Thousands of Iranian opposition activists converged on Paris on Saturday to attend one of the biggest anti-regime rallies organized by the National Council for Resistance in Iran (NCRI).
High-profile figures took part in the event.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, also addressed the summit. His speech received an enthusiastic response from a chanting crowd.
Prince Turki said “Iranian people were the first victim of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini.”
Prince Turki vowed to stand by the Iranian opposition in its efforts to remove what he called the “Khomeini cancer”, referring to the founder of the Islamic Republic,
Prince Turki chronicled the history of friendship and cooperation between the Arab and Persian peoples, highlighting the cultural, religious and linguistic links they shared.
He suggested that the current tensions between Iran and Arab countries was exceptional in a history of otherwise cordial relations, singling out the current regime as being responsible for the tensions due to its continued interference in Arab affairs.
The head of the French-based Iranian opposition movement Free Iran said Tehran is concealing its “failure” by supporting “massacres” committed by the Syrian regime during an indoor rally in Paris.
According to Al Arabiya, Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of NCRI, also said “those resisting Wilayat Al-Faqih regime are increasing and spreading their influence.”
Wilayat Al-Faqih, meaning the ‘Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist’ is Iran’s current system of clerical rule.
The opposition leader also warned that executions and arrests are taking place at a larger rate since the Iranian revolution in 1979.
She said “regime change” is the “only solution” for Iran to exit this “deteriorating” situation.
The NCRI said over 100,000 people have attended the “Free Iran” gathering so far.
Prince Turki also said “Arabs will always be respectful to Persians,” highlighting commonalities between the Middle Eastern entities.
The rally attendees, meanwhile, chanted “people want to topple (Iran) regime” in Arabic during his address.
To that, Prince Turki responded: “I, too, want the downfall of the regime”.
Prince Turki paid special tribute to the movement’s “martyrs” as well as its leader Mariam Rajavi and her late husband and former leader Massoud Rajavi for their struggle to bring an end to the radical regime in Iran.
Events of the conference were aired live on several Arabic news channels including Al Arabiya and Al Hadath as well as Abu Dhabi-based Sky News Arabia.
The NCRI is also known as the People’s Mujahideen of Iran or by its acronym MeK, is classified as a terrorist organization by the Iranian government.
Source: Arab News
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