Iran is one of the greatest problems of our times, it is the most serious threat facing world peace and stability, and it is a humanitarian problem of the utmost concern, therefore, it is natural that the same as other many parliaments in other countries, in Europe and America, the Spanish Parliament, both chambers, the Senate and the Congress, wanted to join in this huge operation of world parliamentary support for the Iranian resistance.
As a Spaniard, I am personally delighted that the Parliament of my country, Spain, is joining this initiative as a relevant addition to this large operation for support to democracy and freedom in Iran.
Given that the senators in attendance, particularly led by José María Chiquillo, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate, need to go to vote, as they have a plenary session, and in the Spanish Parliament, the MPs have a twofold reason to vote: firstly, their parliamentary vocation and their responsibility and, secondly, like in Europe, if we don’t vote we get fined, and then given these two reasons: both contrition and attrition, they need to attend the plenary session. And this is why he has to leave and I am going to ask José María Chiquillo, with no further beating around the bush, to take the floor.
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ALEJO VIDAL-QUADRAS: Thank you very much, José María, for your honest and heartfelt words, and we know that these are words that are an expression of your beliefs and from your heart, and we are continuing with this event in the scheduled order, and as I said at the beginning, this event we are holding is part of a series of activities that have been held for a number of years – a decade or more – in various parliaments of the EU, that are held to support Iranian resistance. It has been a long road, politically intense, because I must remind you just for the historical record that ten years ago the NCRI, and its main organisation, the People's Mujahedin of Iran were unfairly classified as terrorist organisations, both in the EU and in the USA. This classification as a terrorist group was nothing more than an attempt by Western countries to please Khomeini’s regime, because there was no objective ground to base this accusation – as it was proved later. In fact, following a very long fight, both legal and political, the ECJ issued a series of rulings, up until the final ruling, where it was made clear that European governments had to remove the NCRI and the People's Mujahedin of Iran from the terrorist list, they ordered that they had to be removed from the list. Very recently, the State Department of the US, has reached a similar decision, also pressured by the Courts to do so. And as I am here with politicians, from the Congress and the Senate, and also by a very honourable ex-MEP, my great friend, Paulo Casaca, I want to highlight an issue which I believe is very relevant for MPs: in this long road to giving the Iranian resistance what they justly deserved, which was to be removed from the list of terrorist organisations, as they never were terrorists, what happened was clearly an alienation of the legislative power (parliaments) and the judiciary, both in Europe and the US, versus the executive. MPs of the same party as the government in power in the UK, in France, in other countries, in the US, were challenging their governments on this issue to make sure that justice was achieved. And this battle has lasted over 10 years, and finally, the courts supported by democratic parliaments have made the truth very clear: the Iranian resistance has never been a terrorist organisation and if it was described in this way by governments this was for purely political reasons which were entirely unrelated to truth and to justice.
We must consider that the history of Iranian resistance is a long road, encumbered by sacrifices and paved with suffering. The historical leader, the husband of Ms Rajavi, Masood Rajavi, was already imprisoned in his early youth in times of the Shah for seven years. Many members of his family have given their lives in the battle for freedom in Iran. Ms Rajavi herself has lost two sisters in this battle, and they were assassinated in tragic circumstances. Therefore, when a cause is backed by this degree of involvement and sacrifice, I believe, like José María Chiquillo, it is the duty of anyone who believes in democracy, anyone honourable man, to support the cause.
The European Parliament has an informal inter-group called Friends of Free Iran, with the participation of over 200 MEPs from different political groups: left, right, centre… There are MEPs from the Popular Party, Socialists, British Conservatives, nationalists from Spanish parties, i.e., this support is above party-level and it is a multiparty support, and it encompasses MEPs belonging to a range of ideologies and parties who support freedom and democracy in Iran. I think that this is also a sign that speaks for itself on this movement. Of course, a movement which is supported by Socialists, Conservatives, by the Popular Group, even by Catalan Nationalists for instance (and we have our differences with them in Spain), all together to support a cause which is universal and affects the entire planet. I think this is very significant.
