NCRI- Speaking to a meeting at the European Parliament on May 28, French Socialist Euro MP, Ms. Catherine Neris welcomed court order in Britain to remove the PMOI (MEK) from the list of terrorist organizations. Text of her speech follows:
I am so happy that such a discussion takes place in the ِEuropean Parliament, because this institute, as you reminded us, should shoulder its responsibilities. In this respect, despite all the efforts which at a certain point finally led to the delisting of the PMOI from this obscure and inexplicable list, there remains a battle to be fought. Effectively, a small step has been taken. I say a small step, because although it is something of an extreme importance to get the PMOI off this list, at the same time it still remains a small step in the long way which has to be taken.
The European Union has a role to play in this. Not only in creating a democratic space where a few exchanges of views can be done, but in the sense of a political will for finding appropriate solutions, as that is exactly where we are expected to act. Words alone are not enough. For too long, words have replaced action. I think the Iranian people deserve more attention from us.
The next thing I would mention is that most of the time, even as a habit, we tend to see this phenomenon as something far from us, a problem belonging to others and certainly not us.
As such, we can no longer confine ourselves to diplomatic spaces which very soon show their limits, especially so in recent years. And here, while criticizing myself, as a member of parliament, I call on my colleagues; Let us get together, take some time, and try to do what we must have done since long ago, that is prepare a charter of human rights that would mean action rather than virtual effects.
In this respect, I have to take all measures. I know these words are serious and certainly have their consequences, but one has to say them some day.
When I think of all these women, when I think of all the non justified wars, of the children… When I think that there seems to be no spirituality left, not even the reason to continue the life, as I know many Iranians who preferred to put an end to their days rather than live like that. This is no longer tolerable.
I point at what should be the essence of our inspiration; beginning to act. But action to have the liberties, in an open democracy as a real thing, and not as something to happen in twenty years from now, like the time we waited to take the PMOI off this list. I mean the coming years, even months, in order that these people, who are human beings and not legislative texts, find back their liberty and their right to long for the best.
