European Parliament

Friends of a Free Iran (FoFI)

Press release- Strasbourg - 7 February 2018

European Lawmakers Express Support for Iran Uprising

On Wednesday, 7 February, the 39th anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchic revolution, a special meeting in support of the
Iran uprising was held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Dozens of MEPs from various political groups participated
and spoke about the nationwide protests which shook Iran and spread to 142 cities and to all 31 provinces.
The meeting was chaired by Gérard Deprez (ALDE) and Tunne Kelam (EPP). Dr Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a former vice-president
of the European Parliament, and Farzin Hashemi from the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI),
were invited as guest speakers.
The following points were raised by the speakers to be of particular importance:
The people of Iran, especially the younger generation, have made it clear that they are fed up with the Islamic
fundamentalist rule and want regime change. Many shouted “down with dictator,” “down with Khamenei” and “down with
Rouhani.”
The backlash by the Iranian regime has been violent, with 8,000 arrests and at least 12 deaths under torture. Dozens were
killed in the streets. The head of the organization of Iranian prisons has confirmed the arrest of 5,000 protesters. The
European Union must act. The silence of EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and other EU officials is unacceptable.
The people of Iran expect Europe to take their side.
Iran witnessed a new round of protests on 1 and 2 February. Iran’s Interior Minister has said that up to 150 protests are
taking place daily. In many cities, there were anti-government demonstrations and many clashes with the repressive forces
of the regime. Every day, strikes and protests are taking place. (last page)
Excerpts of the interventions Friends of a Free Iran Meeting – European Parliament – Strasbourg – 7 February 2018:

Gérard Deprez, MEP, Belgium, FOFI Chair

In the face of the demonstrations that have shaken Iran as a whole, the mullahs'
regime reacted with unacceptable brutality. Thousands of protesters were put in
jail. In the face of such events, a strong reaction from the European Union was
needed. And I regret to say that this reaction did not live up to what is expected of
the European Union. It was not until January 3, four days after Mr. Trump, that Ms.
Mogherini merely called - I quote – ‘all parties’, I repeat ‘all parties’, to abstain
from violence. So she made no difference between the regime's torturers and their
victims. I think the European Union must urgently correct its shortcomings. We
must express our full solidarity with the people of Iran, so they would get a
message that we are on their side. The regime’s officials including the so-called
supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, have blamed the PMOI, for leading the
protests and have talked about executing members of this opposition movement.
This shows how much the regime is afraid of the movement under the leadership
of Mrs Rajavi. But, it also makes us very worried and reminds of the brutally with which they repressed the opposition, as in
1988 when 30,000 political prisoners were executed and the world was silent. This time we can no longer be silent. The EU
must give this strong message to the Iranian regime that we will not tolerate the execution of even one protester.
Otherwise, we should impose sanctions to make sure that the mullahs understand that for continuing the repression and
executions, they will have to pay a heavy price.

Anthea McIntyre, MEP, UK

For years, we’ve been told by the regime and its supporters, and that includes the
EU’s foreign policy officials that this is very stable country with no real opposition
and that the Islamic Republic of Iran has millions of supporters and so on.
Many of us, particularly those of us here as the Friends of a Free Iran have never
accepted this propaganda. And why? Because we believe the Iranian people and
especially the young women and men of Iran could not possibly tolerate these
backward mullahs and their reactionary ideology. We have never believed that
people like Rouhani and his foreign minister Zarif are moderates. We saw their
human rights records and we also saw that their best friends and allies are Bashar
Assad of Syria and Vladimir Putin.
And we could not believe in the Iranian elections because there was no opposition
allowed to stand in these so-called elections. Most candidates were later
disqualified by the Council of Guardians, a completely unelected body.
So we cannot believe the regime’s assurances about its nuclear program because
they lied to us for years. It was only when their secret nuclear sites were revealed by the opposition NCRI, and sanctions
were imposed that the regime agreed to sign the nuclear deal.
So we have not been deceived by the lies and the pro-regime lobbies’ propaganda. And the recent uprising has proved us
right. All that Maryam Rajavi told us in December about the weakness of this regime, was absolutely correct. In fact, just a
few weeks after she spoke in the European Parliament, the nationwide protests began and those protests spread to 142
cities. So the Iranian regime which up to that point had been very reticent to even mention the name of the PMOI, was
forced to openly admit the very effective role that this opposition is playing in the uprising. In a way, the regime has told us
who and where it sees its main opposition.
Jozo Radoš, MEP, Croatia
Around 8000 are estimated to have been detained during the protest, after more than
50 people have been killed on the streets. Now, more than 10 people have died during
the tortures in the prisons. The Iranian regime continues to talk about executions. We
remember the summer of 1988 when 30,000 political prisoners were executed and the
international community did not say much. This time we should not be silent and we
need to make it clear to our own governments and to the European Union that the
human rights in Iran cannot be compromised or to be put on the sidelines with the
excuse of political considerations or the nuclear deal. As you know, the regime has been
forced to admit about the role of the opposition in this uprising. Rouhani even
telephoned President Macron to stop PMOI and the leadership of the Iranian opposition
who are in France. I went to Paris in January to see the opposition leader Mrs Maryam
Rajavi to express my solidarity with the people of Iran and their uprising for a free Iran. I found that meeting very
encouraging and fruitful and I think it’s time for the European governments and the body of the European Union to start
dialogue with National Council of Resistance of Iran as it is the real alternative to this theocratic state. I am very hopeful for
a future Iran but still, we need to actively support the Iranian people, especially to focus on human rights as our priority.

