Press Association – The British Government’s attempt to appease the “tyrannical” Iranian regime by proscribing the main opposition movement was “shocking and shameful”, former Conservative Home Secretary Lord Waddington said today.
Lord Waddington told a news conference at the House of Commons that it was time to “de-proscribe” the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran and for “the West to stand with the Iranian people in their struggle against the tyrannical rule of the mullahs”.
During the conference, organised by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, “appalling” footage was shown of recent executions by hangings in Iran.
Lord Waddington said: “What is shocking and shameful is that in an attempt to appease the Iranian regime, our Government proscribed the main Iranian opposition movement.
“We in the West should be doing all we can to assist the people of Iran to achieve freedom. For too long we have been doing the opposite.
“It is therefore time for de-proscription of the PMOI and for the West to stand with the Iranian people in their struggle against the tyrannical rule of the mullahs.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool, a former Liberal Democrat MP, said that since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became President, there had been a five-fold increase in executions, including of political prisoners and under 18s.
“The number of executions in less than 15 months exceeds 400,” he claimed.