This endorsement marks a significant diplomatic victory for the Iranian opposition movement, emphasizing the growing international recognition of the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy and human rights.
The endorsement includes signatures from a diverse group of high-ranking Italian officials, such as three former deputy prime ministers, a former minister, five deputy ministers, four former deputy ministers, three parliamentary vice presidents, three parliamentary secretaries, twelve heads of parliamentary committees, and six parliamentary group leaders. This unified stance from Italy’s political elite underscores a broad-based support for the Iranian people’s aspirations.
A Call for International Solidarity
The translated statement signed by 202 members of the Italian Parliament reads: “The brutal repression of the Iranian people, including ethnic and religious minorities, is a matter of deep concern. During the 2022 uprising, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran reported that ‘verified videos show security forces deliberately shooting at unarmed protesters at close range.’ Iran holds the world record for executions relative to its population. In 1988 alone, following a decree by Supreme Leader Khomeini, 30,000 political prisoners were massacred within weeks for their devotion to the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).”
The statement also highlights the regime’s use of its judiciary as a tool for suppression, citing the 2021 Belgian court ruling that sentenced an Iranian diplomat to 20 years in prison for attempting to bomb an NCRI gathering near Paris. “The ruling religious dictatorship in Iran cannot be reformed,” the statement asserts. “The Iranian people rejected all forms of dictatorship, both monarchical and religious, during the 2022 uprising and called for regime change to establish a democratic republic.”
It calls for accountability for those responsible for the 1988 massacre and other continuous crimes against humanity. “The Iranian people deserve a democratic state. We urge all governments to support the Ten-Point Plan proposed by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the NCRI, for a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state and gender equality,” the statement reads.
The statement also condemns the Iranian regime’s actions against Iranian dissidents at Ashraf-3 in Albania and affirms their rights under international conventions. It emphasizes the need for the free world to recognize the Iranian people’s right to uprising and the right of Resistance Units to counter the IRGC.
“We strongly condemn the Iranian regime’s destructive role in the Middle East and its warmongering policies,” the statement concludes, calling for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the implementation of oil sanctions against the regime. This decisive stance by the Italian Parliament represents a significant step in the global effort to support the Iranian people’s fight for freedom and democracy.
