Maryam Rajavi testimony
Published by eliclifton
Text of Testimony by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi,
The President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
Submitted to:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade
April 29, 2015
This message can defeat Islamic fundamentalism in its most important ideological epicenter. For this reason, democratic and tolerant Islam, which is the true Islam not distorted by the mullahs, is the antithesis to fundamentalism. By adhering to this mindset, the PMOI/MEK plays a decisive role in the cultural and intellectual defeat of the clerical regime and its isolation within Iran as the godfather of Islamic fundamentalism. This movement, owing both to its enduring campaign against the religious fascism ruling Iran and paying the enormous cost of this struggle, is uniquely qualified to confront Islamic fundamentalism.
Strategy to overcome fundamentalism
With the coming to power of the mullahs in Iran, Islamic extremism emerged as a threat to peace and security. It spread extensively after 2003 when the Iranian regime began to dominate Iraq. So long as the mullahs remain in power in Iran, the crisis will continue in one way or the other. Thus, the ultimate solution is to overthrow the Iranian regime, which can only be achieved by the people of Iran and Iranian Resistance. However, in order to prevent further deepening of the crisis and putting an end to this catastrophe, the international community needs to take the following steps
1.Take practical measures to evict the Iranian regime from Iraq. Only then will fundamentalism begin to retreat, because this is precisely where it has expanded. The Quds Force, the Shiite militias, and other proxies of the Iranian regime who have penetrated deep into the political, military, security, and economic fabric of Iraq during the eight years of Maliki, must be removed from power structures. It would be a big mistake to seek the help of these Shiite militias in confronting ISIS. The only appropriate response to ISIS is to trust, empower, and arm the Sunnis and engage them in power sharing in a realistic and meaningful way. 2.Help the people of Syria overthrow Bashar Assad and move toward democracy. The crimes of the Assad regime, which remains in power with the backing of Tehran and
the IRGC, is the greatest cause of Sunni extremists’ success in recruiting volunteers
.
Had there been a proper response to the Assad regime’s shocking chemical attack in
a Damascus suburb, ISIS would have certainly not been so powerful today. The crimes of the Iranian regime and Bashar Assad in Syria, which have left hundreds of thousands dead and more than 10 million people homeless, are the greatest cause of rage and hatred among Sunni Muslims. 3.Instead of appeasing the heart
of fundamentalism and terrorism, i.e., the mullahs’ regime, the Iranian people’s desire and will to overthrow the
clerical regime must be recognized. Silence vis-à-vis blatant and systematic abuse of human rights and escalating trend of mass executions in Iran provide the greatest encouragement to extremists. A very important part of this approach would be to uphold the rights and guarantee the protection of Camp Liberty residents. Far beyond a humanitarian issue and
violation of repeated written commitments by the U.S. and the U.N., the predicament of PMOI/MEK members in Iraq since 2003 has only benefited the Iranian regime and paved the way for expansion of extremism. As 5.2 million Iraqis declared in a statement in 2006, the PMOI/MEK is the most significant political and cultural bulwark against the spread and penetration of fundamentalism. After the U.S. handed over the protection of Camp Ashraf
residents to Iran’s puppet regime in Iraq, 116 of residents were killed in six lethal
attacks by Iraqi Security Forces. Twenty-five more lost their lives due to an inhumane medical blockade and lack of timely access to medical care. Seven were also taken hostage in 2013, whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown. 4.There must be an emphasis on a democratic and tolerant interpretation of Islam to challenge fundamentalist interpretations whether Shiite or Sunni variants. 5.A decisive policy vis-à-
vis the Iranian regime’s nuclear program is vital to block its
pathways to the bomb. This would play an important role in eliminating fundamentalism in the region because it would weaken its epicenter and limit the scope of its aggression. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished representatives, Today, the clerical regime is engulfed in deep crisis at home. The people of Iran reject this totalitarian theocracy. They long for freedom, democracy, and regime change. The Iranian regime is also facing a crippling economic crisis. Corruption has permeated the entire structure of the regime. Official figures say 12 million people go hungry in Iran.
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Iran has one of the highest inflation rates and the unemployment rate stands at no less than 40 percent.
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Nevertheless, Rouhani increased the IRGC budget by 50 percent.
