Iran opposition movement provides the needed solution

Iranians opposition supporters inside Iran supporting Free Iran convention

 As protests continue to spread across Iran, there is no longer the hoax of any part of this country’s social fabric supporting the clerical regime. In fact, the ruling theocracy is up against the most serious domestic threat since the early days of 1979 the revolution, as explained by Ken Blackwell, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council, in a recent piece published in the Townhall.

The movement providing force and necessary guidance, as indicated by senior Iranian regime officials, has been the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) led by Maryam Rajavi. This is a coalition with the core group being the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and Rajavi issued a call-to-action to Iran’s protesters back in March. As a result, we are witnessing the public rise in response.

“Rajavi has articulated a ten-point plan describing the framework of this system, complete with free and fair elections, secular governance, safeguards on the rights of women and minorities, and a commitment to peaceful relations with Iran’s neighbors,” Blackwell explains.

Since January numerous cities throughout Iran are witnessing anti-regime protests of significant scope, including the scenes witnessed in Kazerun, southern Iran, and tens of thousands of truck drivers going on strike in hundreds of cities across all of Iran’s 31 provinces. Of course, authorities are also going the distance to crackdown these movements.

Iran’s protest movements have shown their resolve to continue their efforts, especially amongst PMOI/MEK members and supporters. Back in the summer of 1988 over 30,000 political prisoners were executed by the Iranian regime, of which an overwhelming majority were associated with the PMOI/MEK. All the while this movement continues to gain strength and grow in size. Add to this the PMOI/MEK’s network inside the regime’s ranks and files that has provided this movement invaluable intelligence to blow the whistle on this regime’s clandestine nuclear weapons drive, ballistic missile program, support for terrorism across the Middle East and domestic crackdown.

Speaking of roots, the NCRI is able to show its social base, especially through a convention held each year by the Iranian Diaspora in Paris, putting on a display of this movement’s support among the Iranian people, and politicians and lawmakers from across the globe.

“With that plan as a framework, the NCRI has established a leadership structure that is ready to step in to replace the clerical regime and unify the population behind the most longstanding advocates for its collective dream of democracy and civic freedom. Such unity is the most important component to a peaceful transition of power, and the NCRI brings unity not only to the domestic population but also to all international policymakers who believe in Iran’s democratic future.

“It should be difficult for anyone to witness that unity at the June 30 rally without concluding that US policy toward Iran is on the right course. This escalating assertiveness ought to be understood as adding the Iranian people’s hope for a domestically-driven change of government. And the rest of the Western world should adopt a similar posture for that same reason,” Blackwell concludes.

Visit this website for more information about the Iranian opposition convention.

Maryam Rajavi: For Freedom, From Mosaddegh to January 2018 Uprising

Maryam Rajavis message on the anniversary of the demise of Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh, leader of Iran’s Nationalist Movement

Mosaddegh’s tenure was a unique example of a government that defended its people’s rights and national interests, was devoid of corruption and tyranny, and was especially characterized an unwavering struggle for national freedom and independence
On the anniversary of the demise of Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh, leader of Iran’s Nationalist Movement, on March 15, 1967, we salute his exalted soul and renew our pledge to continue and advance his path for the happiness of the Iranian nation.
Mosaddegh became an acclaimed international icon for taking bold action to nationalize Iran’s Oil Industry on March 20 , 1952, an unforgettable landmark in Iran’s history. By leading this struggle, Mosaddegh became a great teacher of patriotism and an unwavering struggle for independence for Iranian people and nations of the Middle East.
In the first year after he seized power, Khomeini said, “Our path is not the path of oil… Oil nationalization is not an issue for us. It is wrong… to set Islam aside and praise someone who has nationalized the oil.”
Khomeini and his heirs thus established a dreadful dictatorship instead of democracy and freedom which the people of Iran aspired for. They also squandered the country’s oil and put it on sale.
Khomeini and his heirs resent Mosaddegh not only for his brilliant victory in nationalizing the oil, but for the valuable steps he took to put an end to despotism, corruption and poverty and bring democracy to the various realms of life in Iran. He threaded a road which was totally different from those of the Shah and Khomeini.
The pleasant memory of Mosaddegh’s brief tenure has remained in the nation’s mind since he promoted a nationalist and democratic program which was very progressive in his time.
The popular uprising on July 21, 1952, helped him pass his nine-point plan in the parliament. The plan enabled Mosaddegh to balance Iran’s foreign trade-- an unprecedented phenomenon in Iran’s history-- despite cessation of oil revenues, through imposing severe control on imports and reducing public expenses. He also managed to balance the country’s domestic budget.
For the first and last time in Iran’s history, Mosaddegh succeeded to relieve the country’s reliance on oil revenues for income. His administration introduced a range of progressive social, financial, administrative and political reforms despite tough opposition. He initiated extensive reforms in the Army, in health and education, in the judiciary and legal proceedings, and annulled the special and extraordinary courts.
Mosaddegh introduced reforms based on which landowners had to turn over 10 per cent of their revenues to their tenants. According to the new land reforms, the lands owned by the government were divided into small pieces and sold to the public to build their own housing, as a result of which house rent was lowered for low income families.
Mosaddegh was in office for only 28 months but his brief tenure was a unique example of a government that defended its people’s rights and national interests, was devoid of corruption and tyranny, and was especially characterized by an unwavering struggle for national freedom and independence.
As Massoud Rajavi once reiterated, “Mosaddegh was not an individual but represented a cause. He was targeted from all directions for his cause which cherished independence, freedom, and an unwavering struggle against foreign colonialism, and against domestic dictatorship and fundamentalism.”
The Shah’s path characterized by authoritarianism and dependence on foreign powers failed. The path of religious tyranny also failed.
Inspired by Mosaddegh and the Mojahedin (PMOI), Iran’s young generations have risen up today in dozens of cities across the country. They have a big question: Why doesn’t Iran have a democratic government despite its rich and progressive culture and despite abundant material and human resources?
This is the fundamental question that has made Iran’s people restless in achieving freedom, democracy and equality.
Mosaddegh said, “I will struggle to the last breath for freedom and independence of this country.”
We also pledge to continue the fight for the overthrow of the clerical dictatorship and not relent until the aspirations of our nation for a free, prosperous land free from all forms of discrimination are realized.