Former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy considers the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of Iranian opposition groups and personalities, as “a viable alternative to Iran’s tyrants,” as expressed in his post on Thehill.com, earlier today.
Describing the NCRI’s annual Iran Freedom convention in Paris, Kennedy said: “Looking at images of the June 13 rally, it’s fitting to describe the gathering as a microcosm of Iranian society. Young and old, rich and poor, and people of all religious beliefs attended the event from all walks of life, although the majority are educated, urban, middle-class Iranians.”
He also pointed out that the event was “one of the clearest indications so far that there is an alternative to the regime ruling Iran.”
“No other country or regime has a viable alternative that can match the organization, grass-root reach and democratic platform of the NCRI.”
Kennedy expressed his displeasure over the US government’s disregard of “the largest and best organized opposition movement to the mullahs’ tyrannical regime.”
“We must move beyond the mullahs’ misinformation campaign against the NCRI and recognize it as a viable alternative to the regime,” was the challenge he left.
Kennedy explained why the Obama administration needs to recognize NCRI as an “extraordinary alternative” to the Iranian regime: “Consistent with our nation’s proud tradition, our administration must align itself with the desires of the overwhelming majority of Iranians for democratic change by the people and their organized Resistance. I join dozens of other prominent former American officials in calling official government dialogue with the NCRI.”
He described the mullahs’ regime as “the world’s number one pariah state.”
“All power rests in the hands of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Human rights are non-existent in Iran, with over 120,000 political prisoners executed in the past 36 years.”
He continued to describe Iran as “the world’s greatest state sponsor of terrorism.”
“…And it pursues an aggressive policy of belligerence in the Middle East. It is the chief backer of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In defiance of numerous UN Security Council resolutions, Iran is keeping up its efforts to build a nuclear bomb, making it the single greatest threat to world peace and stability.”
Kennedy continued to say how despite the regime’s abuse on the Iranians, “Tehran’s lobby abroad spends millions of dollars in an effort to demonize the group internationally and prevent it from receiving political support in western capitals. It portrays the NCRI as an obscure exiled group with no real influence or public backing inside Iran.”
“The NCRI, a coalition of Iranian opposition groups and personalities led by Maryam Rajavi, has a published platform seeking a democratic pluralistic republic based on universal suffrage, freedom of expression, abolition of torture and the death penalty, separation of church and state, a non-nuclear Iran, an independent judicial system, rights for minorities, peaceful coexistence in the region, gender equality and commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” And because of this, “the mullahs view the MEK as their arch nemesis, and the vast majority of political prisoners executed in Iran are sympathizers of the group.”
NCRI considered a viable alternative to Iran’s tyrants by Patrick J. Kennedy
Former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy considers the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of Iranian opposition groups and personalities, as “a viable alternative to Iran’s tyrants,” as expressed in his post on Thehill.com, earlier today.
Describing the NCRI’s annual Iran Freedom convention in Paris, Kennedy said: “Looking at images of the June 13 rally, it’s fitting to describe the gathering as a microcosm of Iranian society. Young and old, rich and poor, and people of all religious beliefs attended the event from all walks of life, although the majority are educated, urban, middle-class Iranians.”
He also pointed out that the event was “one of the clearest indications so far that there is an alternative to the regime ruling Iran.”
“No other country or regime has a viable alternative that can match the organization, grass-root reach and democratic platform of the NCRI.”
Kennedy expressed his displeasure over the US government’s disregard of “the largest and best organized opposition movement to the mullahs’ tyrannical regime.”
“We must move beyond the mullahs’ misinformation campaign against the NCRI and recognize it as a viable alternative to the regime,” was the challenge he left.
Kennedy explained why the Obama administration needs to recognize NCRI as an “extraordinary alternative” to the Iranian regime: “Consistent with our nation’s proud tradition, our administration must align itself with the desires of the overwhelming majority of Iranians for democratic change by the people and their organized Resistance. I join dozens of other prominent former American officials in calling official government dialogue with the NCRI.”
He described the mullahs’ regime as “the world’s number one pariah state.”
“All power rests in the hands of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Human rights are non-existent in Iran, with over 120,000 political prisoners executed in the past 36 years.”
He continued to describe Iran as “the world’s greatest state sponsor of terrorism.”
“…And it pursues an aggressive policy of belligerence in the Middle East. It is the chief backer of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In defiance of numerous UN Security Council resolutions, Iran is keeping up its efforts to build a nuclear bomb, making it the single greatest threat to world peace and stability.”
Kennedy continued to say how despite the regime’s abuse on the Iranians, “Tehran’s lobby abroad spends millions of dollars in an effort to demonize the group internationally and prevent it from receiving political support in western capitals. It portrays the NCRI as an obscure exiled group with no real influence or public backing inside Iran.”
“The NCRI, a coalition of Iranian opposition groups and personalities led by Maryam Rajavi, has a published platform seeking a democratic pluralistic republic based on universal suffrage, freedom of expression, abolition of torture and the death penalty, separation of church and state, a non-nuclear Iran, an independent judicial system, rights for minorities, peaceful coexistence in the region, gender equality and commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” And because of this, “the mullahs view the MEK as their arch nemesis, and the vast majority of political prisoners executed in Iran are sympathizers of the group.”
