Maryam Rajavi urges EU to change its policy and

show resolve in face of the brutal theocracy ruling Iran«No Compromise with Iran on Human Rights»

On the invitation of the Friends of a Free Iran in the European Parliament (FOFI), a conference was held on the International Human Rights Day, 10 December, chaired by MEP Gérard Deprez with the participation of dozens of members of European Parliament from various political groups.

International guest speakers included Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance; Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont and former chairman of the US National Committee of the Democratic Party; Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former European Parliament vice-president (2014-1999) and President of the International Committee ‘In Search of Justice’(ISJ); Struan Stevenson, former president of European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2014-2009); and former MEPs Paulo Casaca and Stephen Hughes.

Euro MPs speaking at the event included José Bové (France),Mairead McGuinness, Vice-President of European Parliament’s, (Ireland), Eduard Kukan (Slovakia), Patrizia Toia (Italy), Tunne Kelam (Estonia), Julie Ward (United Kingdom), José Manuel Fernandes (Portugal) and Anna Zaborska (Slovakia). Mrs Nicole Fontaine, former President of the European Parliament also attended the conference.

N384 News Bulletin of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran 22 December 2014

IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

From left: Stephen Hughes, Struan Stevenson, Marian Harkin, Julie Girling, Patricija Sulin, Gérard Deprez, Maryam Rajavi, Eleni Theocharous,

Anthea McIntyre, Tunne Kelam, Alejo Vidal Quadras, Eduard Kukan, Julie Ward, Svetoslav Malinov, Jaroslaw Walesa, Richard Ashworth

2 IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

Since Rouhani became president, at least 1,200 people have been executed, including at least eight juveniles.At the same time, the suppression of ethnic minorities, such as Arabs, Baluchis and Kurds, as well as the arrests of Sunnis, Dervishes, Christians and Baha’is have been intensified.Nevertheless, Rouhani’s apologists in the West praise him as a «moderate.»The number of executions during the first year of Rouhani’s presidency has been unprecedented in the last 25 years. Over this time, we have not seen so many opposition members being massacred or taken hostage. And, we have not seen such a large number of Iranian women being targeted by criminals. On April 19th, Rouhani said, “When someone is sentenced to death, it is either in accordance with the will of God or based on laws passed by Parliament. We are only implementing it.”In October, -26year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari was hanged after spending seven years in prison, charged with defending herself against rape. Despite widespread opposition in Iran and calls by human rights organizations for her release, Rouhani’s government, through its intelligence ministry, actively worked to proceed with the execution. Indeed, this is the meaning of moderation under Rouhani, a notion that some Western governments defend in order to justify their illegitimate relations with the clerical regime.This regime does not have the slightest capacity to reform itself.Western governments have sacrificed human rights in order to foster relations with the religious dictatorship.Look at the bitter outcomes of the European delegations’ visits to Tehran in the past year. The mullahs used each and every one of them to increase the pace of executions. Dear Friends,Nuclear negotiations with the mullahs over the past year have continued in conjunction with the rising number of executions in Iran.In order to avoid jeopardizing the talks, Europe and the United States not only remained silent vis-à-vis the human rights tragedy in Iran, they also offered more unjustified concessions to the regime.Despite all these, the negotiations failed, leaving the world in fear of a barbaric fundamentalist regime attempting to develop a nuclear bomb.But for the regime, the extension of nuclear talks was a major defeat and a sign of reaching an impasse.This regime is incapable of accepting a deal that would guarantee the abandonment of the path toward developing nuclear

