Rajavi Speaks Conference Entitled “Iran Uprising, Iranian Youths for Regime Change”

On February 10, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), spoke at an event to mark the anti-monarchic revolution on February 11, 1979. In wake of the recent protests that started in December 2017 and flowed into 2018, Rajavi called to mind comparisons between these two events that are having an impact on the Iranian people.

“I salute the people and youths who overthrew the Shah’s dictatorship and the youths who have risen up today to overthrow the mullahs’ dictatorship. The 1979 Revolution aspired to freedom and democracy in Iran, but Khomeini hijacked its leadership and drenched it in blood. So I salute the brave souls who have arisen today to liberate that revolution from the clutches of the mullahs’ religious dictatorship. They are determined to rescue that hijacked revolution, to wrench it from the wolf’s mouth,” said Rajavi.

Throughout her speech, she also brought up current concerns, such as the release of the prisoners arrested during the recent protests. There have been concerns that the prisoners are at risk for torture and lengthy prison sentences. Recent conferences have pointed to the fact that the regime has used torture and execution to silence opposition in 1988. The regime’s focus is on maintaining its power and control, despite repeated efforts from the international community and leaders.

The United Nations had even appointed a Special Rapporteur of human rights in Iran, Asma Jahangir, who passed away on February 11. She gave a voice to those who had suffered under the regime, calling for changes from the regime and inquiries into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran.

Rajavi also called on everyone who is employed by the repressive forces to refuse to continue and to disobey when ordered to clamp down on the Iranian people in order to keep them from standing up to the regime.

“You should refuse every form of cooperation with the criminal IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). Do not let the mullahs take advantage of you in spilling the blood of Iran’s children,” said Rajavi.

Many of the arrests of protesters were focused on the youth, as the regime sees them as the greater threat. The young Iranian population is currently suffering with a severe economic downturn, as unemployment continues to rise, along with the costs of goods and services. The regime has also increased its efforts to suppress the internet and social media, in hopes of not allowing the Iranian people to organize.

“Our entire asset is the Iranian nation and its vanguard children. And this is indeed the greatest power in the world. So, we must expect everything to be achieved with our own hands and through our own determination,” said Rajavi.

Additionally, a large number of youths from the Iranian diaspora in Europe and North America participated and spoke in this gathering.