|
By Lisa Bryant, VOA,
Paris Days
after the British Parliament voted to remove a prominent Iranian opposition
group from Britain's terrorist list, thousands of supporters of the People's
Mujahedeen of Iran staged a massive rally outside Paris, Saturday, urging the
European Union to follow suite -- and calling for the peaceful overthrow of the
Iranian regime. Lisa Bryant has more from Villepinte, France.
Young and old packed a cavernous exhibition hall north of Paris, waving blue
flags and cheering their support for Maryam Rajavi, leader of the political wing
of the People's Muhajedeen of Iran.
Wearing a suit and headscarf and speaking in Farsi, Rajavi hailed the vote by
Britain's parliament to remove the Iranian resistance group from that country's
terrorist list, saying it was the end of a period of shame. The People's
Muhajedeen is also listed as a terrorist organization by both the United States
and the European Union -- although its political wing is not. The EU is expected
to re-examine its list in the near future.
The rally also follows the EU's decision this week to deepen sanctions against
the Iranian government over concern about its nuclear program. Iran insists its
program is for peaceful purposes, but western nations fear it is building a
bomb.
The People's Muhajedeen is a controversial group, but most people agree it is by
far the largest Iranian resistance movement outside that country. Supporters at
the Paris rally included several western politicians, including Lord Robin
Corbett, a Labor politician in Britain's House of Lords. "The sole reason the
PMOI (People's Muhajedeen of Iran) is on the terrorist list was because the
Mullahs made it the price of opening talks with Britain and the EU over their
nuclear deceit," he said.
A number of analysts however, believe the People's Mujahedeen carries little
weight inside Iran and critics liken the group to a sect.
But Marie Agnes Kopp, of Strasbourg France, who attended the rally, believes the
group offers an alternative to the Iranian government. " I support democracy
and peace. I hope the Mujahedeen will work in that sensem," she said.
Still, a number of people attending the rally did not appear to know much about
the group. They said they had been flown or bussed in to Paris, with their
expenses paid for to attend the rally.
Related News:
Iran: Exiled Armed Group Abuses Dissident Members; Opposition Group Seeks
Recognition and Support in Western Capitals
(Paris, May 19, 2005) -- An armed Iranian opposition group in
exile, the Mojahedin Khalq Organization, has subjected dissident members to
torture and prolonged solitary confinement,
Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 28-page report,
"No Exit: Human
Rights Abuses Inside the MKO Camps," details how dissident
members of the shadowy Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) were tortured,
beaten and held in solitary confinement for years at military camps in Iraq
after they criticized the group's policies and undemocratic practices,
Iran to
UK: MKO ruling will isolate you
Iran says a decision by the British court to remove a ban on Mujahedin Khalq
Organization (MKO) would only isolate the UK government... "By adopting a policy
of supporting terrorist groups, it (Britain) is pursuing certain provisional
interests." -Press TV (June 2008)
Related Site:
Iran Interlink: Iran
Interlink has been established as a point of contact for families and friends of
members of the Iranian Mojahedin-e Khalq (aka MKO, MEK, PMOI, NCR, NCRI, NLA,
MISS) which is now based in Iraq. Among its aims is "to inform as widely as
possible about the real nature of the Iranian Mojahedin Khalq cult and to act as
a pressure group in this regard."
... Payvand News - 06/29/08 ...
© Copyright 2008 NetNative
(All Rights Reserved)
|
|
|
#
|---|