Every year, I have the pleasure and the honour of attending the large meeting, the large event of Iranian opposition in exile on a worldwide scale, which is held in Paris. I have been there with world leaders from many countries and many political beliefs, who were supporting Iranian resistance. This meeting brings together 50, 60, 70 thousand Iranians every year. Last time there were 100 thousand or over 100 thousand Iranians from all over the world to support the resistance movement. Sometimes when they say that Ms Rajavi chairs a small group, an insignificant, marginal group… I roll over with laugher. I ask you: what political party in Europe could bring together 100 thousand people in a stadium? How many of them are there? There are very few, or hardly any. Therefore, we are talking about a movement which has a huge social dimension, bringing together all sorts of people: anyone from people with the humblest origins to people with the highest status; women and men, who are scattered all over the world who have a single goal and whose heart beats in sync, in unison, with the respectable – very respectable - goal of returning to their country, to freedom, to democracy, and to collective dignity. We cannot, therefore, be unaware of this. I sometimes say, and I am sure that Patrick Kennedy - who is part of a legendary saga of American politicians – will agree with me when I say that among the many things we are doing right now in Europe, one of the most important things we could do is promoting change in Iran. This, I daresay, is almost a priority [applause]… It is a strategic priority, a moral priority and, without doubt, a political priority. This being the situation, governments must seriously think about their policies in this regard. Let’s see: the famous Realpolitik – politics of pragmatism – without doubt is a reality and I am not going to deny that it exists. Politics based on pure idealism can fail. Then we have politics of ideals placed in the context of reality we cannot escape, that is, no-one denies this but there are limits to this. What corporate or political interests could possibly justify torture or oppression, the disregard for millions and millions of innocent human beings? What political, corporate or economic interest could possibly be compatible with mass murders, executions without trial, with the direst tortures in those dark cells o the prisons of the Iranian secret police, which happen EVERY DAY? EVERY DAY there are horrible things happening and if I explained them to you now we would be horrified, and we would be in tears because it is unbelievable that evil can reach such heights. I ask you again: what political, strategic or economic interest can be more important than fighting against this? And, afterwards, if we wish to be pragmatists, let’s be pragmatists, let’s be extremely pragmatic… Can you think of anything more important than peace and stability for the economy to prosper? Can you think of anything on a practical level which is more important than removing the worst threat to world peace and stability in the world and that is in Iran? This is a regime which is also fostering terrorism in all four corners of the Earth. Is there something more practical than neutralising a dictatorship like this and preventing it from getting its hand on nuclear weapons? Therefore, from the ideals and morals viewpoint – this is our duty – and from the realistic and pragmatic viewpoint – it is in our interest. Gosh! When morals and interest are both pointing in the same direction, you would have to be quite a fool not to realise! [applause]
I therefore call on the Spanish government, the government of my country, and of my party, in this case, and I’m sure that the other Spanish MPs here share my views, and this is why they are here this evening. The Spanish government has to take on an active role in this support to democracy and freedom in Iran. Specifically, one year ago, the Spanish government has received an official request to give asylum in Spain to a small group of people, some nine people, from Camp Liberty, who were resident in Spain, and had residence permits in Spain, and who could now come to Spain and recover their status of refugees. By welcoming these people, the Spanish government would be pioneering efforts and would serve as an example to other governments to accept the 3,000 people who are now at Camp Liberty and who have to be relocated and transferred to democratic countries. Therefore, one year ago, this request was submitted and I want to think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their interest and I wish to call on the Ministry of the Interior to expedite the final procedures, and I am hoping that we can soon welcome these Iranian democrats in Spain. As I said, there are few of them, it is a small group, but it would be an example and a stimulus for many other governments. The US for instance is ready to accept hundreds of them. But someone has to be the first and I would be delighted, as a Spaniard, and I am sure thatXuclà and Chiquillo and other Spanish MPs share my opinion, we would love Spain to be one of the first countries leading the way in this humanitarian mission. Therefore, I am making this call on the government and I hope action will be taken soon.