Beatriz Becerra, MEP, Spain

Women in Iran have demonstrated tremendous courage, fearlessly confronting armed
security forces despite being empty handed. The they are encouraging others to not fear
and to carry on, inviting everyone to join the protests. World media have published
articles on Iranian women’s courage at the forefront of the protests. The headline of an
article by the independent Women’s Forum says it all: “Women are the face of the
protests in Iran”. “ The most striking images coming out of the Iran protests are not of
men – they are of women!” reads another headline. According the reports by the
regime’s officials, in several cities, the protests were initiated by a small group of
women. The deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards on 27 January said “There
were several middle-aged women among the arrested protesters”. He added “In the
1980s, those who were leading PMOI protests were mostly women. And now, the main
chain of provocation and starting the protests were women. For example, four of these women turned the whole city of
Ilam into protests,” he said.

Farzin Hashemi, NCRI

Let me very briefly review some of the characteristics of the uprising. The protests were
nationwide. The cause of these protests are much more profound than the protests in
2009. The uprising is a response to the total failure of the regime in addressing the most
basic needs of the Iranian people. In a matter of few days, protests spread to 142 cities
with the same slogans and demands, which showed a clear sign of organization of the
protests and the popularity of its demands. The core of the protesters were the very
same segment of the society, which were thought to be the power base of the regime.
Namely, the most deprived segment of the population. The slogans chanted by the
people targeted the entirety of the regime. People are calling for regime change and
establishment of a republic.
Another issue that I would like to briefly address, is the propaganda spread by the
regime and its advocates outside the country that any attempt to regime change in Iran
will lead to a situation like Syria or Iraq. This assertion is pure deception. This is a
shameful pretext for supporting the religious dictatorship in Iran. The people of Iran and the Iranian resistance will
overthrow the regime and no one else. Therefore, it is ridiculous to compare it with Iraq. The situation in Iran cannot also be
compared to any other country in the region for a variety of reasons. First, the overwhelming majority of the Iranian people
including all ethnic and religious minorities are united in their demand for regime change and establishment of a republic.
Second, this regime is detested by the people of Iran and has no popular base what so ever. Third, there is a force for
change in Iran, the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran, with a strong network of active supporters across the country
and a viable alternative in Iran, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, with a democratic platform. A democratic
alternative which believes in pluralism, the right of people to freely elect their own government and representatives,
separation of religion and state, gender equality, abolition of discrimination against religious minorities, recognition of the
right to autonomy for different nationalities within the Iranian sovereignty, freedom of expression and assembly, freedom
of association, and coexistence with the rest of the world.

Tunne Kelam, MEP, Estonia

We know that no dictatorship can last. No dictatorship. And it is high time, before the
Iranian dictatorship can celebrate 40 years of existence, that we see a change. It's high
time for the change because it's obvious we can’t ignore this serious self-sacrificing
message of the Iranian people, a great majority are not satisfied. They demand a change
of regime. We need to have solidarity with them. And it’s our responsibility. Because if
the European Union had taken a clearer stand, much more demanding conditions, I think
the regime would not be here today. People who have ventured to the streets, who have
suffered and who are asking for our solidarity. And the least we can do just now is to call
the regime to release all those imprisoned, all protesters, to fully guarantee access to
internet, that we express public solidarity to the Iranian people. This has to be done also
on behalf of the European Commission and member states, and to make every economic and political progress in relation
with the Iranian regime conditional to real convincing improvements of human rights situation. We continue our fight, we
continue to stand with the Iranian people