Mr. Chairman, Honorable Representatives,Dear Friends,I am delighted to be with you here today.I thank the Friends of a Free Iran in the European Parliament for organizing this conference.On December 10, the 66th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I pay respect to the heroes and heroines who made the ultimate sacrifice in the campaign to safeguard this ideal.It is ironic and disturbing that on Human Rights Day, Iran has once again been covered in blood. In the past two weeks alone, the mullahs have executed 50 more people. In Orumieh Prison, dozens of tortured victims are on the twentieth day of their hunger strike.Thousands are currently on death row.Dozens of ill political prisoners are being denied access to medicine and medical treatment and are essentially being killed gradually. In view of this situation, I would like to ask EU governments a simple question: How can sustained relations with this barbaric regime be deemed remotely legitimate?Has anything changed under Rouhani? The UN Secretary General and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran say NO. Nothing has changed.The reality is far worse. Human rights in Iran are non-existent. This regime has erected the pillars of its rule on the blood of 120,000 executed political prisoners. Thirty thousand of them were executed in 1988 in the span of a few months based on Khomeini’s fatwa.The mullahs’ constitution, penal code, civil code, and laws adopted by its parliament are all based on the violation of human rights. Look at the events of the past year:• In April, the regime’s security forces launched a bloody attack on Evin Prison, where political prisoners are held;• In October, the authorities organized a wave of acid attacks on women in Isfahan and other cities under the pretext of combating mal-veiling. Doctors have said that some of these victims must undergo as many as 50 surgeries.• In November, Bassij militias stabbed and injured a number of women in the town of Jahrom. These attacks were coordinated after speeches and orders delivered by the regime’s authorities and Khamenei’s representatives.New legislation ratified by the regime’s parliament indemnifies those who carry out such attacks.

Maryam Rajavi in the European Parliament on Human Rights Day:Iran has once again been covered in blood

2 IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

3IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

weapons. It has reached an impasse.It seeks the lifting of international sanctions while also fearing the consequences of abandoning its means for survival.In addition, the theocracy is consumed by a vicious power struggle at the top.More importantly, Iranian society is deeply disgruntled and is on the verge of another uprising.Three days ago, on the anniversary of Student’s Day (December 7) in Iran, despite severe security measures imposed by the mullahs’ brutal forces, student protestors at various universities defied the ruling dictatorship by chanting, “Political prisoners must be freed.”Therefore, now is the time to intensify pressures on the regime. The mullahs agreed to negotiate as a result of mounting pressure. But they refused to sign an agreement when they obtained concessions.The only option is to apply greater pressure and institute more sanctions. The Leader of the Iranian Resistance, Massoud Rajavi, once referred to this and said: “Through enriched uranium, the mullahs want to cover up the inherent weakness of a regime that has reached the end. But, prior to obtaining so-called nuclear energy, is it not the Iranian people’s inalienable right to obtain freedom, sovereignty, jobs, food and shelter?”Today, crimes committed by the fundamentalist forces in Syria and Iraq have enraged the global community.Western governments have formed an international coalition to confront them. But why are they not standing up to the Iranian regime, which is the godfather of ISIS?Hasn’t this regime committed greater atrocities over the past 35 years?So, how could European governments justify their silence vis-à-vis the regime’s suppression?More regrettable is the fact that the regime’s foreign lobby has been encouraged to promote collaboration with Tehran in the fight against ISIS.This is not a solution, but a recipe for disaster.Honorable representatives,On Human Rights Day, I also want to draw the attention of the European Parliament to the continuing siege of Iranian dissidents at Camp Liberty, Iraq.More than anything else, the mullahs have used their machinery of suppression and terror against the resistance movement.On September 2013 ,1, Maliki’s forces carried out a massacre at Camp Ashraf at the behest of Khamenei.52 residents were shot in the head with their hands tied behind

their backs and seven, including six women, were taken hostage.On December 2013 ,26, Camp Liberty was attacked by missiles for the fourth time in one year. The Iraqi government has laid a siege on the residents of Ashraf and Liberty for the past six years.They have imposed a ban on commute and on visits from even the residents’ lawyers.They have also imposed an inhumane medical siege, which has so far led to the deaths of 22 residents.And recently at the behest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iraqi forces once again started psychological torture against the residents through the use of powerful loudspeakers.The same torture methods were used against the residents in 2011 and 2012 using 320 loudspeakers installed around Camp Ashraf.Therefore, I urge the EU to ask the Iraqi government to respect the rights of Camp Liberty residents and to change its policies and adopt a firm stance toward the brutal theocracy ruling Iran.With new officials at the helm of the European Union, the European Commission and the Common Foreign Affairs Policy, there are hopes that a new initiative for defending human rights in Iran can be taken.That new approach should include the following measures:• Political and commercial ties with the Iranian regime must be contingent upon improvement of human rights, especially a halt in executions and torture;• Those responsible for these crimes, namely the regime’s leaders, must face justice;• The Iranian regime must be compelled to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions, halt uranium enrichment and accept snap international inspections of all suspect sites and centers; and• The siege on Camp Liberty, especially the medical blockade, must be lifted and Liberty’s file must be handed over to institutions that have no ties to the Iranian regime.The fulfillment of these demands would not only benefit the people of Iran and the region, but it is also crucial for global peace and security.The PMOI/MEK and the Iranian Resistance are the only solution and alternative to terrorism and fundamentalism both in Tehran and in the region.Terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and ISIS are the byproducts of the fundamentalism that emanates from Tehran. The Iranian Resistance seeks separation of religion and state, gender equality, freedom and democracy for the Iranian people and the people of the region.I thank you all very much.

3IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

4 IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

Gérard Deprez Ministre d›État, MEP from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Chair of Friends of a Free Iran in European Parliament

I want to thank Madame Rajavi who stands up for equal rights for women in one of the most oppressive regimes in the history of the world. This is a regime of savages that has no place in the civilized world. It does not make sense to sacrifice the lives of 2500 unarmed people who the United States has promised to defend, in order to appease the mullahs and help them get rid of the very effective and punishing sanctions on the regime. I am in favor of negotiation. Negotiation is always better than war, but I’m not in favor of any negotiation that do not, first of all, end up with the freedom of the 2500 Iranian prisoners in Iraq - and that is what they are as prisoners, and that do not secure an enforceable human rights charter inside Iran. We all have to have transparency and openness. That’s what we are fighting for. We must insist as a condition of these negotiations, that we have transparency and that we have openness. And our State Department must stop talking about human rights if they don’t intend to deliver them. That means the people at (camp) Liberty must be set free tomorrow and if it means all of them come to the United States, then let them do so.

Howard DeanFormer chair of US Democratic Party and Presidential candidate

«Negotiation is always better than war, but I am not in favor of any negotiation that do not, first of all, end up with the freedom of the 2,500 Iranian prisoners in Iraq»

Today, the Iranian people are facing one of the worst violations of human rights in contemporary time. The recent resolution of the United Nations Assembly unveils parts of the atrocities of the mullah’s rules One and half years after President Rohani’s taking office, once again the hope of any reform in this regime has vanished. In addition to the violation of human rights, we have a serious problem with the nuclear program of the mullahs. Last month, the International Committee in Search of Justice which I have been chairing since 2008 published a comprehensive report proving that all outstanding issues between Iran and the international Atomic Energy Agency emanates from a military nature of the Iran’s nuclear project. We did predict that the Iranian regime would not sign an agreement that would force it to forgo a nuclear bomb and unfortunately we were right. The future negotiations will be successful only if Europe and the US resort to heighten sanctions and support the Iranian people and the Iranian opposition in order to compel the mullah’s regime to retreat. Only in this scenario, Khamenei will realize that the risk to continue the nuclear project outweighs the risk of giving it up. We also need to address the aggression and the meddling of the Iranian regime that has engulfed the region in crisis. The dominion of the regime and its puppet government in Iraq in the past few years and the oppression and the slaughter of a broad section of Iraqi people in particular the Sunnis, produced the fertile grounds for the rise and expansion of the terrorist group ISIS. In order to defeat ISIS, we need a cultural and religious alternative to drive back the violent interpretation of Islam. And this is exactly what the PMOI, as a progressive and democratic Muslim force and Mrs. Rajavi have done in Iran. The PMOI is part of a broad coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a secular democratic platform. In their annual gatherings in Paris, around 100,000 of their supporters turn up coming from 5 continents; No wonder that the mullahs are so much afraid of them and spend lots of money to spread misinformation against the NCRI and its leadership. At the end we call again to the Iraqi government to end those dark days of Maleki and respect the rights of these 2500 Iranian refugees in Camp Liberty.We are not afraid of this regime and we will not stop our political fight and we will not rest until this brutal dictatorship is overthrown and Iran is free.

Alejo Vidal-QuadrasPresident of International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) , Former Vice-president of the European Parliament (2014-1999)

«We call again to the Iraqi government to end those dark days of Maleki and respect the rights of these 2500 Iranian refugees in Camp Liberty»

We are talking about human dignity and excellence which is divine, rigorous and is undeniable. This also applies in respect of the principle of equality, the principle of equality, where human rights, and the rights that leads us to a set of rules and obligations. This is one reason why I am here. I say, congratulationto you and congratulations to Mrs. Rajavi, because you have a great resistance, you are well qualified and in order to succeed, once must resist. This is because the eyes can not be closed, and no government can shut their eyes when human rights are violated. This is not only a legal issue, but also a moral issue that we must defend.

