National Council of Resistance of Iran
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The National Council of Resistance of Iran considers itself the parliament-in-exile of the Iranian Resistance, and is a broad-based political umbrella coalition comprised of five opposition political organizations and parties and more than 550 political, cultural and social figures, specialists, artists, intellectuals, scientists, military officers and commanders of the National Liberation Army. The President-elect of the NCRI is Maryam Rajavi. Massoud Rajavi, her husband, is officially the President and official spokesman of NCRI but he has not been seen or heard from since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Alireza Jafarzadeh was its official representative in the USA until the Washington office was closed by the US State Department in 2002 on the grounds that it was only a front group for the People's Mujahedin of Iran, by then listed as a terrorist organistion.[1].
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[edit] Represented groups
The NRCI claims membership from every part of the political and social specturm, including those of religious, secular, liberal and nationalist persuasions, as well as the representatives of ethnic minorities, namely Kurds, Baluchis, Turkmens, and Arabs, Sunni Moslems, and members of smaller religious communities, such as Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians. Half of the council’s members are women.
The NCRI considers itself as the political umbrella coalition of different political parties and movements, with different ideological and political backgrounds, especially the Fedaiin marxist organization and the People's Mujahedin of Iran PMOI (also known as MEK or MKO) - an organisation opposed to the present government of Iran, which has been a controversial subject for economical-political exchange in dialogues between the Iranian government, the EU and the US in several occasions. The FBI disagrees with this, alleging that the NCRI "is not a separate organization, but is instead, and has been, an integral part of the MEK at all relevant times" and that the NCRI is "the political branch" of the MEK rather than vice versa.[4]
[edit] External views on the NCRI
The NCRI is classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the United States. Michael Axworthy, former head of the Iran section at the Middle East department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the United Kingdom, claimed in early 2006 that the NCRI is a "tightly disciplined front-organization for the MEK and deemed them unreliable."[3] In contrast to this, the NCRI is by others, including the European Union, considered a fair resistance organisation.
[edit] Organisation structure
All members of the Council have one vote, and all decisions are adopted by a simple majority. The council's 25 committees form the basis for a provisional coalition government once the present government in Iran is changed. Chairing each committee is a prominent political personality who is an expert in the field.
[edit] Platform
[edit] Human rights
The NCRI pledges to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all international covenants on human rights, including “freedom of association, freedom of thought and expression, media, political parties, trade unions, councils, religions and denominations, freedom of profession, and prevention of any violation of individual and social rights and freedoms.”
[edit] Women's rights
The NCRI recognizes “the right of women to vote and stand as candidates in all elections, and the right to vote in all referenda,” “the right to employment and free selection of profession, and the right to hold any public office, including the presidency or judgeship,” “the right to freely choose clothing,” and “the right to use, without discrimination, all instructional, educational, athletic, and artistic resources; the right to participate in all athletic competitions and artistic activities.”
[edit] Economy
The council accepts national capitalism and the bazaar, private ownership and enterprise, as well as private investment. It emphasizes the need to utilize the latest scientific and technical achievements and views relations with industrial countries necessary to reconstruct Iran's economy.
[edit] Freedom of religion
The NCRI believes in the separation of Church and State. According to its ratifications, “all forms of discrimination against the followers of various religions and denominations in the enjoyment of their individual and social rights are prohibited. No citizen shall enjoy any privileges or be subject to any deprivations with respect to nomination for election, suffrage, employment, education, becoming a judge or any other individual or social rights, for reason of belief or non-belief in particular religion or denomination.”
[edit] National minorities
The NCRI recognizes the rights of all ethnic and national minorities. It has adopted a plan for the autonomy of Iranian Kurdistan, specifying that “the administration of all affairs of the autonomous region of Kurdistan,” except for those related to foreign policy, national defense, national security, foreign trade and customs, “fall within the authority of the autonomous organs.”
[edit] International relations
The council’s foreign policy is based on independence, respect for the United Nations Charter and international conventions and treaties, good neighborliness, international and regional cooperation and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The NCRI supports the Middle East peace process and is committed to maintaining and protecting peace and tranquility in the region and condemns any aggression and expansionism. The council opposes nuclear proliferation and the production of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- [2] Iran Policy Committee urges covert military action against Iran, support for Mujahedin, February 16, 2006, Nathan Hunerwadel, National Iranian American Council
- [3] Resistance group claims evidence of Iranian bomb ambitions, Rachelle Kliger, January 11, 2006, The Media Line
- [4] DC Court of Appeals Rules Against NCRI Petition for Review of "Foreign Terrorist Organization" Designation, July 9, 2004, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