Patrizia Toia, MEP, Italy

As done many times during the process of MEP, I am here to testify my support to the
Friends of a free Iran and to your cause and to your objectives. I am convinced that in
human rights, we have to be together, and we have to show our support to the persons
that now are in prison and are condemned to death, in Iran. And we cannot be “not
sufficiently” together with them. We cannot undermine the necessity to recognize the
facts that things that are now happening in Iran are really bad, and we should stand
together and have a clear position, even public on the necessity to denounce the violation
of human rights in Iran. I always express my deep regret and condemn the violation of
human rights that are now in Iran, for the executions of minors and women that are
facing great violations in Iran. I always want to express my support and I will continue to
do so. Even if one has to recognize the necessity of economic relations with Iran for the development of the society, we
cannot deny or even not recognize the necessity to stand together with these people in Iran.

Mark Demesmaeker, MEP, Belgium

I’m quite sure that this uprising is not over and it will continue indeed because the
basic reasons why it emerged in the first place are still there. Young people took action
for freedom and their blood flowed in the streets and we need international action to
help those still in prison, the detainees. Let's not forget, 12 of them already died under
torture and senior government officials are talking about executions. So our attention
in the first place should be for them. And apart from protesters that the regime is
repressing and may begin to execute, the government continues with executions of
non-political prisoners as before. Several young prisoners who were arrested when
they were 15 years old, 17 years old were executed last week after spending years in
jail. May I ask your attention for one particular man, an Iranian-Swedish medical doctor
whom we know in our country Belgium as well, because he was a visiting professor at
our university in Brussels. Ahmadreza Jajali was arrested while visiting his homeland in
April 2016. He was convicted of so called spying and the regime wants to execute him. It is very clear this is an anti-human
regime with no respect for human rights whatsoever, no difference indeed between the so-called moderates and hard
liners. The young people who protested in the recent uprising have rejected both factions and have called for the downfall
of the regime in its entirety and we should respect their views and should support them in these hard times. Our meeting
today shall be seen as an expression of solidarity with the Iranian people who want a regime change and nothing less.
Eduard Kukan, MEP, Slovakia
The point I wanted to question today is about the role of the European Union. What was
actually the response of EU to this uprising? I am sad to say that EU’s response was a very
big disappointment for the people of Iran and for us. It took Ms Mogherini, a long 5 days
to write a tweet concerning the uprising in Iran. And it still insisted on keeping close
contacts with the government of Rouhani. Sorry to say, but it shows how much some of
our colleagues are divorced from reality, from the real situation in Iran. The Iranian people
expected Europe to strongly react to the news of the detainees being killed under torture
but there was no response. I guess the Iranian people expected Europe to react when the
protesters were killed by direct fire by the revolutionary guards; dozens were killed…
Unfortunately, EU was silent. I think that this is a wrong policy. It is wrong morally,
politically and for our long-term interests in Iran. Mrs Maryam Rajavi who recently visited the Council of Europe has asked
this question: Where is Europe's commitment to human rights? I am afraid she will have to wait for some time to get the
right answer.

Alejo Vidal-Quadras, ISJ

Normally, a strong and stable regime does not bother very much about its opponents. In
the case of Iran however, we see an increasing level of activities against the Iranian
opposition. In the past, the regime has been very reluctant even to mention the name of
the opposition, to ignore them, to give the impression that they are irrelevant and that
they have no support inside Iran. During the recent uprising in January, Rouhani accepted
humiliating by himself calling President Macron to ask him to intervene to stop the
activities of the PMOI who are based in France. All these things clearly show that the
Iranian regime recognizes very well the importance and the real influence of its main
opposition. Consequently, we should draw the attention of our own governments and the
European institutions on these facts and recommend to them to recognize the PMOI and
the NCRI as the main and most reliable democratic opposition and the only credible alternative to the Iranian religious
theocracy. Regime change in Iran will only come through the uprising of the Iranian people, duly supported by political
diplomatic and financial pressure from western democracies. Any other strategy based on appeasement and false illusions
about the regime spontaneous evolution, is just a waste of time and a prolongation of the suffering of the Iranian citizens.