I finish here, dear friends. Many thanks for listening to me, and I also wish to thank Ms Rajavi for attending and being in Madrid. This moves me, and brings me enormous pleasure, that she is on Spanish soil. I am sure that she will return in the future and I also hope that in future we will be able to visit her in her wonderful country, in Iran. For all this to materialise and become a reality, we will continue our work together for peace, democracy, and liberty. I hope this happens soon.
Thank you.
[Applause]
Now… [applause, chanting]
[Alejo speaks in English]
Now, it is honour and a privilege to welcome in Spain, for the first time ever, as she had never been here… It is an honour and a privilege to welcome in Spain together with my dear friends the MPs of the Spanish Congress and Senate, and to give the floor to the President of the NCRI, Ms Maryam Rajavi […]
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Thank you very much, dear Mrs. President, for these words which have reiterated something comforting for any western democrat and it is that the political agenda of Iran that is defended by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which is by you presided over, could be signed with out any problem, but quite the contrary, by all the members of the parliament which are today around this table and by all the democrats.
This is really a key element, because, as you have said clever people foresee alternatives, because when the change occurs, especially when this change is messy, violent and there is no responsible, reliable and credible choice any type of risk can sweep away our best hopes and these days we are living examples which prove this.
Therefore, le us hope that all of these calls, especially the ones you have already done are listened by all the governments of the EU and the USA and some other western countries, because, as we have said before, if moral values agree with interest we have to obey their call.
ALEJO VIDAL-QUADRAS: Thank you, Pat. We all know that Pat has many skills but today we found out one more skill he had up his sleeve which is a perfect command of Spanish. And now, it is my pleasure to give the floor to the spokesperson from Unión, Progreso y Democracia [UPyD] [Union, Progress and Democracy] on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress, Irene Lozano.
Irene knows, since her party won a seat for the European Parliament - a seat won by my great friend, Professor Sosa Wagner, Francisco Sosa Wagner - that he immediately joined our group of friends of Free Iran, and he is working actively with us defending freedom and democracy in Iran, therefore, as UPyD joined this battle for democracy at the European Parliament from the very moment they arrived there it makes sense that Irene is with us today. I give you the floor.
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ALEJO VIDAL: […] Irene, I think you have put your finger on a key issue, because you have drawn a practical path which can immediately be set in motion and both me and Jordi Xuclà (who I thank once more for his attendance and support)… I’m saying that this is the same as the European Parliament, and various parliaments of the EU, if in the Spanish parliament a network of MPs is created who are permanently and actively taking an interest in the cause for democracy in Iran, this could have tremendous consequences, tangible consequences, for instance, right now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior already have the application – they’ve had it for some months now – for the acceptance of this small group of residents in Camp Liberty who were once Spanish residents. If, in relation to this specific issue, you can take parliamentary action and put pressure on the government amicably to expedite the process, I think you would be making a huge contribution. And, really, as I said a while ago, once this process for the relocation of refugees in other parts of the world is set in motion in a democratic country, I think there will be a contagion and it will immediately spread. If you could give this a push from the Spanish Parliament, knowing that the Spanish government is very aware of this process, they’ve known for a year and I can assure you that we are doing our best for them not to forget… But, if the pressure came from the actual parliament and, additionally, from a variety of groups, I believe it would be extremely helpful – Jordi and Irene – and if you can do this, it would be really magnificent. Thank you in advance.
