Delegates included President-elect Maryam Rajavi of the Iranian Resistance, a delegation from Syria’s opposition, parliament members from Arabic countries, and representative from the United States, including Linda Chavez, former White House Director of Public Liaison, and Frances Townsend, Assistant to U.S. President on Homeland Security & Counterterrorism (2004-2008). Other notable personalities were Rudy Guilani, former Mayor of New York, Bernard Kouchner, former Foreign Minister (2007-2010), from France, and Giulio Maria Terzi, Foreign Minister (2011-2013), from Italy. Speakers discussed Camp Liberty in Iraq, including lack of basic necessities and medical care. Camp Liberty in Iraq currently houses dissidents from Iran. On January 30, 2015, 100 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in a written declaration urged Europe, USA, and UN that “Camp Liberty, home to Iranian exiles in Iraq, be recognized as refugee camp under supervision of UNHCR and specially medical and fuel siege be ended.” Several delegates tied women’s rights to human rights, siting impressive political, educational and economic gains, while pointing out that these gains have not been universal. Globally women’s rights and freedoms still lag behind or are non-existent. Rajavi focused on the Middle East and fundamentalism which is undermining women’s rights. She talked about how women’s power and leadership is critical in overcoming this fundamentalism. “Today, women’s plight in the Middle East is entirely entwined with insecurity, oppression, homelessness, murder and servitude. Far beyond the Middle East, fundamentalism is now threatening Europe and other regions across the globe,” said Rajavi. “Women’s power is the greatest challenger to Islamic fundamentalism.” Throughout the conference, support of equal rights for women and challenging the Iranian mullahs was held up as critical to a successful end of fundamental Islam. “As such, silence vis-à-vis the Iranian regime’s meddling in Syria, Iraq and other regional countries, let alone collaborating with it under the pretext of confronting ISIS, represents a strategic mistake,” said Rajavi, referring to Iran as the godfather of terrorism. Rita Süssmuth, former President of Bundestag, spoke on how silence is contributing to the oppression of women and others. Speaking out against the violation of human rights is critical. Politicians need compromise, but must work against appeasement of Iran. Democratic Islam is a struggle for human rights, as various delegates pointed out throughout the conference. Again and again, speakers pointed out how the state of women is tied to human rights and is an issue for both men and women. “Berlin knows about oppression and a lack of human rights,” said Giuliani, pointing to the struggles with Nazism and Communism. He recounted historical examples of how appeasement works against the ending of oppression, tying it to the current situation with Iran. Giuliani said believing the mullahs of Iran wanting peaceful use of nuclear power is “stupid and a path to war.” Rouhani isn’t a reformer, as the civil rights of women are still being taken away and the laws contradict international laws on human rights. Violence against women is legal in Iran, said Maria Candida Almida, General Prosecutor of Portugal. The conference delegates spoke against Iran as a source of fundamentalism and against appeasement with Iran, siting many examples of abuse against human rights. “You cannot democracy without the advancement of women,” said Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. Speakers also spoke out against the United States policy of negotiation with Iran on the narrow issue of nuclear power, pointing out continues its human rights abuses against its people. Ingrid Betancourt, former member of Senate & Presidential candidate, from Colombia, protested that the media are not focusing on women being sold as animals. She also protested against the silence in the Western nations against Iran. “War is not an option,” said Betancourt. Instead she focused on how the use of economics and sanctions can have a greater effect in promoting change, pointing to the lower cost of oil reducing Iran’s ability to raise funds. Sarah Kaiser, an international jazz and soul singer and native of Berlin, preformed as part of the program.