David Campbell Bannerman, MEP, UK

My heart is very much with the protesters and you know I'd love to see the regime
toppled, and I think it’s an evil regime. I'm afraid the European Union here is far too cozy
with Iran and actually turning a blind eye to what's going on, because it wants to be this
global player as I see it. And it aided this Iranian nuclear deal and it doesn't want to lose
that and I think that is what's driving this. I believe that the regime is frail, I think it is
showing signs of not being able to oppress its own people to the extent it did in the past.
I'm feeling the strength here in this room from MEPs, and the debates we've had recently,
all seem to suggest to me I think we're in for a massive change in policy and much more
critical and sanctions approach to the regime, which I think is essential to get the freedom
back to the people of Iran which we fully support.

Jaromír Štětina, MEP, Czech Republic

Let me express a short remark only. I want to express a short message to the Iranian
people. My dear Iranian friends, people are again being killed and arrested in Iran. We
share your sorrow. We understand your uprising. We share your desire to be free. We are
with you. We cannot be silent any longer.
Teresa Giménez Barbat, MEP, Spain
The events of December, confirmed the disrespectful behaviour of the Iranian
government towards one of the most basic rights: the freedom of expression. When
people were demonstrating against the unemployment and the poor quality of life, the
only answer the government provided, was violence. We cannot accept that. The
European Union is based on respect of human rights. People from Iran have all the rights
to demand this, and we as members of the European Parliament, shall support their
fight. Many MEPs, and I am among them, hope for a future of freedom and stability. We
hope Iranian can speak freely and could be heard.

Pál Csáky, MEP, Slovakia

We are today on the 39th anniversary of the 1979 revolution in Iran. The people wanted
freedom but that revolution was stolen by Khomeini and the Islamists. Now after 39
years, we have seen the brave people of Iran rising up for freedom and democracy again.
These protests gave us a lot of hope for change towards democracy in Iran. It proved the
analyses of the Iranian opposition that for years have been saying that this is a very
unstable and unpopular regime. So I think the European Union must now revise its policy
towards Iran. The slogans of these protests and the reactions of the officials proved that
there are no moderates within this regime. It has lost all credibility both internationally
and inside Iran. So, I am sure, we should therefore look for the alternative. The EU should
start formal dialogue and relations with the National Council of Resistance of Iran under
leadership of Mrs Maryam Rajavi. She has been here several times and there is a lot of
sympathy for her and for the movement she leads in this parliament for a free Iran.

Petri Sarvamaa, MEP, Finland

In a rather sad way, I was delighted to find out that the regime disconnected and
censored the internet and because this will inevitably fail. It always will in these cases
sooner or later. Like our distinguished colleague Mr Kelam said, this is absolutely about
making a decision on which side we are. Are we on the future side or yesterday side and
the tomorrow dear Iranians, tomorrow will come. It will come. To me it is very clear that
the European Union represented by Madam Mogherini, the high representative, sent the
wrong message to the Iranian people by inviting the foreign minister of the of the mullah
regime to Brussels in January. That was clearly a wrong message. So, what we are doing
here is to make sure that step by step, we move towards a more rational stance and that
would include 3 things: At the least, the European Union has to condemn the Iranian
regime and hold it accountable for the killings and mass arrests of the unarmed and
defenseless protesters. Two: we must call on the regime to release all protesters and give
a very strong warning against using any torture, mistreatment or executions of the arrested protesters. And three:
condition relations with Iran to a clear progress on human rights, including freeing all political prisoners, respecting
women's rights and a halt to the horrible executions.

Arne Gericke, MEP, Germany

I think the Iranian regime has to be warned. If you don't go a little calmer with your
people, you will lose your people and that's what happening now, and the killings and
the execution are no real solutions, it's just splitting the country and you will lose the
whole country. So, I think we need to use the human rights as an orientation.
José Inácio Faria, MEP, Portugal
The recent protest which erupted on 28th of December in Iran, which rapidly escalated
to 142 cities across the country and covered all the 31 provinces of the country, were
the largest since the Green Movement in 2009. Following this wave of protests,
women across the country started climbing on to telecom boxes, we all saw that on
the media, on the social media, taking off their headscarves, which as you know is a
highly public symbol of a set of personal rules imposed by the Iranian clerical leaders
and they wave them aloft on sticks. By this simple example, yet consistent of acts of
defiance, these courageous and brave young women standing tall and proud in the
streets or Iran with their hair uncovered, it clearly showed their dissatisfaction with the
Islamic laws governing the personal conduct. All these massive antiestablishment
protests brutally repressed and suppressed by the mullahs in power as you all know, showed the world that Iran has
reached a boiling point and that Iranian citizens have enough of the horror, enough of the medieval tortures and executions
imposed by the mullahs in the name of God. Iranians, especially the younger generation are no longer afraid and want
nothing less than a total change of regime.

