{"id":300172,"date":"2023-02-05T21:50:02","date_gmt":"2023-02-05T20:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=300172"},"modified":"2023-02-08T07:30:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T06:30:22","slug":"john-baird-iran-uprising-is-deeply-rooted-in-43-years-of-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-resistance\/john-baird-iran-uprising-is-deeply-rooted-in-43-years-of-resistance\/","title":{"rendered":"John Baird: Iran Uprising is Deeply Rooted in 43 Years of Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"John<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe leading role of Iranian women is not incidental or coincidence, but it derives from the struggle of Iranian women over the last 43 years,\u201d said John Baird, the former Canadian Foreign Minister, in his remarks during a bi-partisan conference in Canada on February 4. Minister Baird underlined how the ongoing uprising is deeply rooted in over four decades of struggle, led by the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK)<\/a> organization, as Iran\u2019s principal opposition group. The following is the full text of Mr. Baird\u2019s remarks, revised and edited for clarity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is a real pleasure to be with you here today. I’m so pleased to be able to join and participate with you to stand up for the courage and bravery of the people of Iran. We gather to support them in their great struggle to overthrow this dictatorship and <\/span>replace<\/span> it with something better.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like all of you, I have been inspired by the bravery of the literally millions of Iranians who have taken to the streets to try and peacefully overthrow this fascist dictatorship in Tehran. Women, teachers, unions, millions of students, and especially supporters of the MEK. They’re tired of the corruption, they’re tired of the mismanagement, and they are tired of the authoritarianism of their terrible government. They are sending a clear and unequivocal message to the Mullahs. It’s time for you to go.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I see a number of my former colleagues from parliament with us today, and we all got involved in public service to try to make a difference. And I can tell you one of the proudest moments that I had in public life, especially working with Stephen Harper, was the day that I was able to announce that we had kicked all the mullahs\u2019 henchmen and spokespeople out of Canada once and for all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jhon
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We didn’t want to deal with this murderous regime. We stood up against their nuclear program, where the regime has funneled literally billions of dollars from the well-being and care of the Iranian people into this nuclear program. We stood up against their material support of terrorism around the world. And we stood up in <\/span>the<\/span> effort to hold them accountable at the United Nations for their egregious and terrible human rights record. We stood up and said that this regime was not a moderate regime.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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@Baird<\/a>: I have been inspired by @Maryam_Rajavi<\/a>'s 10-point plan for freedom of expression & assembly, the separation of religion & state, gender equality, & a non-nuclear Iran that can live in peaceful coexistence with the world.#IranRevoIution<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Sxv7uI3cOc<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 4, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n