José Manuel FernandesMEP from Group of the European People’s Party (EPP), Portugal

«No government can shut their eyes when human rights are violated»

On December 10, Human Rights Day, we are gathered to speak publicly and loudly, our willingness to denounce the systematic violations of human rights perpetrated by the clerical regime in Iran. If one were, and it would be a disaster prize, to designate a country for violations of human rights, Iran today would likely appear in that list. That is because the Iranian regime is the source of more than 120,000 political executions, a rare and almost unprecedented record since the end of World War II. Mrs. Rajavi, in addition to brilliantly and vigorously leading the democratic resistance movement against the religious fascism, knows this fact personally, as her family bore the brunt of the brutality of the regime.The repression and killings of opponents abroad is also continuing. The camps Ashraf and Liberty are dramatic examples. Directly or through the Iraqi government, the Iranian regime has murdered 116 residents of Ashraf and Liberty and made 22 die in pain through a medical blockade.All camp residents have the status of protected persons under the 4th Geneva Convention. They are political refugees and UNHCR has repeatedly stated that they are very vulnerable people in need of international protection.We know the Iranian regime has been pursuing a campaign of misinformation so that Western politicians renounce supporting the Resistance. And It is a fact that the Iranian regime does not only fear freedom in Iran but wherever it exists, democracy is unbearable for them. That is why we have a duty to stand up to remind the Iranian regime first and then other non-democratic regimes some essential truths. First, freedom is not a gift that we claim for citizens. Freedom is an inalienable right of citizens. Democracy is not a gift that leaders can give to their people. Democracy is an inalienable right of the people. Any regime that denies freedom and democracy is illegitimate and must be overthrown. And whoever claims to be God, Allah or Yahweh, he is a real imposture.

«It is a fact that the Iranian regime does not only fear freedom in Iran but wherever it exists, Any regime that denies freedom and democracy is illegitimate and must be overthrown»

5IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

This is quite significant that this is a full room of support against what is happening in Iran We have been appalled from what we have seen and heard of the increasing number of executions in Iran since the new president of Iran took office last summer. Up to 1,200 people are reported to have been hanged already. This is the worst record during any similar period during the past 25 years. In recent months, the repression has been particularly targeting women. Organized gangs affiliated with establishment committing with total impunity acid attacks on Iranian women and girls have led to at least one death and several women blinded and disfigured. I believe that any further EU relations with Iran must be strictly conditioned to clear improvement of human rights or else we will be complicit in these atrocities. I am very glad and I don’t think this is a coincidence that the main democratic alternative to this regime is lead by a woman like Madam Rajavi. I think your movement has shown that if you are steadfast and persistent, there is hope that your struggle for freedom and democracy and equality for men and women will yield results. I have also been following the plight of the opposition members in Camp Liberty who have been targeted by systematic rights abuses in recent years. Just last week, I co-signed a letter together with 108 other parliamentarians and other dignitaries to the new Iraqi prime minister calling for the respect of rights of these Iranian refugees in Camp Liberty.

Mairead McGuinness Vice-president of European Parliament from Ireland

«I co-signed a letter together with 108 other parliamentarians and other dignitaries to the new Iraqi prime minister calling for the respect of rights of these Iranian refugees in Camp Liberty»

Five years ago when I was elected as the chair of delegation for relations with Iraq in this house, I was told by many officials and ambassadors: your job is to cement good relations between the European Parliament and Iraq, to build a good sympathetic relationship. Within a few weeks, I exposed the fact that Nouri-al-Maleki was a corrupt dictator and I was told by many people in Brussels you must shut up, you are rocking the boat, you will destabilize Iraq, and because Iran insisted and America and Britain backed, the appointment, the re-election fraudulently, of Nouri-el-Maleki, you could even destabilize the nuclear talks in Tehran. But I refused to shut up.Maleki was backed by Iran as well as the US and UK. This proved to be a big mistake and a tragedy for Iraq and the region. Iraq is now a bloodbath. If we are serious about ridding the world of ISIS, if we are serious about encouraging the tribes and Sunnis in Iraq to join forces with the Iraqi military, with the Pishmargeh in Kurdistan, and to oust ISIS and this is the only practical way you can fight against ISIS, then we must rid Iraq of Iranian interference.