[Applause]
And now, it’s a pleasure to give the floor to Juan Garcés, a very able jurist, who has put his knowledge, skills, and his time at the service of the defence of freedom and democracy in Iran and in favour of Human Rights disrespected by the Iranian regime and by the Iraqi government under the influence of the Iranian regime, because Juan has achieved something extraordinary which is the opening of court proceedings under the principle of Universal Jurisdiction in the Spanish National Court as a result of the killings which occurred in Camp Ashraf, with the fatalities totalling almost 50, after an attack by Iraqi troops infiltrated by Iranian agents. Juan has worked and continues working so that Spanish Courts – under this principle of Universal Jurisdiction – do justice. So that justice is done and the people responsible for these killings are brought to justice. Many thanks, Juan, I give you the floor.
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ALEJO VIDAL-QUADRAS: Many thanks, Juan. Experience has shown us that over these past 12 years that a combination of political pressure and action in the courts is enormously effective and would not have achieved the delisting of the CNRI and the Mujahidin of the People of Iran from the terrorist lists in Europe and the USA without this patient, pertinacious and tireless action in the courts. Action before justice is slow, it is burdensome, and often frustrating given that it is slow but finally – if you insist and you are right – it is rewarding, and this is why we appreciate the work you are doing in this regard so much.
And now I am delighted to give the floor to another great friend of the cause of freedom and justice in Iran and this is Francisco José Alonso, the Chairman of the Spanish Human Rights League. Please take the floor.
[Applause]
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ALEJO VIDAL-QUADRAS: Thank you, Francisco José. It is true that the practical consequences that would be caused by the Spanish government accepting a small number of refugees from Camp Liberty would be extraordinary given the fact that we are at a time where there is an agreement by virtue of which these 3,200 people have to be accepted as refugees in a series of democratic countries but the technicalities still have to be clarified, such as how many of them are going to each country, the schedule for their transfer, etc. And, we must start. The minute someone starts, even with a small group of 6, 7, 8 people, this could be the catalyst required to spur on the rest of the process. The US administration, with who we are in constant contact, has said they are willing to take hundreds of them. The US is a very large country, it can accept them. There are other countries which are smaller European countries which may take a smaller number of people, but someone has to start. And if Spain was the country to kick off the process by accepting that small group I believe we would be doing a huge service to the cause we share, and your contribution and that of your organisation can be decisive as can be the contribution of the Spanish Parliament by pressurising the Government, as I told Irene earlier.
To finish the list of speakers, before Ms Rajavi closes the event, I want to give the floor to a great friend. The word friend is abused and after so much usage and abusage it loses its value and becomes mere rhetoric or ceremony. However, this is not the case. Paulo is a close friend and a fabulous person. Paulo was the European MP starting off Friends of Free Iran in the EP. He was the founder and the pioneer. He was the person opening the way. He signed me up. When I got to the European Parliament, Paulo introduced me to this cause and movement and Paulo has worked tirelessly in favour of rights and freedoms in Iran and he has written important books, he has drafted clarifying reports. His work has been prodigious. There are a few people I admire in the world, and one of them is Paulo Casaca. I am honoured to be his friend and having been able to cooperate with him in the defence of freedom and democracy in Iran against this nefarious regime. Dear Paulo, as ever, it is a pleasure to welcome you, and I now give you the floor.
[Applause and chanting]
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ALEJO VIDAL-QUADRAS: Thank you, Paulo. We are reaching the end of this meeting, where I believe we have dealt with matters that are particularly relevant and where we have even dared to “give homework” to some of the people attending. And we are sure they will do their work… At least, my experience with UPyD in this sense is very positive. They’ve never disappointed me whenever I’ve agreed something with them, with Paulo Casaca or others they have always kept their word. Therefore, I am very sure that Irene will back us in the Spanish Parliament to ask the government to do something specific and really necessary. And, now, to close this event, we must hear the President of the NCRI, the person representing and embodying the hopes of so many Iranians and also the hopes of many democrats worldwide as Maryam Rajavi and her movement are dealing with a key problem which, I daresay, is the greatest threat and danger on an international scale. And therefore […]
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Alejo Vidal-quadras, Vice president of the European Parliament
