Wednesday, December 11, 2024
EN FR DE IT AR ES AL
HomeIran News NowIran Opposition & ResistanceBerlin Conference Calls for Western Support of Democratic Change in Iran
Iran Opposition & ResistanceDemonizing MEK-News and ArticlesLatest News & Activities of Iran Protest Leader Maryam Rajavi

Berlin Conference Calls for Western Support of Democratic Change in Iran

Written by Shamsi Saadati

On October 26, prominent political figures and experts gathered at a conference in Berlin to discuss strategies and perspectives for a new Iran policy under the theme “Breaking the Deadlock: Perspectives for a New Iran Policy.”

Hosted by Leo Dautzenberg, former MP and Chair of the German Solidarity Committee for a Free Iran, the event featured notable speakers, including Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI); Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former German Federal Minister of Justice; Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, President of International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ)  and former Vice President of the European Parliament; Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State; Dr. Rudolf Adam, former Vice President of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service; Martin Patzelt, former Member of the German Bundestag; Dr. Rüdiger von Fritsch, former German Ambassador to Moscow and former German Defense Minister Dr. Franz Josef Jung and former Chief of the German Chancellery Peter Altmaier, who also sent video messages.

In her remarks, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi urged international support for the “struggle of the Iranian people to overthrow religious fascism.

“Last October, on the day the Middle East war began, the Iranian Resistance declared that the head of the snake of warmongering in the region is the Iranian regime,” she said. “This regime, which was on the verge of collapse after the 2022 uprising, turned to this foreign war to prevent another uprising and being overthrown by the Iranian people and the Iranian Resistance.”

Mrs. Rajavi referenced Germany’s Foreign Minister and senior members of the Bundestag who similarly recognize the Iranian regime as “the biggest disruptor of peace in the Middle East.”

Outlining the failures of a four-decade EU policy of engagement, the NCRI President-elect criticized what she saw as a policy that “grants the regime immunity” for human rights violations. She argued that the policy has enabled the regime’s escalation toward nuclear weapon capabilities and emboldened its influence across the Middle East, while Europe has become part of the regime’s “battlefield” through attacks targeting European officials, including the attempted assassination of former European Parliament Vice President Alejo Vidal-Quadras. Rajavi underscored that “this policy can no longer continue,” noting that recent calls to cut diplomatic ties with the regime, including a proposal from the Prime Minister of Hessen, Germany, to close Iranian consulates, signal a shift.

“The National Council of Resistance of Iran has been the democratic alternative to the regime for over four decades,” she stated, adding that the NCRI seeks to “establish a republic based on the separation of religion and state, gender equality, and the autonomy of nationalities.” This vision, she continued, includes an Iran “without executions and torture, and a non-nuclear Iran in peace and solidarity with its neighbors and the whole world.”

Concluding, Mrs. Rajavi appealed directly to Germany, the EU, and the international community: “Recognize the struggle of the Iranian people to overthrow religious fascism. This is the solution for Iran’s freedom and peace in the region.”

The conference focused on the critical role of democratic opposition in Iran and past missteps by Western powers. Leo Dautzenberg emphasized that the West missed a major opportunity in 1979 by failing to “make any effort to establish connections with the true opposition in Iran.” This failure allowed Khomeini to seize power. Dautzenberg stressed that supporting a real opposition movement is crucial to avoiding past mistakes and ensuring that a “genuine democratic force” can succeed.

A central point of discussion was the role of the NCRI as a united and effective opposition force against Iran’s clerical regime. According to Dautzenberg, the NCRI represents the “only organized and real force” with a clear democratic vision for Iran’s future. He highlighted the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), which has taken a stance against religious dictatorship from the beginning and poses a significant threat to the regime, which “continues to oppress its own people and endangers regional stability.”

Dautzenberg argued for a decisive break from the failed policy of appeasement, suggesting instead that the West should bolster the democratic opposition.

Concluding the conference, Dautzenberg remarked on the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East, stressing the urgency for a Western Iran policy that offers clear support to the Iranian people and takes a stand against the fundamentalist regime.

Speaking at the Berlin conference, Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin called for a strong stance from Germany and Europe on Iran’s human rights abuses. She noted that repression in Iran undermines not only the Iranian people but also peace in the Middle East and globally: “Freedom in Iran guarantees peace in the Middle East.”

Däubler-Gmelin highlighted the alarming rise in executions and oppression of women, condemning intensified hijab laws as “cynical.” She underscored the need for a political response and urged that the report by former UN Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman, which she described as “excellent,” be “finally acknowledged and discussed in the Bundestag and European Parliament.”

Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras, criticized Europe’s longstanding approach to Iran, describing it as “a wrong policy” that “has failed miserably and must be completely changed.” He emphasized the urgent need for a shift from dialogue and concessions with the Iranian regime, which he argued have proven “counterproductive.”

Dr. Vidal Quadras highlighted the “repeated concessions” by Western democracies that have been extended to Iran, including “the release of tens of billions of dollars” and “the swapping of innocent European and American hostages” in exchange for convicted criminals. He explained that such actions have “come to nothing,” emboldening the regime instead of restraining it.

The former EU Parliament VP outlined a five-point strategy for the European Union, beginning with a call for “international isolation of the Iranian regime,” which includes “closing all European Union Embassies in Tehran” and expelling Iranian diplomatic personnel from Europe, as these premises have become “centers of spying and terrorism.”

Dr. Vidal Quadras further recommended the EU designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, following similar steps taken by the United States and Canada, to “neutralize the operational capacities of a terrorist organization destabilizing the Middle East.”

He concluded with a plea for “full political support of the National Council of Resistance of Iran as the real alternative to the Iranian dictatorship,” asserting that supporting the Iranian people and their struggle is “feasible and realistic” and would “accelerate the fall of the clerical dictatorship.” Addressing potential concerns, he argued that “nothing can be more damaging and oppressive for the Iranians than the tyranny they are enduring” under the current regime.

Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr. issued a powerful call for Western governments to re-evaluate their approach to Iran. Bloomfield commended the democratic values of Iran’s resistance movements, the PMOI and the NCRI, stressing that “the world can see that the regime is in serious trouble” and that “the organized resistance… has been telling the truth all along.”

Bloomfield criticized Western governments’ past policies, noting they believed the regime could reform and had “no alternative to the religious dictatorship.” He underscored that decades of disinformation from Tehran misled policymakers, with foreign capitals unknowingly influenced by “agents of influence” acting on behalf of the Iranian regime. “Many agents have been exposed,” he stated, pointing to recent revelations about Iran’s influence in Washington and Europe.

Highlighting five major events in 2024 that have undermined Tehran’s stability, Bloomfield cited the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, whom he described as “accused of crimes against humanity,” as well as a UN report concluding that Iran committed “genocide” against PMOI supporters. “Our governments must change their view of the NCRI and the PMOI,” Bloomfield argued, adding that these reports confirm the opposition’s long-standing claims and refute “years of disinformation.”

Iran’s leadership, Bloomfield warned, has no credibility left among its people or in the international community, adding, “It is time for our governments to act on the UN’s confirmation of atrocity crimes” and to sever ties with Tehran’s “agents of influence.”

In closing, Bloomfield voiced optimism, stating, “A change is coming… The people of Iran will show us all the face of a great nation, a free Iran.”

Dr. Rudolf Adam called for targeted measures against threats posed by Iran’s regime. Reflecting on the Mykonos assassination 30 years ago, he stressed, “The dangers posed by Iran, especially to our country, should […] be known to everyone. The support for a fundamentalist, aggressive Islamism is fundamentally incompatible with our constitution.”

Adam endorsed Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, describing it as embodying democratic and freedom-oriented values, though he emphasized the challenge of translating this vision into reality: “We all here support Ms. Rajavi’s ten points.” He called for practical measures, including blocking Iranian arms exports, closely monitoring Iran’s overseas activities, and supporting secure communication channels for Iranian citizens. Adam concluded, “We must keep the awareness alive that there is an alternative—a better, more sustainable, and freer alternative.”

Peter Altmaier addressed the conference on a fundamental shift in Western policy toward the Iranian regime: “Something has changed.” He explained that in the past, some hoped the regime might moderate over time, but “this hope has not been fulfilled—quite the opposite,” pointing to increasing repression and “new records of inhumanity.”

Altmaier endorsed Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a critical foundation for a democratic Iran, noting, “This plan embodies the values of the Iranian people and also reflects our values—values that have held since the Enlightenment […]” He encouraged attendees to further promote this plan, saying, “We must bear witness that the Iranian opposition, as represented by Mrs. Rajavi, stands as an alternative to oppression and disregard for human rights.”

He expressed admiration for German-Iranians who, despite past suffering, continue to advocate for democracy: “I am always moved when I meet people in Germany who come from Iran and show great loyalty to our state while their hearts beat for their homeland.” Altmaier affirmed that the chances for change in Iran are “greater than ever before.”

Dr. Franz Josef Jung underscored the pressing need to support the “Iranian people’s desire for freedom,” which he described as a demand for “freedom, democracy, equality, and the rule of law.” He urged the West, the European Union, and the German government to reinforce their support for these aspirations.