Struan StevensonPresident of European Iraqi FreedomAssociation (EIFA), former Chair of European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-2014)

«If we are serious about encouraging the tribes and Sunnis in Iraq to join forces with the Iraqi military, with the Pishmargeh in Kurdistan, and to oust ISIS and this is the only practical way you can fight against ISIS, then we must rid Iraq of Iranian interference»

With the execution of more than 1,000 people in the span of one year, with what Mrs. Rajavi said, women are the target of the terrible situation in Iran; we cannot close our eyes and opt silence. I emphasize on this, in this house, that we should exhibit our outmost concern and sensitivity on these horrible issues, issues that are considered as standards of human rights throughout the world. The level of violence in Iran is widespread and we should not allow the regime in Iran to promote this belief that everything in a stable and suitable position in Iran and all is improving. The European Parliament has a duty to reveal the true story of what is happening in Iran, the stories that the media and the governments try to hide. Silence encourages the mullahs to continue their work with impunity. As Mrs. Rajavi mentioned, we should stop the killing machine of the Iranian regime and refer its file of violation of human rights, and its crimes against humanity to the Security Council and international courts. Mrs. Rajavi, I am in particular very happy to see you here today and thank you for your participation. You are a brave women who symbolize the struggle of many women in Iran and beyond, those women who are alone in their fight against their repressive governments and are in the front line of oppression.

Patrizia ToiaMEP, Leader of Italian Delegation in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D)

«We should stop the killing machine of the Iranian regime and refer its file of human rights violations, and its crimes against humanity to the Security Council and international courts»

Anna Zaborska MEP from Slovakia

«All restrictions to access to medicalcare must be lifted. There should beno restrictions on the numberof people needing to go to hospital in Camp Liberty»

As it was already mentioned, today is the International day of Human Rights and we welcome this occasion in the European Parliament. I am here to send my proud greetings to the proud men and women of Camp Liberty. We, members of the European Parliament have been following your cause for many years. The residents of Camp Liberty are refugees, are recognized as “Protected Persons” under the 4th Geneva Convention. But beyond that, the residents of Camp Liberty are hope for change in Iran. They represent the desire of a nation for change, for freedom and democracy. They are the driving force for Iranian

women and youth in their opposition to a tyrannical regime. The international community has obligations and interest towards global peace and security to support democratic changes in Iran. In this regard the new EU High representative is asked to intervene. All restrictions to access to medical care must be lifted. There should be no restrictions on the number of people needing to go to hospital. I say so as a medical doctor. There are many residents in need of urgent medical care and they are suffering because of the illegal restrictions. other restrictions should also be lifted such as the food blockade.

6 IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

I feel it necessary to mention that when Khomeini flew to Tehran from exile, many years ago, in many of his speeches, he had emphasized on establishing an Islamic empire. ISIS leaders are resonating same message, Islamic Caliphate. This is where both Khomeini and ISIS share the same ideology and intentions. You are leading a very legitimate movement, you are fighting for democracy, you are fighting for respect for other religions and you are fighting for equality. Mrs. Rajavi, thank you and the freedom fighters of Iran. The PMOI’s fight is for the establishment of a democratic Iran where state and religion are separate from each other. This, in my opinion, holds crucial importance. Looking at what your movement has gone through either abroad or in Camp Liberty in the many past months and years is indicative of your capability to establish a secular government in Iran. In today’s world that many untruthful coalitions under the umbrella of “fighting against the ISIS” shape up and collapse, your role and capability becomes more important.

José Bové MEP from Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, France

«Looking at what your movement has gone through either abroad or in Camp Liberty in the many past months and years is indicative of your capability to establish a secular government in Iran»

Welcome, I always feel very overwhelmed when I meet people from your movement.I want to encourage new MEPs who are here like me to learn and understand about the history of your struggle and the increased challenges that are faced every day. My work in the parliament is within the committees of culture, education, and also women’s rights and gender equality. And I have been appalled to learn in here of the terrible crimes against women. The way the women have been marked out and punished in increasingly cynical ways. The recent acid attacks and stabbings of the university students. Women in Iran want to have a voice, to speak out, to bond together, to work in solidarity, to pursue equality, which should be just everything that we stand for here as parliamentarians and leaders. I will continue to support your cause; I hope that you will stand with me to work for freedom and democracy through your organization.

