As Conference in Poland Nears, Free Iran Rally Calls Attention to Human Rights in Iran

The human rights situation in Iran continues to decline. As the economic crisis wipes out the Iranian middle class, poverty is becoming the new normal. Despite the regime trying to put these problems on the international community and sanctions, it is actually the accumulation of years of mismanagement and corruption. In light of their terrorist activities, the international community, particularly Europe, are beginning to hold the Iranian regime to account.

In early January, the European Union imposed its first sanctions on Iran since the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with these sanctions targeting areas of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and two of its key officials. However, without a complete blacklisting of MOIS and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the sanctions will be ineffective in curbing the activities of these organizations.

In light of the terrorist activities that in Europe initiated by the Iranian regime against the Iranian resistance, more EU countries are joining France and Britain to call for a firmer stance on Tehran, which could include new economic sanctions, asset freezes, and travel bans on those responsible for Iran’s ballistic missile program and ties with the IRGC.

“We’d prefer not to take these measures, but they need to stop trying to kill people on our territory and over the last three years they have beefed up their ballistic program,” said one senior European diplomat.

Conference in Poland Focus on Middle East

The U.S. has scheduled a conference in Poland on February 13 and 14, which is going to focus on the Middle East and Iran. The Iranian resistance continues to support a stance by the international community that holds a firmer line with the regime and its mullahs.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the conference and it would be a good time for Europe to show they will no longer support the regime’s activities, particularly by continuing its appeasement efforts. The event is expected to gather foreign ministers from no less than 90 countries.

At the same time, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), noted that the mullahs have increased their terrorist activities.

“This is why the mullahs who are unable to confront the uprisings, have found their only way out in terrorism against the Iranian resistance,” said Rajavi. “In 2018, they sought to carry out a major terrorist plot against the annual gathering of the Iranian Resistance in Villepinte, but they failed. They also hatched terrorist plots in Albania, the U.S., and Denmark, all of which were foiled…We have always urged western governments to be firm against the mullahs’ terrorist dictatorship. So, today, we urge them to expel the mercenaries of the mullahs’ intelligence services and the terrorist Qods Force from the U.S. and Europe.”

Rajavi also urged democratic countries to support human rights in Iran. The only way to end the regime’s terrorism is an uprising of the Iranian people, according to Rajavi. The NCRI has supported the Iranian people in their quest for regime change and continue to warn about the dangers of the fundamentalist regime. A firmer, more unified European stance is desired, especially after the EU decided to include the MOIS in its list of terrorist entities following the four failed terrorist attempts in Europe this year.

Free Iran Rally Highlights Massive Human Rights Violations

On February 8, the NCRI calling for a major demonstration against the human rights violations and abuses that are ongoing in Iran. It also is a response to the increase of terrorist activities in Europe that are initiated by the Iranian regime.

Internal devastating unrest began in December 2017 and continues to move through Iranian towns and cities. Recently, the former Labor Minister of Rouhani’s cabinet said the protests spread to more than 160 cities across the country. The opposition has gained considerable ground in international arenas, especially in the U.S. The PMOI/MEK is playing a large role in the protests, as well as a part of the coalition of resistance groups, known as the NCRI.