Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has issued a statement celebrating the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, describing it as a momentous victory for the Syrian people and a significant turning point for the region.
In her statement, Mrs. Rajavi extended her heartfelt congratulations to the people of Syria, particularly the revolutionary youth, political prisoners, and the families of those who lost their lives during the Syrian uprising. She expressed her hope that this historic achievement marks the beginning of a new era of democracy, freedom, and progress for Syria.
A Regional Milestone
Mrs. Rajavi highlighted the regional implications of Assad’s fall, emphasizing that his regime had long been a critical pillar of support for Iran’s theocratic dictatorship. For over four decades, the Iranian regime provided financial, military, and strategic backing to Assad, enabling atrocities against the Syrian people while advancing its own ambitions in the region. With Assad’s removal, the “strategic depth” of Iran’s religious dictatorship has been severely undermined.
She called for the immediate expulsion of Iran’s clerical regime from Syria, Iraq, and other neighboring countries. This demand, she said, reflects the longstanding position of the Iranian Resistance and signifies a necessary step toward freedom for the people of Iran and the broader Middle East.
Hope for Iranian Freedom
The victory in Syria, according to Mrs. Rajavi, is a source of inspiration and hope for the Iranian people. She drew parallels between the Syrian people’s struggle and the Iranian Resistance’s fight against the regime in Tehran. “For the families of the 120,000 martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for Iran’s freedom, this victory is a source of solace and motivation,” she stated.
Mrs. Rajavi also pointed to the role of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the Syrian conflict, accusing them of complicity in the deaths of over half a million Syrians and the displacement of millions more. She predicted that the IRGC and Khamenei’s intelligence apparatus would face a similar fate to Assad’s forces in the face of Iran’s growing resistance movement.
Vision of Liberation
In a symbolic reference, Mrs. Rajavi mentioned the capture of Syria’s notorious Saydnaya Prison by rebels and expressed confidence that Iran’s own prisons, such as the infamous Evin Prison, would one day fall to Iran’s revolutionary youth and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).
She concluded her statement by affirming that the liberation of Syria is a critical step toward the broader goal of dismantling the “religious fascism” that has plagued Iran and the region for decades.
A Call for Regional Solidarity
Mrs. Rajavi’s message extends beyond national boundaries, calling on all peoples in the region to unite against tyranny. She described the fall of Assad as a moment to turn the page on the dark days of the Middle East and to usher in an era of freedom and democracy.
The statement, released by the NCRI Secretariat on December 8, 2024, reflects the Iranian Resistance’s vision of a free Iran and a region liberated from oppression.