Julie Ward MEP from Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), United Kingdom

«Women in Iran want to have a voice, to speak out, to bond together, to work in solidarity, to pursue equality, which should be just everything that we stand for here as parliamentarians»

I was a member of this Parliament for 30 years. I am proud to say, from the very earliest I worked very closely with the PMOI to try to expose, the daily atrocities being committed in Tehran and Iran as a whole. We have to draw a direct line between what is happening in Iran: the manufactured and export of Islamic fundamentalism from Tehran and the atrocities committed by ISIS. The real enemy The real enemy are those ruling in Tehran and they have to be challenged in the ways being outlined here today. We have to make sure that the National Council of Resistance comes to power in Tehran as quickly as possible. It is absolutely essential in terms of ensuring human rights.

Stephen Hughes Former MEP, First Vice-President of S&DGroup in European Parliament from 2009 till 2014, UK

«The real enemy is what is happening in Tehran and Iran and it has to be challenged in the ways being outlined here today»

Today, the entire world commemorates the International Human Rights Day. It is also a very good opportunity to express our extreme concern about the situation of 2500 Iranian opposition activists in camp liberty in Iraq, who are members of the PMOI. What we hear in the news is mainly about the nuclear negotiations in Iran, which has been developed. The crimes committed by this regime against its own people do not make headlines, unfortunately. This is very sad. Women have been targets of acid attacks in Iran under the so-called moderate Rouhani. It is number two in

Eduard Kukan MEP from Group of the European People’s Party (EPP), Former Foreign Minister of Slovakia

«We hope that the new leadership of the European Union would have a different approach. That approach should be “no compromising” with the Iranian regime on human rights»

Human Rights Day brings us to become more aware of human rights violations in the world. However, we are very much aware of the countries where there are total absence of human rights like Iran and North Korea and several others.It's time to do something concrete today. We have appealed that these 2500 freedom fighters (in Camp Liberty) should become free and the European countries and the United States should accept them. In the meantime, we have appealed to the new Iraqi government that medical blockade should be stopped. 22 lives have been lost because of the absence of medical assistance. We call on the United Nations that Camp Liberty is placed under the UN supervision and is recognized as a refugee camp.

Tunne Kelam MEP from Group of the European People’s Party (EPP), Estonia

«We have appealed to the new Iraqi government that medical blockade on Camp Liberty should be stopped»

the world for the number of executions. This regime is actively following a secret nuclear program; it is fully supporting Bashar Assad in Syria, and has been the sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East. So, we are facing an international outlaw. We in the European parliament have a lot of sympathy for the Iranian resistance led by Madam Rajavi. PMOI has also been the victim of massive propaganda and misinformation campaign by the Iranian regime. This gives us a message that Madam Rajavi’s movement is a big and serious threat for the regime. We hope that the new leadership of the European Union would have a different approach. That approach should be “no compromising“ with the Iranian regime on human rights.

7IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014

•120,000 political prisoners killed under the current regime•30,000 political prisoners massacred within few months in 1988•Hundreds of thousands have been imprisoned and tortured on political grounds•Since Rouhani became president, at least 1,200 people have been executed, including at least eight juveniles. •70 people arrested every hour, many or ‘morality’ and political charges•74 types of torture used against prisoners

What has been done so far?

•Human rights violations in Iran have been systematically recorded and reported to UN Special Rapporteurs, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations by PMOI and NCRI representatives in past three decades.•Rights abuses have been brought to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council in every Council session.•61 UN Resolutions, latest in December 2014, have condemned Iranian regime for its human rights abuses.•Human rights organizations, have issued statements and urgent appeals.•In August 2011, the UN Human Rights Council appointed a Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran but as of today he has been denied a visa to go to Iran.What needs to be done to stop executions and rights abuse?Further punitive steps are required against Iran's highest authorities to:•Make all trade relations with Iran contingent upon a stop in executions and human rights violations;•Refer Iran’s human rights dossier to the UN Security Council;•Bring perpetrators of the human rights crimes before the International Criminal Court and international justice.

NCRI position on human rights•Rejects so-called “Islamic Retribution Law” adopted by the Iranian regime as inhuman•Promotes and adheres to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights•Is committed to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and other relevant human rights covenants•Is committed to freedom of association, freedom of thought and expression, freedom of press, political parties, trade unions, councils, religions and denominations as well as freedom to choose one’s profession•Is committed to abolish the death penalty•Is committed to prevent any violation of individual and social rights and freedoms

Women are the main victims of the theocratic regime

On the verge of the Student Day

in Iran on December 7, members of the clerical regime’s Basij force in Jahrom County (Fars Province, southern Iran) stabbed and wounded at least six women with knifes, five of whom are students at Jahrom University. According to some reports, the number of female victims reaches twelve.This criminal act follows recent protests by 300 students in Jahrom University where they protested against the suppressive measures in the university.

