On June 30, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris, Kimmo Sasi, former Minister and Member of Parliament from Finland, addressed the audience, emphasizing the dual threat posed by the Iranian regime to both its own citizens and European security. Sassi highlighted recent incidents of Iranian hostage-taking and terrorist activities, calling for a stronger response from the European Union.
Sassi began by recounting the case of Johan Floderus, a Swedish European Union diplomat arrested by Iranian security forces two years ago. This arrest was a tactic to exchange Floderus for Hamid Noury, who had been sentenced for crimes against humanity by a Stockholm court. Sassi stressed the need to stop such hostage-taking practices and ensure that those committing human rights crimes are brought to justice.
He cited two recent terrorist actions by the Iranian regime within the EU: the assassination attempt on Alejo Vidal Quadras, a former Vice President of the European Parliament, and the bombing plot at the Free Iran World Summit in 2018. Sassi called for firm action to prevent further Iranian terrorism within EU borders.
The former Minister from Finland expressed hope that the new EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaya Callas, would take a tougher stance against Iran. He proposed several measures, including listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, closing Iranian embassies that function as centers for terrorism and intelligence gathering, and imposing deeper economic sanctions to isolate Iran if it continues its activities in the EU.
Addressing the recent parliamentary sham elections in Iran, Sassi dismissed them as spectacles rather than true democratic exercises, noting that half the population—specifically women—are barred from being elected as president. He questioned the legitimacy of Iranian elected officials and urged the EU to recognize Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as aligned with European Union values and the right path for Iran.
The full text of former Minister Kimo Sassi’s speech follows:
Madam Rajavi, dear freedom-loving friends. The Iranian regime is not only brutal to its own people in Iran but poses a great threat to European citizens as well. The regime has started a new hostage-taking and blackmailing tactics. Iranian security arrested two years ago in Iran, a Swedish European Union diplomat, Johan Floderus, without any grounds. The only reason was to exchange him for Hamid Noury, whom Stockholm Court had sentenced for crime against humanity in Iran, the most serious crime in the penal code.
The change has now taken place, but we have to find ways to stop this hostage-taking. It’s very important that Iranian leadership knows that you can’t escape anywhere when you commit human rights crimes, but you will be in a Court of Law somewhere in the world sooner or later.
.@KimmoSasi: "This is crucial because Mrs. Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan aligns with European Union values. As we all know, dictatorships inevitably collapse, and we are committed to ensuring free elections and a free Iran."#MaryamRajavi4FreeIran #FreeIran2024https://t.co/kuJDmDVpaR
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 30, 2024
The Iranian regime conducts terrorist actions all the time in the European Union area. I take two examples: There was an assassination attempt on Alejo Vidal Quadras, our very good friend, and a former vice President of the European Parliament last November. There was also an attempt to bomb plot at the Free Iran World Summit 2018. We must take firm action so that nothing like this happens. We can’t tolerate Iranian terrorism inside the European Union borders.
Now, the European Union has got a new high representative for foreign policy, Kaya Callas. She’s a tough lady, and I hope she takes a much firmer position in the commission to enact against Iran. Iran’s terrorist actions must be at so high price that the Iran regime is not willing to pay it. And what could it be?
First, of course, the Revolution Guards, IRGC, must be listed as a terrorist organization, as has been done in Canada and the United States. But the European Union must also consider closing Iranian embassies because they function as operational centers for terrorism and also as intelligence gathering against dissidents. Then in addition, we need deeper economic sanctions if Iran continues its activities in the European Union area, and we can isolate Iran dramatically if there is not a stop in these policies.
Then a few words about parliamentary elections and recent, elections. They were spectacles. They were not a true democratic exercise. In fact, in Iran, half of the people, population, it means all women cannot be elected as president. But already, half of the population is outside the power. All six presidential candidates were former Revolution Guard officers, and in fact, there were no moderate candidates.
It’s a good question if the European Union can consider that elected members of Parliament and the President who will be elected are not legitimate and that we don’t think that they are counterparts for negotiations with the European Union. What is important?
Former Finish Minister @KimmoSasi: "The Iranian regime is not only brutal to its own people in Iran but also poses a great threat to European citizens. The regime has begun employing new hostage-taking and blackmail tactics."#FreeIran2024https://t.co/kuJDmDVX0p
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 30, 2024
Because Madame Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan is equal to European Union values, it’s important that the European Union tells clearly that the Ten-Point Plan is the right path, the right way to better Iran. That should be if Iran wants to have cooperation with the European Union, the way to go forward.
All in all, so as we all know, dictatorship falls sooner or later, and we’ll work hard. The falling will happen, and we hope that we’ll see soon free Iran. That’s our goal for that work. Congratulations, Madame Rajavi.
Thank you so much.