Press Release – 14 November 2015
SOLIDARITY WITH FRANCE &
The True Origin of Islamic Fundamentalism
The International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) strongly condemns the inhumane and vicious crime on Friday night in Paris and extends its condolences to the people and Government of France and President Francois Hollande. ISJ expresses sincere sympathies with families of the victims and wishes fast recovery of those wounded in the attacks.
This unforgettable tragedy underlines the need to gain an accurate understanding of the evil phenomenon of Islamic fundamentalism terrorism and to work out a comprehensive and coordinated solution at international level.
The ISIS (Daesh) terrorists who have now turned France and other European countries into their battle ground, have already ravaged extensive parts of Syria, Iraq, Libya and many other Muslim countries in blood for two years.
They did not just appear out of nowhere. They have been nurtured by the extensive suppression and clampdown on the people of Syria at the hands of Bashar Assad and his main sponsor, the religious dictatorship in Tehran. They find their dynamism in the massacre of 300,000 people of Syria at the hands of the Iranian regime and Assad forces, and in the homelessness of half of the country’s populace.
The time has come for the international community to find a comprehensive solution against Islamic fundamentalism which started with the emergence of religious dictatorship in Iran in 1979 but has now turned into an urgent and major threat to the world.
This phenomenon initially began in a Shiite guise in Iran with executions, massacre and hostage-taking and in the absence of a decisive international reaction, expanded to Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. Then the Al-Qaida and ISIS terrorists further expanded it in a Sunni guise.
Ouster of Bashar Assad is the prerequisite to overcoming ISIS and so long as the Syrian regime is in power and continues its crimes, it is the best source of sustenance for ISIS. Likewise, the Iranian regime both as supporter of Assad and perpetrator of the massacre of Syrian people and as the most important source of terrorism and fundamentalism, cannot be a part of the solution and must be evicted from Syria. Any form of flexibility against it will only hearten the ISIS.
The Iranian Quds Force in a brazen reaction to this crime in Paris published a cartoon in its Tasnim news agency, describing the massacre as “self-created terrorism” – initiated by the French president!
In these difficult times, we stand in full solidarity with the Government and people of France as they mourn their loved ones.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
President of International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ)
Vice President of European Parliament (1999-2014)
About ISJ:
International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) was initially formed in 2008 as an informal group of EU parliamentarians to seek justice for the Iranian democratic opposition. In 2014 it was registered as a non-profit NGO in Brussels expanding its membership beyond elected parliamentarians to former officials and other dignitaries with an interest to promote human rights, freedom, democracy, peace and stability. ISJ’s campaigns have enjoyed the support of over 4000 parliamentarians on both sides of the Atlantic.
President: Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice President of European Parliament (1999-2014)
Board of Advisors: Patrick Kennedy, Congressman (1995-2011); Günter Verheugen, Vice President of EU Commission (2004-2010); Nicole Fontaine, President of European Parliament (1999-2002); General Hugh Shelton, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff (1997-2001); David Kilgour, Canadian Secretary of State (1997-2003); Ingrid Betancourt ; Prof. Raymond Tanter, President of Iran Policy Committee, Washington D.C.; Prof. Horst Teltschik, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference (1999-2008); Colonel Wesley Martin, Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer of all Coalition forces in Iraq (2005-2007); Senator Lucio Malan, Quaestor of Italian Senate; Alessandro Pagano MP, President of Committee of Italian Parliamentarians for a Free Iran; Antonio Razzi Secretary of Italian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee; Gérard Deprez MEP, Chair Friends of a Free Iran intergroup European Parliament; Ryszard Czarnecki, Vice President of European Parliament; Tunne Kelam, Member of European Parliament; Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, Co – chairman of British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, former independent reviewer of UK terrorism legislations; Lord Clarke of Hampstead CBE, Former Chairman of UK Labour Party; Lord Maginnis of Drumglass; Lord Dholakia OBE, Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrats in House of Lords