Copenhagen, (NCRI) – On Friday June 1st, a news conference sponsored by the “Committee of Danish Friends for a Free Iran” and “International Sakharov Committee” was held in the Danish Parliament. High ranking members of the Danish and British Parliaments as well as representatives of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Britain and Nordic Countries were present.
They supported the resolution by the European Committee of the Danish Parliament regarding the implementation of the European Court of Justice verdict in removal of the PMOI from the terrorist list.
Copenhagen, (NCRI) – On Friday June 1st, a news conference sponsored by the “Committee of Danish Friends for a Free Iran” and “International Sakharov Committee” was held in the Danish Parliament. High ranking members of the Danish and British Parliaments as well as representatives of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Britain and Nordic Countries were present.
They supported the resolution by the European Committee of the Danish Parliament regarding the implementation of the European Court of Justice verdict in removal of the PMOI from the terrorist list.
Speakers at the conference included Lord Slynn former Judge of the EU Court of Justice; Lord Johnston member of British House of Lords and former chairman of EU Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Mr. Hans Kristian Skibby, Member of Danish Parliament from the People’s party; Mr. Parviz Khazaii Representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Nordic countries; Ms. Dowlat Nowrouzi Representative of NCRI in United Kingdom.
Chair of the conference Mr. Hans Kristian Neerskov, the president of International Sakharov Committee and Chair of the Committee of Danish Friends for a Free Iran introduced the speakers and gave a brief history of inclusion of PMOI in the terrorist list. He said this classification was annulled by the verdict issued by EU Court of Justice on December 12, 2006 but unfortunately was ignored by the EU Council of Ministers.
The next speaker, Lord Slynn stated how important it is for the credibility of the Council of Ministers to deal with the PMOI’s inclusion in terrorist list.
The Council of Ministers must realize that legally they are not allowed to keep anyone they want in the list. EU claims respect for and commitment to the law and must therefore observe the law.
Originally when the list was established the requirement for inclusion of individuals and organizations depended on the existence of evidence not the desire of Council of Ministers in keeping them in the list with no reason.
Lord Slynn confirmed that PMOI was never included in the United Nations terrorist list and originally was not even added to the EU list. According to the British Minister they had not committed any act of terror in Europe or any other places when Britain added them to the list. They are active against the Iranian regime. This does not permit the Council of Ministers to take a stance against this organization.
The Council of Ministers has been asked to provide evidence but they have not done so. They are acting the way they functioned in the EU court proceedings.
Lord Slynn reiterated the fact that we need to condemn this stance of the Council of Ministers and their action with regards to the verdict by the EU Court of Justice. He said although being a legal scholar, I would like to express strong support of the British House of Lords for this Resistance and specifically for removing PMOI from the list.
The next speaker was Lord Russel-Johnston former Chair of EU Parliamentary Council. He said PMOI is in the midst of struggle against Khomeini’s regime. A regime which publicly hangs and stones people to death and violates their human rights on a daily basis.
Unfortunately the British government and Jack Straw included PMOI in the terrorist list to appease the Mullahs and encourage them to halt their nuclear program.
Lord Johnston reiterated the extensive support in the British House of Lords and House of Commons to remove PMOI from the terror list. He said those across political spectrum and different parties support PMOI. These supporters such as former British Attorney General or Margaret Thatcher’s Interior Minister and others do this very consciously.
Ms. Dowlat Nowrouzi the representative of NCRI in Britain spoke next. She expressed gratitude for the widespread support of the British and Danish Parliamentarians and one thousand European members of Parliament who signed a petition for the full observance of the verdict by the EU Court of Justice.
Ms. Nowrouzi talked about 53 U.N. resolutions against the human rights violations by the clerical regime and 3 U.N. Security Council resolutions for complete halt of the uranium enrichment program and said: this regime is not only the primary enemy of the Iranian people but it is also a serious threat to international peace and stability.
She said the best option as stated by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran is not war or appeasement but supporting Iranian people and their Resistance for democratic change in Iran.
Mr. Khazaii, the representative of NCRI in Nordic countries talked about letters and petitions by Danish people sent to their Prime Minister in support of removing PMOI from the list.
He also reiterated the historic need to counter the religious fundamentalism which is only possible through supporting PMOI.
Mr. Khazaii said that today once again the world community is in danger of threat of fascism. Islamic fundamentalism is religious fascism. The response to this threat to humanity historically should be a progressive organization with humane interpretation from Islam.
The next speaker was Mr. Hans Kristian Skibby the member of Judiciary committee of the Danish Parliament from the People’s party. He stated that after the EU verdict there was no justification for keeping PMOI in the list.
I am glad to say that in the Danish Parliament we have discussed this matter. It is very important for the EU list to include the real terrorists.
Danish and international reporters were present at this conference.
