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Dozens of MEPs condemn the #Iran regime’s misinformation campaign against the democratic opposition

Published

5 years ago

April 10, 2018

Dozens of Members of the European Parliament from various political groups from all over Europe in a joint statement on Monday strongly condemned the stepped up campaign by the Iranian regime against the democratic opposition, namely the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, PMOI or MEK that also is called Mojahedin-e-Khalq, specifically the members of the organization who are now resident in Albania.

In a letter to Antonio Tajani, the President of the Parliament, the signatories, including a Vice President of the parliament, underscored that the statement pertains to a meeting organized by Ana Gomes, a pro-Iran Portuguese MEP, against the Iranian opposition at the European Parliament on April 10. They said the news of this meeting has been publicized in several websites affiliated to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. One of the speakers has been named as an agent of the Iranian Intelligence and was prevented to enter the British Parliament to speak in a meeting there. They requested proper action to address this issue.

According to the statement signed by more than 30 MEPs “The nationwide protests in Iran earlier this year has shaken the country. Last month some 200 MEPs signed a joint statement in support of the uprising. Top leaders and senior officials of the regime have complained about the role of the main opposition PMOI (or MEK) in the uprising.”

“The ‘Islamic Republic of Iran’ has stepped up its activities against this opposition movement, especially by launching a massive misinformation campaign to demonize the Iranian dissidents who are now residing in Albania,” the statement added.

According to the European lawmakers, “The Iranian regime is indeed furious about the safe transfer of nearly 3000 members of Iranian democratic opposition from Iraq to Albania over a year ago. Many MEPs from different political groups have been actively following and supporting the safe transfer of these refugees out of Iraq where they were under repeated missile and rocket attacks. The European Parliament had adopted several resolutions calling for the safeguarding of their humanitarian rights.”

“Following this relocation, the Iranian regime has focused its attention on their new home in Albania.”

Members of the European Parliament form Belgium, France, U.K., Spain, Austria, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Ireland, Bulgaria, Hungry, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia signed the statement.

They said “Thus, we were shocked to learn of a meeting to be held on 10 April in the European Parliament titled ‘Mojahedin-E Khalq (MEK) threat in Albania’ with the attendance of several well-known agents and lobbyists of the regime. The news of this meeting has been publicized in several websites affiliated to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS).”

They pointed out “One of the speakers is a British national named Anne Singleton (Khodabandeh), who according to a report by US Library of Congress has been recruited by MOIS with the sole objective to demonize the MEK. Back in 2011, Singleton made several trips to Iraq to spread misinformation against the Iranian opposition refugees which was used by the Iranian regime to justify its orchestrated violent attacks in Iraq which led to the deaths of many defenseless refugees in Camps Ashraf and Liberty.”

“She has previously been denied entry to United States as well as denied holding similar events in the British Parliament,” the MEPs from various political groups stressed.

The MEPs concluded by saying “We deeply regret that this meeting with such speakers is taking place in our parliament and strongly condemn the Iranian regime’s misinformation campaign against the Iranian democratic opposition.”

The signatories to the letter to President Antonio Tajani are:

Gerard DEPREZ, ALDE, BE

Tunne KELAM, EPP, EE

Pavel TELICKA, Vice President

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, S&D, UK

Heinz K. BECKER, EPP, AT

Lars ADAKTUSSON, EPP, SE

Beatriz BECERRA, ALDE, ES

Louis MICHEL, ALDE, BE

Anthea MCINTYRE, ECR, UK

Anna FOTYGA, ECR, PL

Julie WARD, S&D, UK