NCRI – Lord Clarke of Hampstead, a leading member of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, told a large group of Euro MPs and dignitaries from across Europe "Appeasement of bullies can never succeed in getting justice and freedom for the people."
He was speaking at a meeting organized at the European Parliament in Brussels on May 28 following the British court ruling which ordered the government to remove the PMOI (MEK) from the list of banned organizations. The meeting at the European Parliament was held to remind the EU that the PMOI has been maintained on its terror list unjustly and immediate measure should be taken to remove the movement from the list. Lord Clarke's speech follows: It is a tremendous day today and as we sit in this palatial part of the European Parliament can I ask you just for a second to think of the daily life of people in Tehran and other parts of Iran. Just think for a second of the oppression, the bullying, and the terrorism that is imposed on people, because that is why we are here.
I had my first meeting with the Resistance over 25 years ago and long before we talked about proscribed lists and the things that went on through the courts, some of us were very concerned about the human rights abuses in Iran, that lead us to link up with the National Council of Resistance of Iran and in those days it was my privilege and pleasure to welcome Madame Rajavi and others from the Resistance to the Labour Party conference.
I wont say too much about my political beliefs, because the issue today is one that is shared by all parties in the British Parliament and has a majority in both Houses of the Parliament for the efforts we have been making to get the terrorist tag taken away from the PMOI.
In those days, we were so pleased to see our colleagues in the balcony of our conference and people stood and they clapped for these brave people who were taking the fight to the most outrageous atrocities perpetrated against people in their own nation. I was very proud that as both chairman of the International Committee and the Labour Party being able to say these are our friends.
So what happened? When we had the list published, together with others I went to see Jack Straw. He was the Home Secretary at the time. I said what on earth are you doing? What is this? You were part of the group that welcomed the Resistance in Iran and as God is my judge I tell you this, his answer to me was obscene. He said Tony, we are in government now. So much for principles, so much for integrity and so much for political belief.
Now I believe passionately that the NCRI and the PMOI are the democratic face of Iran and they want to establish the democracy that some of us take for granted in our own nations.
I am not going to dwell on the UK Court decision as we have heard the success story. As a cynic in my old age I was convinced that someone would be working against us behind the scenes, but we were able to get the justice as has been said.
However, the current European Union policy is wrong and quite indefensible. Maintaining a democratic organization on the terror list to appease the real terrorists is disgraceful, in particular in light of the fact that the EU based its ban on the group On UK decision which has now been declared unlawful.
They should call a meeting and admit to the world that they were wrong and lift the ban from PMOI, because Europe of all the places in the world knows what appeasement can bring. Appeasement of bullies can never succeed in getting justice and freedom for those people.
I could stay here all day, telling you about the hangings, the torture, the things that brought me in to support the Resistance long before the NCRI discovered the nuclear program and told the world, long before the proscribed list.
My concern as a committed Christian and socialist is that people are suffering because a theocracy does not recognize the right of human beings to live their lives in peace and freedom.
I would like to say to Madam Rajavi who has been inspirational to me for many years. I am just so pleased that I am able to be here today to share with so many people the joy of a British decision, and the re-determination to do the same in Europe and in America and to do whatever we can to see that these wicked people ruling Iran are driven out of Iran and allow the people of Iran to live a decent life.
