NCRI – The letter of support by the Australian Senator Kerry Nettle, on the occasion of the gathering of 30,000 Iranians in Le Bourget near Paris, on July 1st for a democratic change in Iran.
Dear Friends,
The Australian Greens wish to express our support and solidarity with your struggle for
freedom and democracy in Iran. The regime in Iran abuses human rights and rules through fear.
Just this month a protest of women and human rights activists demanding reforms to Iran’s
legal code and removal of discriminatory clauses against women was brutally beaten by
police.
According to Human Rights Watch: “As the demonstrators assembled, the security forces
immediately started to beat them with batons, sprayed them with pepper gas, marked the
demonstrators with color spray, and took scores into custody.”
This is just one example of the suppression of political _expression and association that leads
to the torture and often death of those who seek change in Iran.
Unfortunately the increasing repression in Iran is not helped by the international campaign
led by the United States that threatens war against Iran.
The Greens are opposed to the nuclear cycle and do not want to see the regime in Iran obtain
nuclear weapons, but bombing Iran will only make the situation worse.
A military attack on Iran could lead to tens of thousands of deaths and injuries and would
inflame the conflict in the Middle East.
The regime in Iran benefits from the United State’s threats because it undermines movements
for reform and democratic change in Iran.
It is also unlikely to prevent Iran’s nuclear program.
Only change by the Iranian people can bring this about. Supporting democratic movements
for change is the vital task of all those who wish to see the regime in Iran end.
The PMOI and other democratic forces are crucial to this change and we wish you well for
your meeting and actions over the coming days.
Yours Sincerely
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle