Several prominent international figures joined a rally of 100,000 people protesting the policies of the Iranian regime. (Al Arabiya)
By Saad al-Massoudi
Al Arabiya Paris
Thousands of Iranian protestors gathered in the French capital Paris to demand the toppling of the regime while waving the flags of Arab Spring countries.
Key public figures from all over the world joined the massive rally that saw 100,000 protestors coming together to declare solidarity with the Iranian opposition in the northern Paris suburb of Villepinte.
This is the right to step in and try to save Iran, said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani who took part in the protest.
“We have to support the Iranian opposition and stop the regime’s nuclear program to help the people gain their freedom,” he told Al Arabiya.
Former French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said he joined the protests to tell the Iranian people that they have support.
“We are supporting the Iranian people until they get their freedom and liberate all Iranians from a corrupt regime that is not fit for ruling in the 21st century,” he told Al Arabiya.
Ambassador of European Union to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion Tasha de Vasconcelos said she sides with the Iranian people in their demands for freedom.
“I am with the change that Iranian youth want to effect,” she told Al Arabiya.
Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran and which organized the rally, gave a 90-minute speech in which she talked about the tyranny of the Iranian regime and the necessity of liberating prisoners of conscience.
“I can hear the proud vices of prisoners who are resisting in the cells of Khamenei as they look forward to eliminating this regime,” she addressed protestors.
Rajavi criticized all the parties that underestimate the danger of Iran’s nuclear program and said that toppling the regime is the only way to end this danger.
“Iranian people who want their country to be free of nuclear weapons have to get rid of the regime to achieve this goal.”
The rally was supervised by former president of the Belgian Senate Anne-Marie Lizin, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and president of the Norwegian Friends of Free Iran Committee Larsh Receh.
Among the speakers were former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and former U.S. ambassadors at the United Nations Bill Richardson and John Bolton in addition to several members of the European Parliament as well as the German and Italian parliaments.
Two Arab female politicians also spoke at the rally: Nagat Bou Baker, member of the Palestinian parliament and Nariman al-Rouasan, member of the Jordanian Parliament.
(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)