Women in Iran under Clerical RuleIranian women in the 1979 revolution played a main role in support of freedom and democracy in Iran. Soon after mullahs hijacked this movement to establish the most feudal and inhuman religious dictatorship of the past century by eliminating every legal right and privilege women had gained over the years. Women officially became Iran’s second-class citizens.Along with discriminatory policies against women, they are left reeling even further with recent all-male decisions. In July Tehran’s mayor, Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ordered gender segregation in municipal offices to ensure women’s “dignity”. Two months later Khalil Helali, a national police chief, said the law should ban women from serving in cafes and restaurants because such jobs allow men to ogle them, although allowing them to work in kitchens and non-public areas. Also in the main tourist city of Isfahan, female musicians have been banned from performing. The essence of the debate over women’s issues in Iran is the clergies’ unease with the idea of Iranians seeking freedom and democracy that threaten the regime. Women were instrumental in the overthrow of the Shah regime, and who now display their opposition to the current regime’s religious fundamentalist policy. Women are rejecting a government campaign for them to get married, stay at home. Considering the current social and economic conditions in Iran, having a large family is not an option.To further suppress and intimidate women, acid attacks have been carried out to limit their activities and socially alienate them. Unofficial reports indicate 25 incidents of this nature have occurred to date. Such attacks in Isfahan and other cities and towns have lead to street rallies and social media campaigns against these heinous acts. The regime responded by launching an investigation into the assaults, leading to the arrest of several suspects who were then let go due to insufficient evidence.Iranians believe that the clerical regime was responsible for these attacks. In response, the latter enacted a parliamentary measure to protect the Basij, a paramilitary plain-clothes group, which enforces the country’s social intolerances under the supreme leader Ali Khameini and administered under the recently passed Plan on Protection of Promoters of Virtue and Preventers of Vice.Protestors chanted that those who performed the acid attacks were more vicious than the Islamic State (ISIL) and brought attention to what the US administration should be aware. First, a narrow focus on defeating and destroying ISIL does little to address the broader problem of militant fundamentalism in the Middl e East. Secondly, the Iranian government is complicit in these acid attacks and its policy of empowering most hard line elements of society only encourages its continuation. Published medical reports have made Iranians fearsome that these attacks were organized and could be repeated, although Parliamentary members have denied this. On October 2014 ,21, members of Parliament made an amendment to the Plan that states, “No individual or group has the right to attempt criminal acts such as insults, libel, beating, injuring, or murder of others under the umbrella of ‘promoting virtue or preventing vice”. The amendment was carried by a majority vote.According to sources, one victim has come forth to say the attackers belong to the notorious Ansar-e Hezbollah (Supporters of the Party of God), a gangster organization affiliated with the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Ansar’s origin as religious hardliners is traceable to the 1979

revolution with its involvement of beating and killing opponents to the emerging regime. Its current affiliation with the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon has produced cells throughout Iran. Funding and partial control of the group comes from high-level conservative religious leaders within the government, including Ayatollahs Khameini and Mesbah-Yzadi, for the purpose of carrying out government policy in both political and social spheres.Ansar has a history of assaulting women on bicycles who were wearing “improper” clothing and were “badly veiled”. In 2010, the Chief Prosecutor of Mashahd, Mahmud Zoghli, imposed a fine of approximately 1,300$ for improper wearing of the hijab, which was confirmed by the Interior Minister and Chief of Police, Mostafa Mohammad-Naijar.

Reyhaneh Jabbari, the Iranian woman who was hanged on 25 October 2014 by the government of Hassan

Rouhani, after seven years of imprisonment, had released her will in a voice recording In a heart-rending message to her family in April, first addressing her mother Sholeh, 26 -year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari tells of how she trusted the law, but has faced death for the crime of defending herself against an agent from the regime’s intelligence who tried to abuse her.

