Villiers, amidst other attendees at the conference, lauded the courage of Iranian women who boldly protested. The former secretary stated, “It is almost exactly a year since the death of Mahsa Amini… [it] brought thousands upon thousands of women out onto the street to protest in Iran to demand a better future.”
Furthermore, Villiers brought to the fore the Iranian regime’s notorious reliance on the death penalty, condemning its violent reaction to the demonstrations. She asserted, “It’s publicly documented that the regime in Tehran makes prolific use of the death penalty… a number of protesters have been executed [and] many others lost their lives in the brutal response to the protests.”
Echoing the stance of the United States, Villiers ardently called for the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). She professed, “My long-stated view is that the IRGC is responsible for many of these atrocities… I continue to believe… that the IRGC should be proscribed as the terrorist organization that it most clearly is.”
In line with the United Kingdom’s established sanctions and the frequent outcry of UK foreign ministers regarding human rights abuses in Iran, Villiers believes more decisive steps should be taken. She commented, “Following the example set by Washington, we should take the further step of prescription… to reflect our horror about what the IRGC is responsible for in Iran.”
Her speech carried a resonant theme of support for democratic reform, respect for human rights, and gender equality in Iran. Villiers said, “Like all the speakers here, I want to see democratic change and reform… so that human rights are respected and so that women can enjoy equal concern and respect.”
.@BobBlackman: "We should praise NCRI, the @Mojahedineng and in particular, the NCRI President-elect @Maryam_Rajavi for leading this resistance."https://t.co/nJgG65C8br
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 12, 2023
Drawing attention to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Ten-Point Plan, Villiers closed with a hopeful note. She expressed her genuine aspiration “to see the establishment of a democratic secular republic… in that way we will see those powerful words ‘women-life-freedom’ translated into a new Iran and a brighter better future for all of its people.”
With her remarks echoing across the chambers of the UK Parliament, the world watches closely to see if these calls for change will manifest into tangible action for the Iranian people.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
