100,000 People Expected At Free Iran Rally

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We just got this information this massive free Iran rally in Paris to protest the “moderates” in the country will take place tomorrow – we are apolitical but this is a cause for freedom against an oppressive Government and is not political (not neo con, liberal, conservative, libertarian etc.) so we are happy to give coverage to it. The list of speakers is private but ValueWalk has seen it and is quite impressed with the roster of famous politicians in the US and Europe who will be attending from across the political aisle. But we see Washington Times has reported some of the names:

Organizers say former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is coming, along with former Govs. Howard Dean, Bill Richardson and Tom Ridge, along with former FBI Director Louis Freeh, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a host of others.

More details below.
As you might know, a number of issues related to Iran are of major concern to the world community. They include the country’s flagrant human rights violations, its meddling in the region (especially in Syria), its export of terrorism and extremism, and its ballistic missile tests.

In the midst of serious debate over events inside Iran and the correct long-term Western policy, a major international event is scheduled to take place in Paris on July 9 to address these pressing issues.

Some 100,000 people are expected to attend the event, titled “Free Iran.” They include Iranian expats and their international supporters, along with hundreds of political, social, and cultural dignitaries from the world over.

A large bipartisan group of American experts and policymakers will take part and address it. They’ll include senior officials from the past four administrations who have been involved in key US national security policies, and they’ll be joined by former senior US military commanders.

Among the topics to be addressed by speakers are: assessing the situation and trend of events one year after the nuclear deal; Iran’s destructive role in exporting fundamentalism and Islamic extremism; prospects for a solution to Islamic extremism in general and the correct policy regarding the Iranian regime in particular.

I thought the event would be newsworthy from several perspectives:

• One year after the nuclear deal, it provides a different perspective on the situation and will offer a policy alternative to the Western countries that emphasizes the voice of native Iranians.
• In the midst of a very contentious US presidential campaign and political season, the event will take place one week prior to the US Republican National Convention and two weeks prior to the Democratic National Convention. The partisan nature of those events and their speeches will stand in stark contrast to the rare bipartisanship represented by the American delegation to the July 9 event.
• A sizable number of young Iranians who have fled Iran recently (after the nuclear deal or during Rouhani’s presidency) will take part in the rally and will provide a unique perspective on the situation currently faced by people living under the thumb of the Iranian regime.
• There will be a very senior group of politicians and activists from Muslim countries, including a delegation from the moderate Syrian opposition (including those who took part in the Geneva talks).

There are several round table, town-hall type discussions by various experts and policymakers on July 8, a day before the Paris rally, where journalists will be invited to attend alongside a select number of guests. There is also a live broadcast of these round tables on www.ncr-iran.org, which maybe of interest to you.

By the way, an online campaign is also associated with this grand gathering on #FreeIran.

, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, elaborated on the movement’s vision for a future Iran:

1. In our view, the ballot box is the only criterion for legitimacy. Accordingly, we seek a republic based on universal suffrage.

2. We want a pluralist system, freedom of parties and assembly. We respect all individual freedoms. We underscore complete freedom of expression and of the media and unconditional access by all to the internet.

3. We support and are committed to the abolition of death penalty.

4. We are committed to the separation of Religion and State. Any form of discrimination against the followers of any religion and denomination will be prohibited.

5. We believe in complete gender equality in political, social and economic arenas. We are also committed to equal participation of women in political leadership. Any form of discrimination against women will be abolished. They will enjoy the right to freely choose their clothing. They are free in marriage, divorce, education and employment.

6. We believe in the rule of law and justice. We want to set up a modern judicial system based on the principles of presumption of innocence, the right to defense, effective judicial protection and the right to be tried in a public court. We also seek the total independence of judges. The mullahs’ Sharia law will be abolished.

7. We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international covenant and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.
We are committed to the equality of all nationalities. We underscore the plan for the autonomy of Iranian Kurdistan, adopted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The language and culture of our compatriots from whatever nationality, are among our nation’s human resources and must spread and be promulgated in tomorrow’s Iran.

8. We recognize private property, private investment and the market economy. All Iranian people must enjoy equal opportunity in employment and in business ventures. We will protect and revitalize the environment.

9. Our foreign policy will be based on peaceful coexistence, international and regional peace and cooperation, as well as respect for the United Nations Charter.

10. We want a non-nuclear Iran, free of weapons of mass destruction.

Press release below

Bourget (Paris) – July 9, 2016

Iran: Prospects for change one year after nuclear agreement

Middle East: Growing and immediate threat of Islamic extremism

Participants to include Iranians, international supporters from five continents, and hundreds of Major international  international dignitaries

Gathering: “Free Iran”

Subsequent to the P5+1 nuclear agreement with the Iranian regime in July 2015, developments in Iran entered into a new and unprecedented phase.

One year ahead of the end of Hassan Rouhani’s first term as the regime’s president, many of the classic equations governing the region have been witness to dramatic changes, and the international community is faced with the question of what is the direction of and prospects for change.

In the meantime, the threat of Islamic extremism and terrorism has grown for Western societies and governments. That threat recognizes no borders. The situation in Syria, in which the Iranian regime is a very destructive force, is the focal point of the crisis.

On Saturday, July 9, Iranians accompanied by their international supporters will converge in Paris from five continents to offer the international community and Western governments their assessment of the

In addition, hundreds of international dignitaries and parliamentarians will travel to the event from the US (in a rare bipartisan delegation), France, other European countries, Canada, Australia, Arab and Middle Eastern countries, and the Syrian opposition.

Venue: Bourget (Paris)

Date and time: Saturday, July 9, 2016, 13:30

Organizing Committee of the July 9 gathering

100,000 People Expected At Free Iran Rally

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