those present. |