Dr. Jung pointed to the Iranian Resistance as a “democratic alternative” to the current regime, offering a “liberal, democratic foundation” through its coalition of regime opponents and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which he described as a basis for Iran’s future democratic constitution.

The former Minister emphasized that this opposition platform is unique and essential for achieving the resistance’s goals. He also noted the Iranian regime’s brutal tactics against its opponents, using “methods as brutal as murder” and conducting a “demonization campaign” against the Iranian opposition. He called on the EU and the German government to formally list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization and to actively support the resistance to pave the way for a democratic Iran.

Dr. Rüdiger von Fritsch addressed the pressing need to counter the destabilizing influence of the Iranian regime. He described the regime as a “terrible, inhumane regime” that aims to lead “great people back into a dark past.” He highlighted Tehran’s destructive role, which extends beyond the Middle East to its support for the war in Ukraine.

“Tehran is supplying drones and now short-range weapons,” he noted, adding that the suffering of the Ukrainian people is “of no concern” to the Iranian regime. This cooperation, he warned, exacerbates Iran’s global threat. Dr. Von Fritsch urged Western countries to visibly support the Iranian opposition to lay the foundation for a better and more peaceful future.

Martin Patzelt spoke at the Iran conference about the growing danger posed by the Iranian regime. “The threat from the Iranian regime is not limited to the Middle East,” he said, pointing to Tehran’s support for groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the wars in Syria and Yemen, and the use of drones in the Ukraine conflict.

These actions, he argued, have become “among the greatest humanitarian catastrophes” of recent decades. Patzelt warned of the threat posed by the Iranian regime in Europe as well, “Through espionage, targeted killings, and networks of extremists in Europe, it is increasingly becoming a global threat,” and criticized Germany’s lenient stance toward ideological and religious centers in cities like Hamburg and Berlin.

The former MP highlighted the PMOI as a vital partner for the future: “And I say to you with deep conviction, the People’s Mojahedin are not only an organization we should support but also an organization that is well-organized and positioned to be our partner in the East.”

He emphasized that this organization shares democratic and human rights values and is ready to “build the new world.” Patzelt called on the audience to take responsibility and form a “coalition” to “truly change our world.” He encouraged attendees to actively engage with decision-makers, as “this is increasingly about our own security,” and asserted that supporting the Iranian opposition aligns with the interests of all democracies.

Dr. Aziz Fuladvand, a sociologist and Islamic scholar, warned of the influence of Islamic fundamentalism, which, since the clerical regime’s rise to power in 1979, has established dangerous structures globally. “The source of evil lies in Tehran,” said Fuladvand. He emphasized the importance of a “modern, democratic, tolerant Islam” as a counter-model to fundamentalism, describing Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as “a tangible model for Iran’s future and a response to the crises of this century.”

He urged the international community to support the NCRI as a viable democratic alternative. In conclusion, Fuladvand quoted Otto Wels: “Freedom and life can be taken from us, but not honor,” and stressed that the free world cannot allow “inhumane ideology” to prevail.

Bahman Abedini, an athlete and supporter of the PMOI, shared his harrowing experiences of persecution and torture under the Iranian regime. “I feel honored to speak as a witness here,” he began, recounting his 1982 arrest and the brutal treatment he and his family endured for their involvement with the PMOI. His brother Behrouz, a former Air Force officer, was killed after enduring eleven months of torture. Abedini recalled witnessing the torture of entire families, including young children and the elderly and described how prisoners were forced to reveal names of resistance members under extreme duress. He concluded by emphasizing the need for international solidarity: “The Iranian people have endured this inhuman dictatorship for 45 years—thank you for your support.”

Sahar Sanai spoke at the conference about the lack of prospects for youth under the current regime. “What can a young person expect from their life?” she asked, describing the despair of young Iranians who risk their lives for freedom. Sanai called on the international community to go beyond “mere lip service” and take concrete steps, such as designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. She concluded by stressing that the NCRI, with its experience and Ten-Point Plan, offers a path to a democratic future for Iran.

Arash Nikzat, a young Iranian-German, expressed his deep connection to the Iranian resistance despite never seeing Iran firsthand. “The Iranian regime does everything it can to keep us, especially the younger generation, away from the resistance,” he said. Nikzat shared how he was moved by the PMOI, which he described as “a movement that has given everything for the freedom of Iran.” Nikzat emphasized his support for Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, highlighting that it represents values that resonate “not only with young Iranians but with all freedom-loving people.”

Previous article
Iran News in Brief – November 1, 2024
Next article
Ambassador Bloomfield Urges Shift in Western Policy, Citing Iranian Regime’s Vulnerability and Rise of Organized Resistance

RELATED ARTICLES