Violent Islamic fundamentalism was elevated to a new level when the Ayatollahs usurped power in Iran in 1979 and the Iranian Resistance is the only hope of restoring freedom and democracy to the regime, a leading British peer has insisted.
There is now a desperate need for a coherent strategy by the West and all peace-loving Muslims to combat the current rise of Islamic fundamentalism that Iran began, Lord Carlile of Berriew wrote in The Hill.
He said: “As the anti-ISIS Coalition intensifies it campaign to defeat these extremists, their strategy must also deal with the ominous threat of religious extremism everywhere including Iran, without compromising democratic values and principles and without giving birth to more home-grown jihadists.
“This means that human rights must be part of every agenda, never de-coupled even in the context of ongoing nuclear weapons negotiations with Iran, which is fast approaching another deadline.”
But he added: “It is important to remember where and when it all began.
“Violent Islamic fundamentalism — which is a far cry from what the Koran preaches — was elevated to a new level when the Ayatollahs usurped power in Iran in 1979 and established the first theocracy of modern times.
“Recognising no borders and resorting to vicious and ruthless tactics, including terrorism, suicide attacks, and hostage taking, the Ayatollahs introduced their heretical version of Islam to the world.
“That was matched by savagery against the Iranian citizenry, one of the most enlightened in the Middle East.
“Moderate Muslims were the prime victims and the concept of an ‘Islamic Caliphate’, currently advocated by ISIS, was originally phrased by Khomeini and is stipulated in the Iranian constitution.
“In reality, Tehran is responsible for many of the troubles in the region because Iran is the main state sponsor of terrorism and supporter of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Assad regime in Syria.”
Islamic fundamentalism has for too long been perceived as a challenge to the West’s economic interests in the Middle East, rather than a global threat to peace, Lord Carlile, co-chair of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, said.
He wrote: “Today, the world has learned the hard way that it is a challenge to the very fabric of Western countries — and to moderate Muslims.
“The issue is not a struggle between the West and Islam, as the extremists would have us believe and as some hard-liners in the West contend. It also is not Sunnis versus Shiites or believers versus non-believers.
“There is an ongoing struggle in the Muslim world between those who want democracy, pluralism, tolerance, and progress and those who seek retrogression, bigotry, intolerance, and suppression — and power.
“In this battle, moderate Muslims with a clear anti-fundamentalist, tolerant agenda and appeal are inevitable and inseparable allies of the West. That’s why Western countries should embrace democratic Muslims and not play into the hands of the extremists by marginalising them.
“They are the vast majority of Muslims, who are being quelled by the vicious barbarism of the extremists and theocratic rulers in the Middle East and ignored in the ongoing debate in the West; remember, one of the policemen killed by the Charlie Hebdo attackers was a Muslim.
“In the search for allies, the principal Iranian opposition, the National Council for Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stands out. It held firm against Khomeini and his mediaeval beliefs, rejecting them as being totally anti-Islamic.
“It is also led by a Muslim woman, Maryam Rajavi, and promotes women’s right to assume political leadership, unique for a Middle Eastern opposition movement. As a consequence, tens of thousands of its members and supporters were persecuted and slaughtered by the Ayatollahs in Iran. Their ‘crime’: they wouldn’t relinquish their profound belief in the true preaching of Islam, a popular rule where the ballot box is the only criterion for legitimacy.
“The terror by Islamic fundamentalists will sadly be repeated and repeated unless there is a comprehensive policy to combat the mind-set of these terrorists. The Islamic extremists can be put on the defensive. But first the free world must define friends and foes correctly and focus on the epicentre where the threat all began, namely the Ayatollahs ruling Iran.”