British Lawmakers Join Iran’s Resistance in Nowruz Celebration in the UK Parliament
Written by
Shamsi Saadati
In a significant and diverse celebration, representatives from all political parties in the UK Parliament, accompanied by members and supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held a Nowruz celebration at the Central Hall of the House of Commons. During this event, important messages and speeches were delivered, including support for the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan, and a call for the blacklisting and complete sanctioning of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In her message to the meeting, NCRI President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi expressed gratitude for the support shown by the UK parliamentarians towards the people of Iran and the ideals of human rights within the country.
Amidst the ruthless oppression inside the country, Mrs. Rajavi expressed her confidence in the dawn of freedom for Iran. She highlighted the resounding rejection of the regime by the Iranian people through the nationwide boycott of the sham elections on March 1st. This boycott, she emphasized, symbolized the people’s determination to end the dark era of the theocratic regime, reminiscent of their struggle that overthrew the tyranny of the Shah.
Mrs. Rajavi underscored the increasing anti-regime activities within Iran, led by the Resistance Units and particularly young women. She also emphasized the destabilizing role of the Iranian regime in the Middle East, posing a serious threat to regional and global peace and stability.
Calling for a departure from past failed policies, Mrs. Rajavi urged Western governments to adopt a new strategy that trusts the Iranian people and supports the Iranian Resistance. She emphasized that the time for change in Iran has arrived and reiterated the necessity for global support in this endeavor.
Great #Nowruz reception in the UK Parliament with cross-party MPs & Peers expressing support for the brave people of #Iran, their courageous resistance units & Iranian Resistance in the fight for a free & democratic republic.
MPs & Peers call on the UK Gov't to proscribe the… pic.twitter.com/Kxo3A0Kdle— Dowlat Nowrouzi (@DowlatNowrouzi) March 20, 2024
David Jones, Senior Parliamentarian and co-chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Free Iran emphasized the need for the UK to lead international efforts in recognizing the Iranian regime as a primary threat to global peace under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. He called on the UK to take the lead in designating the regime as the primary threat to peace under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
Echoing the demands of the Iranian Resistance, MP Jones emphasized the importance of activating the snapback mechanism under UN Resolution 2231 and United Nations Security Council resolutions related to the regime’s nuclear program, urging the UK government to take a leading role in this regard. He also stressed the need for the UK to recognize the Iranian people’s struggle for regime change and endorse Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which offers a sustainable democratic alternative.
Bob Blackman, co-chair of the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Free Iran, hailed the recent uprising in Iran as a hopeful sign for regime change. He reiterated the importance of international solidarity in supporting the Iranian people’s aspirations for a democratic future and expressed admiration for Maryam Rajavi’s comprehensive plan for a free Iran.
Lord Singh, a member of the British House of Lords, conveyed his greetings to Mrs. Rajavi and all those who support the remarkable movement for the people of Iran. He emphasized the commonality of supporting those who fight against injustice, noting the extraordinary courage of the Iranian Resistance in their struggle against various forms of oppression, whether under the rule of the Ayatollahs or the previous regime of the Shah. He expressed his admiration for Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, seeing it as a blueprint for justice and democracy universally.
MP Teresa Villiers, the UK’s Secretary of State for Environment (2020), expressed her admiration for the recent uprising in Iran, noting that it was predominantly led by women who refused to tolerate oppression, violence, and terror. She expressed pride in being part of the British Committee for Iran Freedom and commended the hosting of events like this one annually. Villiers expressed her hope for the swift establishment of a democratic republic in Iran, based on the separation of religion and state.
Praising NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan, MP Villiers envisioned a future for Iran that is free, democratic, and inclusive, returning the country to the community of nations and providing its people with the freedom and opportunities they desperately need.
Lord Dholakia emphasized the pivotal role of women in the uprising in Iran, acknowledging their leadership in the revolution. He congratulated the people of Iran for their resilience, particularly praising the women who refuse to accept oppression and continue to fight for their rights. Despite the suppression they face, these women refuse to remain silent and persist in their struggle.
Lord Dholakia reiterated his unwavering support for the people of Iran and Mrs. Rajavi, expressing his commitment to continue backing their cause. He expressed his heartfelt wish to witness the day when Iran achieves the freedom it deserves, expressing his desire to visit Tehran and proudly raise the flag of Iran for a genuine and appropriate democracy. He concluded by thanking everyone for their dedication to this important cause.
Lord David Alton, a member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, welcomed the report of the UN Fact-Finding Committee and called on the UK government to support this commission with the aim of prosecuting and punishing those responsible for crimes. Lord Alton stated: “We know that the recent uprising for a free and democratic republic in Iran, which began in late September 2022, is very much alive and progressing, as evidenced again in the widespread condemnation of the recent regime’s sham elections. Therefore, the UK must ensure that the UN Human Rights Council, in its session later this month, prioritizes both the special rapporteur’s mission on Iran and the truth-seeking mission initiated last year to investigate the crimes reported by Iran.”
Dr. Matthew Offord, a member of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, discussed the regime’s warmongering policies in the region and the role of Iran’s Resistance in exposing these aggressions. He noted the regime’s use of proxy forces to escalate conflicts in the Middle East, from the aggression in Gaza to the attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships in the Red Sea. He also emphasized the importance of the West standing alongside the people of Iran and the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
Additionally, MP Offord mentioned that the vision articulated in the detailed Ten-Point Plan proposed by NCRI’s President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, should be acknowledged. Therefore, he concluded that the success of the Iranian people is not only success in the West but also success worldwide. Dr. Offord asserted that the people of Iran and the NCRI are allies in the ongoing struggle for stability. He emphasized the need for unity in the West and standing behind the people of Iran and the Iranian Resistance movement.
Steve McCabe, a member of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, expressed support for the resistance of the Iranian people while referring to the regime’s warmongering in the region. He acknowledged that wherever one looks in the Middle East, the hands of the clerical dictators of Tehran are evident, as they financially support massacres and arm and sponsor individuals.
MP McCabe highlighted that the ruling clerics in Iran fuel conflicts, whether in Gaza, Syria, or Yemen, and emphasized that this regime is not satisfied with merely torturing its own people within Iran; it seeks to intervene at every level and suppress all dissenters. He emphasized the need to clearly state ongoing support for the people of Iran in any way possible, as they have the right to oppose the oppression of the regime.
Malcolm Fowler, a former member of the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales, highlighted the efforts of human rights lawyers in the UK in supporting the Iranian Resistance and the people of Iran. He noted that resolutions supporting the NCRI have been passed in the Law Society of England and Wales over consecutive years due to the activities of these lawyers. These resolutions condemn the dire human rights situation in Iran. Mr. Fowler concluded his remarks by affirming his commitment to continue his efforts and pursue this path in the best possible manner.