On July 1, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris, Marit Nybakk, former Deputy Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament, delivered a compelling speech reaffirming her support for a free and democratic Iran under the leadership of Maryam Rajavi. Nybakk reflected on her previous participation in the Free Iran conference in Tirana and emphasized the continued global solidarity with the Iranian people.
Nybakk acknowledged the heightened international scrutiny of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raïsi in a helicopter crash on May 19. She expressed concern that Raïsi would likely be replaced by another like-minded individual, perpetuating the regime’s oppressive control, especially against women. She highlighted the regime’s notorious record for public executions and death penalties, citing alarming statistics for 2022 through 2024. Nybakk condemned Tehran’s legal system for its gender apartheid and lauded the brave women who protested against compulsory hijab laws, including those in Oslo who demonstrated solidarity with their Iranian counterparts.
The former Deputy Parliament Speaker pointed out Tehran’s potential to produce nuclear weapons, adding to the urgency of the situation. She praised the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) as the most viable alternative to the current regime, highlighting its organizational capability, clear leadership, and commitment to democratic values. She endorsed Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a roadmap to a democratic society and expressed her belief that change in Iran is imminent.
The full text of Marit Nybakk’s speech follows:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Rajavi, dear friends.
First, it’s very nice to be here again. I was there two years ago, that was in Tirana. It was a very big event. When I attended the Free Iran conference, conference in Tirana two years ago, I started by underlining that there are many who care and who stand in front of the Iranian people and work for a free and democratic Iran under the leadership of Madame Maryam Rajavi.
I can really, really repeat that now. Let me add that the death of Ebrahim Raïsi, the Iranian regime’s President in the helicopter crash on the 19th of May has escalated the international critical attitudes towards Iran. The emptiness after the helicopter crash will, I’m afraid, be replaced by a politically like-minded person.
And the regime increases its oppression of the people, particularly, of course, the women. Iran is today ruled with strong control, even worse than ever before since the Islamic revolution in 1979. And it is difficult to see any change of regime with a strategy to have absolute suppression, including mass arrest, torture, and executions, as we’ve heard, to get rid of the opposition. The Iranian regime holds some world records. Have you heard them from Madame Rajavi? They hold the world record for public execution and death penalties.
Marit Nybakk: "The NCRI has consistently demonstrated its organizational capability, leadership, and commitment to democratic values. The Ten-Point Plan for the future of Iran is a roadmap to a democratic society."#FreeIran2024 #MaryamRajavi4FreeIranhttps://t.co/SqUkusDfkC
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 1, 2024
So far, in 2024, Iran has executed 257 persons. This follows 864 in 2023 and 582 in 2022. And we are talking about a regime still legalizing what I call gender apartheid. It’s in the law. We have this last year witnessed manifestations with thousands of women. They demonstrated against the demand, for the compulsory use of hijab and chador, and that they must cover themselves.
We’re talking about a demand. In Oslo, in my city, in Norway, thousands of people, including a lot of women of Iranian descent, demonstrated outside the Norwegian Parliament, where they were showing their hair. And of course, Norway gave the Nobel Peace Prize to Mrs. Narges Mohamadi for a fight for women, human rights, and democracy, in Iran. She could not come to Oslo. She’s in prison. But her children came to Oslo from Paris to receive the prize on her behalf. And a lot of journalists and activists have been arrested. The protests against capital punishment and the death penalty are increasing. I could add that we know that Iran has probably everything they need to produce a nuclear weapon.
A Norwegian journalist recently wrote that the tragedy of the Iranian people is that they are caught inside their system, unquote.
But dear friends, there is actually an alternative. The National Council of Resistance of Iran under the leadership of Madam Maryam Rajavi is today the most viable alternative to the current regime. The NCRI has consistently demonstrated its organizational capability, clear leadership, and commitment to democratic values.
And now, dear friends, including the 10 points, of course, the Ten-Point plan for the future of Iran, the road map to a democratic society. I think that a change is only a matter of time, and maybe the mullahs should bear that in mind. We wish Madame Rajavi, all the best. Good luck. You will succeed.
