Tens of thousands denounce EU’s terror tag on Iran opposition

Iran Focus: Villepinte, France, Jul. 01 – Tens of thousands of Iranians converged on a Paris exhibition centre on Saturday in support of the main Iranian opposition group, and to denounce EU action against the group. Iran Focus

Villepinte, France, Jul. 01 – Tens of thousands of Iranians converged on a Paris exhibition centre on Saturday in support of the main Iranian opposition group, and to denounce EU action against the group.

“Justice, justice, rule of law; EU, EU, shame on you”, chanted protestors at an indoor arena in Villepinte, north of Paris. They were referring to the EU’s decision to impose a ban on the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) despite a ruling last December by the European Court of First Instance annulling the group’s terrorist designation.

The PMOI is a member group of the main opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Several dozen Parliamentarians from Europe, the Americas and the Middle East took part in the rally.

The keynote speaker was NCRI President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, whose speech was repeatedly interrupted by jubilant cheers.

Rajavi accused the EU of “appeasing” the “mullahs’ regime” by declaring the PMOI terrorist.

“We in the European Parliament have fought very hard to convince the EU leadership that the correct policy towards Iran is not these useless negotiations and engagement. If the West is afraid of another war in the region, appeasing this regime is not the solution”, said Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice-President of the European Parliament.

“The People’s Mojahedin and the National Council of Resistance of Iran are the only alternative to this regime and it is a clear demonstration of their strength”, he told the gathering.

Lord Slynn of Hadley, a former judge of the European Court of Justice from Britain, told the rally that the Court verdict had proclaimed the PMOI’s designation “unlawful”. He added that the EU was legal bound to implement the court decision.

U.S. Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) told participants that he opposed both war and appeasement as options to tackle the threats posed by the Iranian regime. Instead he urged the EU and U.S. to back Rajavi’s “Third Option” – “supporting the Iranian people and their Resistance to bring about democratic change in Iran”.

The guest list included a senior delegation from the Jordanian Parliament including the speaker of its Foreign Affairs Committee as well as Iraqi lawmakers.

Organisers estimated participants to number 50,000.

During her speech, Rajavi touched on the NCRI’s plan for a future Iran. “We shall build a new Iran, a free society and an advanced nation. We shall make execution and torture a thing of the past. We shall abolish the death penalty. We shall dissolve reactionary courts and medieval punishments. We shall bring to an end the era of inquisition, compulsory veiling and meddling in the private lives of the citizenry”, she said.