Supporters say the move gives the People’s Mujahedin freer rein to organize democratic opposition to the regime in Tehran
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 1, 2007
LONDON — In a victory for British politicians pushing for regime change in Iran, an appeals tribunal ruled Friday that their government had no authority to ban a leading Iranian opposition group as a terrorist organization.
The ruling, which could help the group gain legal status across Europe, was hailed by proponents of the cause as a significant boost to efforts to organize democratic opposition to the Islamic government in Tehran…
The successful appeal was filed by three dozen members of the British Parliament, many of whom say they hope to empower Iranian opposition groups to peacefully overthrow the government in Tehran.
"This judgment will help Iran build a new country," said Robin Corbett, chairman of the parliamentary committee that filed the appeal. "Iran will be free."
The British government said it would probably appeal the ruling…
"The fundamental solution to Iran’s crisis is neither foreign military intervention nor appeasement. The solution is democratic change by the Iranian people, and resistance. For this solution to work, all obstacles placed in the path of the resistance must be removed," said Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an umbrella political opposition group that includes the People’s Mujahedin.
Rajavi spoke to cheering supporters in London by video link from the group’s headquarters in Paris. Dozens of Iranians filled the street outside the courthouse in London after the decision was announced, some weeping, many waving the group’s flag, while organizers handed out sweets.
"Thank you!" the crowd chanted repeatedly.
The British warned in evidence presented to the Proscribed Organizations Appeal Commission that delisting the group could present foreign policy problems for Britain…
People’s Mujahedin supporters say the ruling, if it stands on appeal, will allow the group to recover frozen funds, raise new money and organize a more effective political network.
"It will make things enormously different for what’s going on inside Iran. It will be just the boost all those students and everybody else need who are protesting against the regime," said Masoud Zabeti of the Committee of Anglo-Iranian Lawyers, who helped with the appeal.
