Mario Galea: The Iranian Regime Is Fighting Maryam Rajavi—Because They Know She Will Win
Former Maltese Minister Mario Galea addresses an NCRI conference on May 31, 2025
Written by
Mahmoud Hakamian
At the second session of the 2025 Free Iran Conference near Paris on May 31, 2025, Mario Galea, former Maltese Minister and longtime supporter of the Iranian Resistance, delivered a heartfelt tribute to the cause of Iranian freedom—and to those who have stood with it. Galea opened his remarks by honoring the late Francis Zammit Dimech, a fellow Maltese politician and steadfast ally of the NCRI, whose absence at the event he described as deeply felt.
Galea said the Iranian regime is “living its final moments” and declared that change is now imminent. He credited this momentum to the leadership of Maryam Rajavi and the clarity of her democratic Ten-Point Plan, which he described as the foundation of a future free Iran.
He drew a stark contrast between the current regime and the NCRI’s vision: a regime built on repression and terrorism, versus a future grounded in human rights, freedom, and the power of the people. Galea warned against trusting a regime that has distorted the peaceful message of Islam into one of violence, and urged the international community to take seriously the threat of its nuclear ambitions.
Galea also made a strong appeal to the Albanian government to uphold its obligations under the Geneva Convention by protecting the rights of PMOI members in Ashraf 3, particularly as Albania pursues EU membership. In closing, he quoted Mahatma Gandhi, affirming that Maryam Rajavi is being fought because the regime knows she will win.
The full text of Mario Galea’s speech follows. Portions have been lightly edited for clarity and flow.
Mario Galea: I urge the EU & U.S. to tell #Albania to uphold the rights of @Mojahedineng members in Ashraf 3. As Albania seeks EU membership, it must respect the Geneva Convention—life, speech, assembly, association. These are EU values.
https://t.co/67xyG1p0Uc— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 31, 2025
Your Excellency, dear friends in Ashraf 3, dear colleagues, salam.
Allow me to start by remembering a dear Maltese friend and colleague of mine—and of yours as well—Francis Zammit Dimech, who passed away a few weeks ago. Francis was one of us. He was a long-time supporter and a friend of the Iranian Resistance. In fact, this is the first conference without Francis. His absence will be felt today. Rest in peace, dear Francis, and thank you for all the support.
As we’ve heard—and I won’t repeat—the Iranian regime is living its final moments. Change now looks imminent. That turning point would not have been possible without the leadership of a courageous woman who kept the dream for a free Iran alive. Madam Rajavi, your Ten-Point Plan clearly shows how a free, democratic Iran should be.
Allow me to highlight very briefly just two examples to emphasize the stark contrast between the Iran of today and the free Iran of tomorrow under Madam Rajavi.
First: the Iranian regime depends on the IRGC, which is a barbaric terrorist organization. In contrast, Madam Rajavi believes in freedom. Her vision is a free Iran where every voice is heard and every human right is respected and protected.
Second: the Iranian regime is heavily investing in nuclear power—as we’ve heard. This is deeply disturbing. This is a regime that cannot even be trusted with the sacred word of Allah—something so peaceful, so beautiful, and so full of love. This regime has managed to distort it into a message of hatred, violence, and terrorism.
I ask: if we cannot even trust them with the sacred word of Allah, how can we ever trust them with nuclear power?
Madam Rajavi, in contrast, does not believe in nuclear power. Madam Rajavi believes in the power of the people.
My colleagues before me mentioned Ashraf 3. I have to add a small note. I call on the EU and the United States of America to reach out to Albania to ensure the fundamental human rights of our friends and heroes—the PMOI members in Ashraf 3.
Albania has started talks to join the European Union. May I kindly and humbly remind the Albanian government that the Geneva Convention of 1951—which is a European convention—includes the right to life, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association.
Albanian government, kindly note that these are the values of the European Union—the same Union you intend to join. So please protect the rights of the Iranian people in Ashraf 3.
Madam Rajavi, I have to thank you for your unwavering courage to stand up to this brutal regime.
Mario Galea – The silence about #Iran in #Europe is strange while #humanrights of so many people in Iran is violated. The world is expected to do more.#IranProtests #FreeAllProtesters pic.twitter.com/O0e0Jwwdpt
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 9, 2018
Your Excellency, you know very well that in pursuing your mission of liberating your country, you have placed yourself and your loved ones in the line of fire. But despite the great risk you face every single day, you continue to soldier on with courage and determination. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all my colleagues here today when I say: you have our deepest admiration and gratitude for standing up for democracy.
In conclusion, Madam Rajavi, allow me to refer to a quote that I sincerely believe encapsulates your past, present, and future.
Mahatma Gandhi, who was a freedom activist himself, once said: “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. And then—you win.”
Madam Rajavi, the Iranian regime is not ignoring you. They are definitely not laughing at you. They are fighting you—because they know very well that very soon, you will win.
Thank you very much. God keep your faith.