On Wednesday 15 April, several members of the Iranian opposition called on the European Union to step up its support for the Iranian people, who are suffering both from American-Israeli strikes and repression by the regime.
“During the 38 days of military attacks by Israel and other states against Iranian territory, 3,753 people have been killed. In two days of demonstrations in January, the Islamic Republic killed tens of thousands of people, over 40,000 of them”, summarised Shirin Ebadi, Sakharov Prize and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The speakers reiterated that the Iranian regime was dangerous for Europe, with Saeed Bashirtash, leader of the opposition party the 7 Aban Front, pointing out that “the Islamic regime alone has devised more terrorist operations on European soil than all the terrorist organisations in the world”.
“Supporting freedom in Iran, the aspirations of the Iranian people, including their right to change their system, is what we expect from Europe”, explained Abdullah Mohtadi, leader and secretary general of the Komala party of Iranian Kurdistan.
According to the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (PDKI), Mustafa Hijri, it is necessary to support the people and the opposition forces “who are really fighting against the Iranian regime and who are trying to stop the oppression of the Iranian people”.
Artist and journalist Sanaz Behzadi, who is also a member of the Promotion of Open Society (APOS) association, has called on the EU to review its diplomatic tools and to take action rather than just react. “Forget crisis management and work towards transition scenarios worthy of the name”, she pleaded. Furthermore, according to Behzadi, it is necessary to “establish a structured dialogue with civil society and responsible opposition activists, in particular those who are mobilised for an institutional approach based on non-violence”. Finally, the EU must “play [its] part in launching a conversation about Iran’s democratic future”.
Abdullah Mohtadi hoped that Europe would help the Iranian opposition to unite, by facilitating dialogue and offering forums for conversation. “Whatever your differences of opinion with the United States, I implore you, as far as Iran is concerned, try to move beyond them, try to cooperate and make an effort to make a joint effort”, he added.
For her part, Shirin Ebadi called for sanctions against members of the regime: “After the start of the war in Ukraine, the property of people affiliated to [Vladimir] Putin was frozen or confiscated. Well, it’s possible to do the same thing here. You can refuse to support the survival of the regime”.
Saeed Bashirtash has called for the expulsion of Iranian ambassadors from European countries. “The embassies of the Islamic Republic of Iran continue to operate in Europe, while Europe’s democratic objectives are not at all respected by the undemocratic Iran”, added Sanaz Behzadi. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)