Laima Andrikienė, MEP, Lithuania

I was following developments in Iran for many years, since 2004, my first term in the
European Parliament. We have seen different periods, different developments in the
country, something, you know becoming probably too optimistic that you know the
changes were coming and then again disappointment. But this very decent wave of
demonstrations through this country. And especially that the people are demanding a
regime change, that they're very outspoken about corruption, about the violation of
human rights, about the poor economic situation. I think it gives a sense of optimism to
many of us. As many colleagues who spoke before me, I am sorry that reaction of the
European Union was that weak and Eduard Kukan said that our high representative
tweeted something on the situation in Iran after five days when the demonstration started.
In fact, she even did not bother to write her tweet, she retweeted someone else’s tweets. And I understand that we all
know the reason. So, taking in to account, the number of those arrested, detained, imprisoned, tortured, executed, those
numbers are shocking and we cannot be silent. I have a lot of sympathy to those young Iranians who stand for democracy.

Franc Bogovič, MEP, Slovenia

I think it’s necessary that here in the European Parliament, we say openly “It’s enough”,
that we cannot look at this violence which has happened, death penalties which are
happening in Iran. There is no excuse for these things, which have happened in Iran. We all
support the nuclear agreement with Iran, but we must send a clear message that we will
not trade this agreement or other things with the basic values of human rights, with killing
people and violence against people who don't agree with the regime. And I think it's
necessary that the same voice goes from all European countries and to people who are the
front men of the European Union, in Commission, in Parliament and I hope there well be a
democratization in Iran.
(continued from front page)

The economy is in crisis. Unemployment and unprecedented costs of living are particularly troublesome. The value of the
Iranian currency has dropped more than 15 percent in the last month.
Many senior leaders and officials of the regime from its different factions have spoken about the role of the main
opposition PMOI [People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran] in the uprising. When the first protests began in Mashhad on 28
December, the representative of the supreme leader said the people came to the streets in response to a call by a group
“whose leader is a woman!” According to Agence France Press, on 2 January, Rouhani called President Macron and asked
him to take action against a Paris-based Iranian opposition, which he accused of fomenting the recent protests.… On 9
January, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, said the PMOI had organized the uprising, and threatened to execute
the protesters.
Considering the blatant violations of human rights in Iran and the imminent threat to the lives of the detainees, MEPs
expressed their support for the recent statement by NCRI president-elect Maryam Rajavi in the Council of Europe on 24
January 2018 who had called upon the EU, European governments and other international institutions to adopt effective
measures and binding decisions to compel the religious dictatorship ruling Iran to release the prisoners of the uprising,
uphold freedom of expression and association, end repression against women and repeal the laws imposing the compulsory
veil.
The execution of a young man last week who was arrested when only 15, was another shock. The European MPs insisted
that the EU refrain from making deals with companies affiliated with the IRGC and other repressive agencies. The Iranian
regime must be put on notice that new human rights sanctions could be imposed by Europe. Human rights in Iran cannot be
compromised or marginalized on the pretext of political considerations or the nuclear deal. Any expansion of political and
economic relations with Iran must be conditional on the release of prisoners and a halt to executions.
Gérard Deprez MEP
Chair, Friends of a Free Iran, European Parliament, Strasbourg

MEPs participating in today’s meeting included: Franc BOGOVIČ, Cristian BUȘOI, David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN, Pál CSÁKY, Mark
DEMESMAEKER, Gérard DEPREZ, Stefan ECK, José Inácio FARIA, Tunne KELAM, Eduard KUKAN, Svetoslav MALINOV, Anthea MCINTYRE,
Jozo RADOŠ, Petri SARVAMAA, Jaromír ŠTĚTINA, Patrizia TOIA, Bogdan WENTA, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Beatriz BECERRA, Arne
GERICKE, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Francis ZAMMIT DIMECH and Milan ZVER.

Friends of a Free Iran (FoFI) is an informal group in the European Parliament which was formed in 2003 and enjoys
the active support of many MEPs from various political groups