On June 30, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris, Christian Calderone, a representative from the German State Parliament, delivered a compelling speech emphasizing solidarity with the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom and democracy. He drew a parallel between Berlin’s history of overcoming both Nazi and Socialist dictatorships and the Iranian people’s fight against oppression.
The German MP highlighted the significance of Berlin as a symbol of resilience and the triumph of freedom over tyranny. He congratulated the demonstrators for making their desire for a free Iran clear and praised their choice of Berlin as the venue, symbolizing that dictatorships and oppression are temporary.
He commended over 500 members of the German Bundestag and state parliaments for signing a declaration rejecting the current Iranian regime and supporting the democratic alternative and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. Calderone emphasized that this plan is the path to freedom in Iran and peace in the Middle East. He condemned the Iranian regime for its long history of oppressing its citizens, silencing their voices, and suppressing their aspirations for freedom. He also criticized the regime’s acts of terrorism on European soil, which threaten security and violate sovereignty.
Calderone denounced the recent sham election in Iran as an attempt to legitimize a government ruled by clerical absolutism. He stressed that the regime is not reformable and that free elections are only possible with true freedom. He reiterated the Iranian people’s long-standing fight for freedom and their right to a democratic republic where they can determine their destiny.
In his declaration, Calderone expressed strong support for Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan and called on the international community to recognize and support the legitimate struggle for a democratic, free, and secular republic in Iran. He concluded by drawing on Berlin’s history as evidence that freedom will prevail and dictatorships will fall, expressing hope that this will soon be Iran’s story as well.
A translated version of MP Christian Calderone’s speech follows:
Dear President Rajavi, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to inform you that our delegation from the Federal Republic of Germany participated in the large demonstration in Berlin yesterday. I would like to congratulate you today on this impressive event for human rights, freedom, the rule of law, and democracy.
The event took place in Berlin, a capital city where, from 1933 to 1945 during the National Socialist dictatorship and from 1949 to 1989 during the Socialist dictatorship in East Germany, unfreedom and oppression emanated on an immeasurable scale.
Today, the Federal Republic is a free state. This year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of our Basic Law, our Constitution, which was founded on the ruins of these dictatorships—a Constitution that, after the comprehensive moral, economic, social, and political destruction of our country, places the freedom of the individual at its center. For we are called to freedom.
Yesterday’s demonstrators in Berlin made their will for freedom for Iran clear, and they could not have chosen a better place than Berlin. This location shows that dictatorships, oppression, torture, persecution, and executions are transient and that we are called to be free individuals in a free society. The demonstrators made their support for the strength of their alternative clear—an alternative that shows the Iranian people the way to a brighter and democratic future.
MP Calderone: "We have declared our support for the Ten-Point Plan of @Maryam_Rajavi. We would like the international community to recognize the struggle for a free and democratic republic."#MaryamRajavi4FreeIran #FreeIran2024https://t.co/KJbsTgPBc4
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 30, 2024
We, as members of parliaments, do the same here. Over 500 members of the Bundestag and the German state parliaments have signed a declaration rejecting the regime ruling Iran and supporting the democratic alternative to the mullah regime and its Ten-Point Plan. This is the path to freedom in Iran and to peace in the Middle East.
The regime in Iran has long oppressed its own citizens, silenced their voices, and stifled their aspirations for freedom. Beyond its borders, the same regime has carried out terrorist acts on our European soil, endangered our security, and violated our sovereignty.
Just two days ago, Iran held another sham election, a farce aimed at legitimizing a government ruled by the absolutism of the clergy. The last few decades have shown us that this regime is not reformable. There is no moderate faction in this regime, and any election held under unfreedom, and oppression is meaningless because freedom is a prerequisite for an election.
The Iranian people have waged a long struggle for freedom. They demand and deserve a free Iran, a democratic Iran, and a republic where the people can determine their own destiny and future.
In our declaration, we expressed our support for the Ten-Point Plan of Mrs. Mariam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Today, we stand here in solidarity with the Iranian people. We call on the international community to recognize the legitimate struggle and support the aspirations for a democratic, free, and secular republic.
Ladies and gentlemen, the history of the German capital Berlin shows that freedom will prevail and that dictatorships will pass. Let us work together to ensure that this history of freedom also becomes the new history of Iran.
Thank you very much.