NCRI – We have heard with utmost regret and sadness that Dr. Rudi Vis, former member of the British Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), died on Sunday after losing a battle with cancer. He was considered by the Iranian Resistance to be a great long-time friend and supporter.
The 69-year-old Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green served in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2010. He spared no effort in contributing to a campaign to remove the main opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), from the list of terrorist organizations in Britain. Along with his parliamentary colleagues, he brought the campaign to victory against the religious and terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran.
Dr. Vis was also a prominent member of the British delegation to the Council of Europe and in that capacity played a valuable role in introducing the Iranian Resistance and setting up conferences and joint meetings.
He was also a recognized academic, holding a doctorate degree in economics and lecturing at universities. He had a close bond and was especially popular with his constituency.
Dr. Vis was also an eloquent speaker, inspiring audiences with his moving remarks whenever he spoke in support of the Iranian Resistance and the PMOI.
During the last days of his life, Dr. Vis wrote in a letter to a Resistance activist, “I have always been moved by your deeds. … I have been told by the hospital that I am spending my last days. But, I would like to point out that I wish all the best for you and the Iranian people. Please send my warmest regards to your colleagues.”
The Iranian Resistance’s President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, sent her condolences to Dr. Vis’s family and all his colleagues at the British Parliament, in particular members of the Iran Freedom parliamentary committee chaired by Lord Corbett.
Mrs. Rajavi described Dr. Vis as a great friend of the Iranian Resistance who rose up in support of the people and resistance movement of Iran in their darkest hour.
She added: At a time when the British government placed the PMOI on the list of banned organizations in order to placate the criminal ruling mullahs in Iran, Rudi Vis and 34 of the most honorable and prominent MPs challenged the Secretary of State in their country’s judiciary and in the end, the highest judicial authorities in Britain confirmed that they were right. These authorities handed down some of the strongest verdicts in rejection of the mullah-inspired terror label against the PMOI, which ultimately led to the official removal of the organization from the terror list.
Mrs. Rajavi added: Dr. Rudi Vis was also a great defender and advocate for the freedom fighters in Ashraf City in Iraq. He played an active role at the British Parliament and the PACE in exposing the crimes committed by the clerical regime in Iran and the Nouri al-Maliki government in Iraq against the residents of Ashraf.
The Iranian Resistance’s President-elect emphasized: Dr. Rudi Vis’s name, this honorable member of the British Parliament, will forever adorn the history of this Resistance and will be engrained in the memories of all PMOI members and Iranian Resistance activists and supporters as a revered democrat and a great friend of the Iranian people and the Iranian Resistance.
