Thousands rally in support of Iran resistance group
Washington, 29 June (IranVNC)—Thousands of supporters of an Iranian resistance group yesterday took part in a rally on the outskirts of Paris calling on the European Union and the United States to remove the organization from their terrorist blacklists.
By: IranVNC
Published: Sunday, June 29, 2008
18:50GMT—2:50PM/EST
MEK – RALLY – EUROPE
Washington, 29 June (IranVNC)—Thousands of supporters of an Iranian resistance group yesterday took part in a rally on the outskirts of Paris calling on the European Union and the United States to remove the organization from their terrorist blacklists.
The demonstration came days after British lawmakers officially lifted its ban on the People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran [PMOI] – a move Iran has denounced.
The organization is known as the Mujahedeen-e Khalq [MEK] in the United States.
The group’s Paris-based political arm, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, organized the rally, which took place at an exhibition center in the northern Paris suburb of Villepinte.
The U.S. and the EU still consider the organization to be a terrorist group – a label National Council head, Maryam Rajavi, said is keeping the group from toppling the current Iranian government.
“Do not deprive the world from the most effective means to combat the religious fascism and terrorism,” AP quoted Rajavi as saying in a speech to the crowd. “Instead, side with those who can bring the Iranian people freedom.”
Rally organizers said over 70,000 protestors from Germany Australia, Belgium, Canada, the United States, Britain, Iraq and Jordon, took part in the demonstration, according to AFP.
The MEK took up arms against the Islamic Republic in the 1980s with funding from Saddam Hussein, and Iran still considers it a terrorist organization.
The group says it ended its armed attacks and no longer deserves to be called a terrorist group.
Sources: Associated Press, Agence France-Presse
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