RFI, June 18 – Tens of thousands of exiled Iranians and supporters gathered together to support their cause on Saturday, June 18, 2011, near Paris. The annual meeting was held in the presence of many international and American political figures.
This year the meeting of People’s Mojahedin (PMOI) took on particular importance after the attack last April on Camp Ashraf in Iraq by the Iraqi army. Camp Ashraf is home to 3,400 residents opposed the regime in Tehran. 35 people were killed. Many French officials and foreign dignitaries attended the gathering to support the cause of the exiled opposition.
The slogan “Iran, Ashraf, Azadi (freedom),” was plastered over yellow vests along with pictures of Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, the two icons of the Iranian Resistance in exile. Tens of thousands of people also enthusiastically waved yellow flags and banners. Former US Senator Patrick Kennedy opened the meeting with a few words in Persian: “(Man Irani hastam” (I am an Iranian) “man Ashrafi hastam” (I am an Ashrafi).
The French Communist deputy Jean-Pierre Brard, surrounded by fifty elected officials with their tri-colored scarves on their shoulder, also spoke at the event: “We members of the left and right, are with you and Maryam Rajavi and Iran, supporters of democracy and secularism. “
Among the crowd of Iranians, there were also many Europeans supporting the PMOI like Claude.
He said, “We never talk about it, there is really the complete silence about what happened in Camp Ashraf. We have not talked about it at all, not at all. But, there were 35 deaths, 36 since now there is one who died later from his injuries. There were nearly 350 injured. We have not said a word in our newspapers. It’s still a refugee camp protected by the Fourth Geneva Convention, which was attacked by soldiers even though they are civilians.”
Maryam Rajavi finally went on the stage in a blue attire, consistent with the scenery, enjoying long rounds of cheers.
