Maryam Rajavi: Iran’s Face of Hope

Maryam Rajavi, leader of The National Council of Resistance of Iran, recently held an influential virtual conference attended by the Iranian diaspora in more than 104 countries. This marked the first time that Iranians from all over the world have expressed their desire to change the country’s ruling system in such a momentous way that cannot be ignored. Through this, Rajavi has united with the dissenting voices in Iran that want to uproot the dictatorial regime by echoing their sentiments globally.
 
The Iranian regime should be worried.
 
The strong and diverse western participation that attended the opening of the conference, which were represented by 1000 political and parliamentary leaders as well as religious and cultural figures from all over the world, demonstrates that the West is beginning to listen to Rajavi and the people she represents. It is difficult for the West to ignore the sizable opposition that took part in the conference and the facts that Rajavi presented surrounding the domestic crimes of the regime, crimes such as suppressing and killing protesters or deliberately ignoring the dangers of Covid19, resulting in the death of more than 70,000 citizens. A president like Obama, for example, will no longer be able to convince the world that this "rational regime" can be engaged with or to pour billions of dollars into it, only for the world to discover later that the money is being used to kill Iranians, Syrians, Yemenis and Lebanese under the guise of a revolution and deceptive slogans.
 
 "The expectation that religious fascism might give up its terrorist activities one day if it receives concessions or incentives and that perhaps there will be a sudden emergence of moderates from this brutal ruling cantonment that may push the regime toward reform and moderation is simply wrong."
 
Indeed, the West’s ignorance and negligence of the uprisings of Iranians is more of a crime rather than a simple mistake. It has become shameful for the global community to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against Iranian youth. How can people ignore the regime's attempt to impose the death penalty on three young men for taking part in the 2019 protests?
 
Everyone knows that the regime has become limp and weak and seems to be losing its strong hold over the country. Soleimani was killed, Israel succeeded in invading Iranian sovereignty by destroying the nuclear facility and bombing other sites without any response from Iran, not to mention the country’s critical economic issues. American pressure on Iran as well as corruption and Iran's desire to export its revolution and support Assad, the Houthi and its other militias are undoubtedly beginning to weaken the Iranian regime.
 
Rajavi says in her opening speech of the conference, "Our people should have the right to health, to shelter, job opportunities, to organize and form unions, to have autonomy for ethnic minorities, the right to equal participation in the management of community affairs, gender equality and civil sovereignty, and a country with no death penalty."
 
Of course, it is a difficult task, but it seems that the western world, especially the Europeans, have begun to acknowledge the need to change this regime. An indication of this shift was when Belgium started to prosecute the Iranian diplomat and three others who had planned to commit a bomb attack at a gathering in Villepinte organised by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in June 2018. This is a positive development for the Iranian opposition. Europe no longer cares much about the terrorist threat that the Iranian regime poses. Any criminal act by the Iranian regime will only serve to increase its isolation as it seeks to avoid the return of UN sanctions.
 
Rajavi hopes to see Khamenei, Rouhani, Zarif, and Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alwi prosecuted. Rajavi says that this is crucial to stop the terrorist activities of the Mullahs, and she has urged all governments and international communities to stand with the people of Iran in the face of the greatest threat to global peace and security.
 
The Iranian regime is in deep trouble: financial collapse, security and military collapse, as well as social and economic collapse. Rajavi’s belief that there is an opportunity to overthrow the regime is realistic, but Rajavi and her council must intensify their efforts and continue to expose the crimes of the Iranian regime. It is true that freedom comes at a cost, but Rajavi should feel proud that there are young Iranian women and men ready to fight for that freedom. This in itself is the first step in overturning the regime and thrusting the first nail in its coffin.