A Syrian lesson from NCRI Paris gathering - News comment

Maryam Rajavi

“When in Paris, do as Parisians do,” is a French proverb which encourages visitors to the “Capital of Lights” to embrace its people’s way of life which can be more than true particularly when speaking about the power of people marching for freedom and democracy in the very capital which witnessed through its history some of the greatest moments that embodied the human struggle for fraternity, equality and freedom. It is also very true when talking about thousands of Iranian opposition activists and dissidents who gathered in a giant rally on July 9, calling for the downfall of Iran’s theocratic government. But what do Iranians have to do what that French proverb? The answer simply leads us to realize the importance of gathering people’s power when advocating the very principles of freedom and democracy on which western democracies have been built. On the other side, it stresses the importance of being part and parcel of an international movement that denounces despotism and dictatorship whatever the disguise they hide behind. The event’s main organizer is the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the NCRI called for this rally in Paris demanding that Washington abandon the year-old Iranian nuclear accord and take more aggressive posture toward Tehran.The mass rally which has become an annual event attracted many high-level politicians, political leaders, former diplomats and religious leaders from different countries around the world who share the same worries and aspirations with Iranian people and look forward to creating change in Iran.The significance of such event is that it shows the power and determination of the Iranian opposition which is well-connected with people inside Iran. The gathering was positively used to show the whole world that the Iranian opposition can be the right platform for facilitating a fundamental change in Iran and the aggressive policies of its government in the region. When talking about the Iranian’s government hostile policy in the region the Syrian people’s cause comes on the top of the tragedies that Iranian government of Mullahs have helped create in the region starting from Lebanon extending to Iraq and Yemen. The Iranian government is bluntly responsible for instigating and fueling sectarian conflicts in the region. Its destructive policy has caused the demons of ISIS and other extremist groups to rise and prosper or to be more accurate it didn’t only help create but it is rather managing them and using them as tools and pretexts to justify its expansionist ill dreams.   The Iranian vicious hand in Syria has long caused lengthening the suffering of the Syrian people and has helped Assad regime continue its killing and destruction. However, Syrians who have the same aspirations and longing for freedom and democracy with Iranian citizens and dissidents worldwide are in need to stand next to their Iranian freedom seekers and to learn from them how to best organize their powers and gather in one united body to make the change they hope for. Syrians need to know that they are not fighting dictatorship alone and that they will win their battle if they unite their powers and show their determination to the whole world. Thus, the French proverb which advises visitors to Paris to act like Parisians can be little modified in the Syrian sense to be as follows: “When in opposition, be united as Iranian dissidents are!”