Paris hosts Iranian exiles in huge rally

With less than three weeks left to the June 30 deadline over Iran’s controversial nuclear program, Paris hosted an Iranian Grand Rally held on Saturday June 13. It was the largest rally of Iranian exiles according to the organizers. A giant hall in Paris hosted over tens of thousands of exiles, gathered in an annual rally to vow to regime change in Iran. The crowd seemed eager to cry out their desires for freedom and democracy as they chanted non-stop.

The nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers, the sharp rise of executions, and the Iranian regime’s meddling in the region as the source of creation of Islamic fundamentalism dominated the annual meeting. Major powers are seeking to curb Iran’s suspect nuclear program in the negotiations before the fast approaching June 30 deadline. A wide spectrum of the prominent dignitaries who attended this gathering also voiced major distresses over Tehran’s support for extremist groups across the region and Islamic fundamentalism even in Africa. A bipartisan U.S. Congress delegation joined the rally to add their voice to the voice of Iranian expatriates.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the leading speaker of the event, criticized the U.S. policy in respect with Iran’s nuclear program. “Unfortunately, Western states, especially the U.S. have driven this regime closer to the bomb through the violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and concessions to the Iranian regime,” she asserted.

Rajavi also pointed out to the steep decline in human rights situation in Iran since Hassan Rouhani has assumed presidency. “Despite 1,800 executions during [Hassan] Rouhani’s tenure,” she said, “Iran is still in turbulence and turmoil.”

Her movement is the main opposition group, the MeK, Mujahedeen –e- Khalq or PMOI, is the main opposition of the Iranian regime, which has its members accommodated in Camp Liberty, Iraq.

Rajavi emphasized that the mullahs ruling Iran and their nefarious endeavors do not represent the desires of Iranian people. “The people of Iran want neither atomic weapons, nor meddling in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.” She declared to the cheering crowd. “Neither do they want to live under tyranny and torture. The people of Iran are tens of millions who want freedom and democracy.”

Mrs. Rajavi concluded that the problems in Iran and the Middle East will be solved through regime change in Iran by the Iranian people and their resistance.

Even though the young generation of Iranian expatriates have never seen Iran and have actually lived in democratic countries in North America and Europe, but the robust presence of the youths was a notable aspect of the rally, featuring their thirst for freedom in their homeland.