NCRI – In a parliamentary debate at the House of Lords on June 12, the Government Minister was pressed to take the initiative in the European Union to remove the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) from its terrorist list following the deproscription of the organization in Britain.
On the decision to remove the PMOI from the list of proscribed organizations, former Home Secretary Lord Waddington asked the minister: "Is it not shocking that the Government are acting only because they have been ordered to do so by the Court of Appeal, which found the Home Secretary’s earlier refusal to delist the organisation to be perverse and resting on no evidence? However, the PMOI remains on the list of EU-proscribed organisations. Is it not there because the British Government wanted it to be there, and is not the legal basis for it being proscribed by the EU the listing by Britain? Is there not now a clear duty on the British Government to take immediate steps to see that this organisation is delisted also in the European Union?"
Government Minister, Lord Bassam of Brighton, responded: "Since the UK proscription of the PMOI was the sole EU member-state, national-competent-authority decision underpinning the EU listing, it is likely that that listing will now be reviewed."
Chair of the British Parliamentary Committee on Iran Freedom, Lord Corbett of Castle Vale said: "In welcoming the righting of this gross injustice done to this part of the Iranian resistance movement, may I press the Minister to be more specific about the action that will be taken by the United Kingdom Government to get the copycat ban on the PMOI removed in Europe? Will he give a date when the matter will be taken to the Council of Ministers or other appropriate body?"
Lord Bassam replied: "I cannot give a date, but the United Kingdom has informed EU partners and the Council that the Home Secretary has laid the deproscription order before Parliament. It is now for the Council to consider what action it needs to take on the EU listing in light of the deproscription of the PMOI in the UK."
Lord Avebury, Vice-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group asked: "Does the Minister think that it sets a good example to ordinary people to obey the law when the Government delay for eight weeks in tabling the deproscription order in response to the Court of Appeal presided over by the Lord Chief Justice? Should they not have tabled the order immediately so that the proscription could be lifted promptly as the court prescribed?"
Lord Bassam response: "While we accept the court’s decision in this matter, I think that our general approach of being cautious about organisations of the same or similar nature as PMOI is absolutely right. That situation has been reviewed; a decision has been made; we are putting in place the order; we are properly complying with the judgment; and we have informed our colleague states in Europe."
By referring to the current situation in Iran, former Labor Party Chairman, Lord Clarke of Hampstead, asked: "Will the Minister reconsider his previous answer in light of the fact that the trade unions in Iran are being persecuted by the mullahs’ regime? Will he also accept that the students who demonstrate regularly against the regime should be given comfort and solace by a democratic country such as ours?
Will he go further and agree with the vice-president of the European Union who only a fortnight ago in Brussels condemned the way in which the British Government have handled this matter and get the thing sorted out both here and in Europe, because an apology is due to those very brave people who are fighting the theocracy in Iran?"
Lord Bassam replied: "Of course—quite properly—we support those who seek to ensure that the people of Iran enjoy the benefits of democracy. Everybody supports that proposition."
Lord Inglewood expressed his doubts over the Government's prompt action by saying: "The Minister’s reply gives the impression that the Government are dragging their heels over taking this matter forward at a European level. Will the Minister confirm that the Government are being positive and proactive in taking this matter to the Council?"
Government Minister responded: "The order was laid just 10 working days after the Court of Appeal judgment. I have made it very clear from this Dispatch Box this morning that we are in contact with our EU counterparts to ensure that this matter is resolved in Europe."
Lord Slynn of Hadley, former Law Lord and a judge at the European Court of Justice, while underlined the Government's responsibility, noted: "since the United Kingdom took the initiative to put the PMOI on the proscribed list, and as at the moment there seems to be a lack of knowledge in Europe as to what has happened here, is it not essential that Her Majesty’s Government should not only take the initiative in the Council to remove the PMOI from the proscribed list, but, no less importantly, should inform other member states about what has happened here, because it completely changes the picture on which member states initially voted?"
Lord Bassam replied: "We have taken the action and it is now quite properly a matter for the Council to consider what action it needs to take. We have informed the proper authorities."
