![\"Support](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/06\/Support-NCRI-and-MEK.jpg\" "\\"Support-NCRI-and-MEK\\"")
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By Staff Writer<\/p>\n
The fourth panel at today\u2019s FreeIran Gathering in Paris, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), shone a light on the ongoing Iranian uprising and the Iran Opposition.<\/p>\n
Iran Opposition \u2013 NCRI, MEK<\/strong><\/p>\n We will begin by talking about the Iran Opposition, which is made up of several different groups. The most important of these groups is the NCRI, which is a coalition of democratic Iran Opposition groups, and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK), the largest group in the NCRI.<\/p>\n Moderator Mitchell Reiss, Ambassador, former Director of U.S. State Department Policy Planning and Special Envoy to the Northern Ireland Peace Process, opened the panel by going over some of the MEK\u2019s recent history, including their successful relocation to Albania after constant attacks by the Iranian Regime whilst the MEK were in Camp Liberty, Iraq.<\/p>\n He then explained to the crowd that the MEK, as part of a US plan to appease the mullahs in Iran, was wrongfully placed on the terrorist watch list in the US and Europe. Although delisted in 2012, he explained that the stigma still follows the MEK to this day.<\/p>\n This appeasement is abhorrent, but it\u2019s still going on with Europe trying to save the nuclear deal.<\/p>\n Struan Stevenson, Coordinator for Change in Iran and former President of the European Parliament\u2019s Delegation for Relations with Iraq, said that Europe should not allow themselves to be blackmailed by the Regime and advised them to follow the US\u2019s lead on the \u201cabsurd\u201d nuclear deal, which didn\u2019t have safeguards and allowed the mullahs to fund the Syrian war and other malign activities.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI have a message for all the companies who have forgotten the words \u201chuman rights\u201d; for every dollar that you make in Iran, you will lose $1000 in the US.\u201d<\/p>\n Sid Ahmed Ghozali, former Prime Minister of Algeria, advised that \u201cWe should not be appeasing the Iranian regime as it has never stopped the Regime\u2019s warfare against the Middle East or its own people.\u201d He argued that this complacency towards \u201ca regime that has slaughtered hundreds of thousands of its own people, is dangerous to the entire world.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted that the Regime slaughtered over 30,000 MEK members in 1988 and the mullahs responsible have still not been brought to justice.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe MEK is not just Iran opposition, like in other countries, it is the Iran Resistance. They are the spiritual sons of the MEK members who put down the shah. They have paid the price of 120,000 members.\u201d<\/p>\n Maryam Rajavi<\/strong><\/p>\n Both the MEK and the NCRI are headed by Maryam Rajavi, who leads the fight for a democratic and free Iran, based on 10 principles, including gender equality and universal suffrage. The panellists paid tribute to Maryam Rajavi\u2019s hard work.<\/p>\n Reiss said: \u201cTen years ago, Maryam Rajavi was largely unknown in the U.S., Europe and the world. Today, she is widely respected as the determined and principal inspiration behind leading the democratic opposition movement. I, for one, cannot wait for her to visit the United States and outline her vision for a new Iran that ends the corruption, creates jobs for Iran\u2019s young people, respects the rights of all its people, and wants to play a constructive role in building a new Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevenson explained that the mullahs fear Maryam Rajavi and the MEK, because they fear freedom and democracy.<\/p>\n Many of the panellists assessed that she should be invited for a State visit to the US and advocated that the international should respect Maryam Rajavi\u2019s effort and endeavour to work with her to bring about a Free Iran.<\/p>\n Reiss said: \u201cWith a new President in the Whitehouse and a new policy towards Iran, the democratic Opposition now has an opportunity to reintroduce itself to the United States\u2026 Many in America will rally to your cause, I am confident. If you can persuade them of your democratic credentials, your desire for a better future for all the people of Iran, an Iran that should be guided by the ten principles articulated by Madam Rajavi. \u201c<\/p>\n Stevenson said that Maryam Rajavi should be invited to the UK and the US and advised the international community that they should be preparing for the end of the Regime by supporting Maryam Rajavi and the Iran opposition.<\/p>\n – Panel Discussion: Protests in and the Role of the Opposition https:\/\/t.co\/2wn0UG4NHt<\/a><\/p>\n\n