Berlin, June 29 — Simultaneous with the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris, former US Senator Robert Torricelli passionately addressed the grand rally of thousands of Iranians in Berlin, emphasizing the universal desire for freedom. Senator Torricelli, identifying himself as a “free Iranian,” highlighted the symbolic significance of meeting in Berlin, a city synonymous with the struggle for liberty.
Senator Torricelli drew parallels between Berlin’s historic fight against tyranny and the current plight of the Iranian people. He called for an end to the oppression, poverty, and suppression faced by Iranians under the current regime. Emphasizing the theft of the Iranian revolution 40 years ago, he demanded that the time for a free Iran is now.
The former American senator from New Jersey directly addressed global leaders, challenging the notion that there is no alternative to the current regime. He asserted that the Iranian people themselves are the alternative and highlighted Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which includes gender equality, global peace, a non-nuclear stance, religious freedom, and freedom of speech.
Senator Torricelli urged European and global leaders to stand on the right side of history, prioritizing the support for a free Iran over economic interests. He pointed to the recent non-participation in sham elections by 88% of Iranians as a clear sign of the people’s desire for freedom.
The full text of Senator Torricelli’s speech follows:
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bob Torricelli. I am a former American senator, but today I’m a free Iranian just like you. It is not by chance that we meet today in Berlin. There is no other city in the world that demonstrates more vividly the commitment of a people to be free. The very name Berlin is synonymous with the struggle for freedom and for liberty. It was here that all the free people of the world said “enough, no more tyranny, no more oppression.”
This city and this country will be free. And today we gather with a simple and humble request. What was good for Berlin then is good for the people of Iran now. We want to be free.
Do the children of Iran deserve less? Does another generation need to live in abject poverty? Do the women of Iran need to live under complete suppression? Must a religious dictatorship deny all freedom of speech and worship?
Forty years ago, the Iranian revolution was stolen from the people. We are here today in Berlin and in Paris to demand the time is up. It is time for free Iran. No more stealing our freedom.
I know that the leaders of Europe and around the world will say the regime may be bad, but there is no alternative. You are looking at the alternative. It is the Iranian people themselves. I know leaders of Europe will say, but there is no plan. There is a plan: Maryam Rajavi’s plan, the Ten-Point Plan.
Gender equality, peace for the world, non-nuclear, religious freedom, freedom of speech, there is a plan. We have the plan. It is the Ten-Point Plan.
To the leaders of Europe and the world, we challenge this. Be on the right side of history.
As the years pass, you will not want to explain to a free generation of Iranians that you chose oil sales or automobile sales or goods and services. You are trinkets of gold rather than standing with the free people of Iran. Be on the right side of history. Stand with us. Stand for a free Iran.
In the streets of every Iranian city, people have voted with their feet. People have risked their lives in demonstrations. They put their lives on the line. Yesterday, 88% of the Iranian people stood home, stood against the regime, and would not participate in a sham election. What else do you need to hear? The people of Iran want to be free.
Today, you will hear from international voices who stand with you. You are not alone. The free Iranian people are not alone. You have friends around the world. It is a rising tide that will drown the mullahs.