Dear Sholeh, today I learned that it is now my turn to face Qisas (the Iranian regime's law of retribution). I am hurt as to why you did not let me know yourself that I have reached the last page in the book of my life. Don’t you think that I should know? You know how ashamed I am that you are sad. Why did you not take the chance for me to kiss your hand and that of dad?The world allowed me to live for 19 years. That ominous night I should have been killed. My body would have been dumped in some corner of the city, and after a few days, the police would have taken you to the coroner’s office to identify my body and there you would also learn that I had been raped as well. The murderer would have never been found since we don’t have their wealth and their power. Then you would have continued your life suffering and ashamed, and a few years later you would have died of this suffering and that would have been that.However, with that cursed blow the story changed. My body was not thrown aside, but rather into the grave of Evin Prison and its solitary wards, and now the grave-like prison of Shahr-e Ray. But give in to the fate and don’t complain. You know better that death is not the end of life.You taught me that one comes to this world to gain an experience and to learn a lesson and with each birth a responsibility is put on one’s shoulder. I learned that sometimes one has to fight. I remember when you told me a story from Nietzsche, the philosopher, about when he protested to a carriage man who was flogging his horse, but the flogger hit the lash on his head and face … (not audible) and he taught us that for creating a value one should persevere even if one dies.You taught us that as we go to school one should be a lady when faced with quarrels and complaints. Do you remember how much you emphasized the way we behave? Your experience was incorrect. When this incident happened, my teachings did not help me. Being calm in court made me look like a cold-blooded murderer and a ruthless criminal. I shed no tears. I did not beg. I did not cry my eyes out since I trusted the law.But I was charged with being indifferent in face of a crime. You see, I didn’t even kill mosquitoes and I threw cockroaches away by taking them by their antennae. Now I have become a premeditated murderer. My treatment of the animals was interpreted as being inclined to be a boy and the judge didn’t even trouble himself to look at the fact that, at the time of the incident, I had long and polished nails.How optimistic was he who expected justice from the judges! He never questioned the fact that my hands are not coarse like those of a sportswoman, especially a boxer. And this country that you planted its love in me never wanted me and no one supported me when, under the blows of the interrogator, I was crying out and

I was hearing the most vulgar terms. When I shed the last sign of beauty from myself by shaving my hair I was rewarded: 11 days in solitary.Dear Sholeh, don’t cry for what you are hearing. On the first day in the police office when an old unmarried agent hurt me for my nails I understood that beauty is not looked for in this era. The beauty of looks, beauty of thoughts and wishes, a beautiful handwriting, beauty of the eyes and vision, and even beauty of a nice voice.My dear mother, my ideology has changed and you are not responsible for it. My words are unending and I gave it all to someone so that when I am executed without your presence and knowledge, it would be given to you. I left you much handwritten material as my heritage.However, before my death I want something from you that you have to provide for me - with all your might and in any way that you can. In fact, this is the only thing I want from this world, this country and you. I know you need time for this. Therefore, I am telling you part of my will sooner. Please don’t cry and listen. I want you to go to the court and tell them my request. I cannot write such a letter from inside prison for it would not be approved by the head of the prison; so once again you have to suffer because of me. It is the only thing that, even if you beg for it, I would not become upset although I have told you many times not to beg to save me from being executed.My kind mother, dear Sholeh, the one more dear to me than my life, I don’t want to rot under the soil. I don’t want my eye or my young heart to turn into dust. Beg so that it is arranged that as soon as I am hanged my heart, kidney, eye, bones and anything that can be transplanted be taken away from my body and given to someone who needs them as a gift. I don’t want the recipient know my name. Buy me a bouquet, or even pray for me. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to have a grave for you to come and mourn there and suffer. I don’t want you to wear black clothing for me. Do your best to forget my difficult days. Give me to the wind to take away.The world did not love us. It did not want my fate. And now I am giving in to it and embracing death. Because in the court of God I will charge the inspectors, I will charge inspector Shamlou, I will charge the judge, and the judges of the country’s Supreme Court that beat me when I was awake and who did not refrain from harassing me. In the court of the creator I will charge Dr. Farvandi, I will charge Qassem Shabani and all those who, out of ignorance or with their lies, wronged me and trampled on my rights and didn’t pay heed to the fact that sometimes what appears as reality is different from it.Dear soft-hearted Sholeh, in the other world, it is you and me who are the accusers and others who are the accused. Let’s see what God wants. I wanted to embrace you until I die. I love you.Reyhaneh, 1 April 2014

text of reyhaneh Jabbari's Will in a voice message to her mother

IRAN LIBERATION - www.ncr-iran.org - 22 DECEMBER 2014