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Despite a state of absolute repression, protests are spreading by the day. On April 15, one million Iranian teachers staged a nationwide protest in 27 out of 31 provinces. Workers
’
protests and strikes are also escalating every day.
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The proponents
of “moderation” within the Iranian regime, such as Rouhani, share the views of other factions regarding the regime’s redlines and totalitarian rule of the Supreme
Leader. They are partners in domestic repression and exporting terrorism. Contrary to
claims by the regime’s appeasers, not only are they not a force for change but serve to
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Ali Rabii, Minister of Cooperation, Labor and Social Affairs
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Mehr News Agency, December 5, 2014.
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Iranian Economy Website
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November 18, 2014.
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Iranian Fiscal Year Budget 1394 (March 2015
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March 2016)
–
Eghtesad News, January 7, 2015.
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The Associated Press
. April 16, 2015: “
Iran's semi-official ILNA news agency says thousands of teachers have staged nationwide protests demanding higher wages. The report says peaceful protests were held Thursday in several cities, including the capital, Tehran. It says the teachers gathered in silence in front of provincial Education Ministry buildings. In Tehran, hundreds of teachers gathered in front of parliament. The protesters carried placards in which they asked for higher wages and demanded the release of teachers allegedly detained in similar protests last month.
”
prolong the
velayat-e faqih
regime. Comparing them with the opposition to other autocratic regimes is misguided. As long as this regime remains in power, Islamic fundamentalism will persist as the main global threat. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is a coalition comprised of 500 members, half of whom are women. It consists of democratic forces who seek to overthrow the regime in its entirety and establish a pluralist and secular republic. The NCRI has been waging a resistance against the Iranian regime for 34 years. In addition to a broad-base of support at home, it has gained extensive international recognition and is supported by a wide spectrum of political tendencies in Europe, the United States and Arab and Muslim countries.
According to the NCRI’s constitution, a provisional government will be formed
for an interim period of only six months after the overthrow of the clerical regime to facilitate the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Iran. It is tasked with holding a free and fair election with international observers, to elect a National Legislative and Constituent
Assembly, which will draft a new constitution and run the country’s affairs until the
constitution of the new republic is ratified. Consistent with its constitution and ratifications, the NCRI is committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other relevant international conventions. It is also committed to separation of religion and
state and gender equality. I have outlined the Iranian Resistance’s platform for
future of Iran in the following 10-point platform:
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1.In our view, the ballot box is the only criterion for legitimacy. Accordingly, we seek a republic based on universal suffrage. 2.We want a pluralist system, freedom of parties and assembly. We respect all individual freedoms. We underscore complete freedom of expression and of the media and unconditional access by all to the Internet. 3.We are committed to the abolition of death penalty. 4.We are committed to separation of Religion and State. Any form of discrimination against the followers of any religion and denomination will be prohibited. 5.We believe in complete gender equality in political, social, and economic arenas. We are also committed to equal participation of women in political leadership. Any form of discrimination against women will be abolished. Women will enjoy the right to select their own clothing and will be free to make their own choices regarding marriage, divorce, education, and employment. 6.We believe in the rule of law and justice. We want to set up a modern judicial system based on the principles of presumption of innocence, the right to defense, effective judicial protection, and the right to be tried in a public court. We also seek the total independence of judges. Sharia law will be abolished. 7.We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international covenants and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. We are committed to the
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Maryam Rajavi’s vision for
the future of Iran
–
June 22, 2013. Available at: http://www.maryam-rajavi.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1452&Itemid=592
equality of all ethnicities. We underscore the plan for the autonomy of Iranian Kurdistan and hold that the language and culture of our compatriots, from whatever ethnicity, are among our nat
ion’s precious human resources and must be protected and celebrated in tomorrow’s Iran.
8.We recognize private property, private investment, and the market economy. All Iranian people must enjoy equal opportunity in employment and in business ventures. We will protect and revitalize the environment. 9.Our foreign policy will be based on peaceful coexistence, international and regional peace and cooperation, as well as respect for the United Nations Charter. 10.We want a non-nuclear Iran, free of weapons of mass destruction. Let me conclude my remarks by quoting one of the pioneers of the American civil rights
movement, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The arch of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Our movement has existed before the
Iranian Revolution and we have faith that with your help we can move the arch of the moral universe more quickly because our cause is just. Thank you all very much.
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