Demands for the United Nations to refer Iran’s human rights record to the Security Council and urgent pleas for the release of the seven Ashraf hostages have been issued at a conference in Paris.
The event held on the eve of International Human Rights Day – also demanded immediate UN protection for the 3,100 Iranian dissidents under constant threat of attack in Camp Liberty.
Speakers lead by Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s daughter Naomi Tutu also paid tribute to South African statesman Nelson Mandela, who died last week.
At the event, Iranian resistance leader Maryam Rajavi also warned that nuclear talks with Iran must not cloud the steep rise in execution to almost 400 under ‘moderate’ president Hassan Rouhani, or the crimes against humanity committed at Camp Ashraf.
She told the international gathering in the French capital on Saturday: “The issue of Iran is the resistance of a nation which is at its wit’s end and demands that the religious fascism are removed and the path be paved for a free election and the rule of people’s vote.
“But the mullahs are eradicating their human rights in the cruellest way in order to stay in power.”
Mrs Rajavi called the signing of the nuclear agreement between the Iranian regime and the P5+1 an ‘important turning point’ in relations with Iran, but added: “There are unjustified shortcomings in the agreements, yet the Velayat-e Faqih regime had no other choice but to retreat one step back due to its weakness and the impasse it is facing.
“However, one should not come to the conclusion that they have given up their intention of making a bomb. For this regime, negotiation and agreement is just a tactical ploy and not a change in its nature and not abandoning bomb making. It is, therefore, looking for an opportunity to return to the previous condition.”
She also blamed inaction by the UN and the US for the massacre of 52 Iranian dissidents at Ashraf on September 1, telling delegates: “The massacre and hostage-taking in Ashraf on September 1 is a crime against humanity and the Security Council is responsible for it.
“The US still holds the main responsibility especially because of repeated and written commitments it has made vis-à-vis the safety and security of Ashraf residents.
“Both before and after this catastrophe, we have called on the U.S., the EU and the UN entities to take measures, but no measures were taken. This is while a crime against humanity is ongoing by the Iraqi government holding the seven hostages. The Iraqi government has even taken the bodies of martyrs as hostage and has not given them back for burial after 100 days.”
The conference was inaugurated by Jean-François Le Garrett and was presided over by Naomi Tutu. Speeches were delivered by Rudy Giuliani, Howard Dean, Michael Mukasey , Louis J. Freeh, Geir Haarde, and Naomi Tutu.
