At an international conference to discuss “Islamic Fundamentalism, Roots, Solutions; Role of Iranian Regime” held in Paris on the 36th anniversary of the February 1979 revolution in Iran, a major conclusion reached was that the first and step in confronting extremism under veneer of Islam was to evict mullahs from the region. Iran must become a democratic state, and there must be a separation of religion and state. There is no other way to provide the citizens of Iran with rights, and protect them form tyranny and repression.
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, offered her view on the existing situation and encouraged an anti-monarchial revolution. She said that the regime is at breaking point as social discontent and organised resistance is on the rise. The clergy in Tehran has also been unable to damage the Iranian Resistance and the Iranian Resistance is the sole democratic alternative to this regime.
She said that the velayat-e faqih regime is the main sponsor of terrorism and fundamentalism in the region. Reliance on the regime to fight ISIS is a mistake and will allow their dangerous brand of fundamentalism to expand and aggravate the current crisis. Negotiations and concessions to the regime are misguided on the part of the west, and will not stop uranium enrichment.
The situation of the prisoners in Iraq at Camp Ashraf was also mentioned and Mrs Rajavi demanded that the international community impose comprehensive sanctions on this regime, end the siege and the medical blockade on Camp Liberty and to declare it a refugee camp under UN supervision. These people are innocent dissidents in exile form Iran and were promised security in Iraq by the US. This has not come to pass, and these people live in deplorable conditions and have no transport and minimal health care.
The conference was commenced by former Vice-President of European Parliament and President of the International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) Alejo Vidal-Quadras. The conference was attended by Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City and lawmakers for the US, UK, France, Spain, Italy and Belgium. A number of representatives of Iranian associations also offered speeches in the conference.
There was a marked emphasis on US ignorance toward the fundamentalist and terrorist designs of Iran and its invasion of Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. This blind spot in US policy needs to be addressed before it is too late. Religious dictatorship must be curtailed, and the development of a nuclear bomb must be stopped. Iran needs a firm hand, not a handshake.
