The National Council of Resistance of Iran will launch a series of demonstrations in Europe and the United States on Saturday in Brussels, with the aim of calling on the international community to strengthen its policy towards Iran and support democracy and human rights “to replace the current repression of the regime, bellicosity, the nuclear weapons project, the export of terrorism and Islamic extremism”.
The demonstration in Brussels, at which thousands of Iranian expatriates, but also MEPs and former Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi are expected, will provide an opportunity to “call for a firm EU policy towards the Iranian regime”, according to a statement. “Iranians call for an end to European appeasement policies towards the regime, and for the adoption of a firm policy towards the mullahs' regime” including through sanctions. According to one NCRI member, this could involve updating the list of persons sanctioned for human rights violations in Iran.
The NCRI wants the West to listen more to the Iranian people. “We want to make a difference on our own, we don't want external help”, an NCRI member told EUROPE, adding that the missing link was listening to the Iranian people.
Demonstrations against the government and strikes are on the increase in the country, while the economic situation is deteriorating, particularly due to US sanctions. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)