- Jan 10, 2002
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Flaming protests after terrorist charges
Followers of an Iranian group whose leader was arrested in France on Tuesday have again been protesting - some setting themselves alight - in Italy, Switzerland and Iraq.
Of the more than 150 other members of the People's Mujahadeen arrested in Paris, only 22 are still in custody.
The French authorities suspect them of planning terrorist attacks. But as our diplomatic correspondent Lindsey Hilsum reports, the US has a more ambivalent attitude to this Iranian opposition movement.
Desperate and fanatical: today an Iranian protestor in Rome tried to set himself aflame. Italian police were ready. Protestors in Paris, London and Berne have tried to immolate themselves in recent days.
In London, the police were taking no chances. Clad in flame-resistant clothing, they were removing lighters and matches from demonstrators outside the French Embassy.
The group - the National Council for Resistance in Iran - is angry that the French authorities have arrested their leader Maryam Rajavi and several followers, alleging they were planning attacks on Iranian embassies in Europe.
A message from Rajavi was read - she's asked her followers not to set themselves on fire anymore.
Maryam Rajavi's spokesperson:
"I want to ask all of you to now refrain from self-immolation so that I will not become more concerned and aggrieved than I already am."
Many in the Iranian opposition see the NCRI as a strange cult, and it has little support inside Iran, but they see themselves as the true voice of opposition to the Mullahs.
NCRI protestor:
"It's because of freedom, because of dirty deals with the Iranian government, because of those Mullahs, because of 25-years of torture and killing people."
In 1992, the group set fire to Iranian embassies in 13 western countries.
Both European Union and American governments regard the armed wing of the group - based in Iraq - as terrorists.
The State Department says its philosophy is a mixture of Marxism and Islam, its history is studded with anti-western activities and it occasionally uses terrorist violence. But the American attitude may soon be about to change.
The military wing, the Mujahadeen al Khalq has been based in Iraq since the 1980s. It was funded and protected by Saddam Hussein.
When the Americans invaded Iraq they disarmed the Mujahadeen, but now it's believed the Americans are considering taking them off the terrorist list, re-arming them and using them against Iran.
President Bush, 18/06/03:
"Iran will be dangerous if they have a nuclear weapon."
Nowadays, President Bush never misses an opportunity to condemn Iran, saying it's building a nuclear weapon. But is the Mujahadeen al Khalq part of his plan?
Today, in Iraq, the disarmed Mujahadeen were - like branches elsewhere - protesting about the arrests in France. They fear that if the Americans don't re-arm them, they'll be left to languish in Iraq with dwindling support elsewhere.
Today French police searched Maryam Rajavi's house and made more arrests. Those who set themselves alight are in hospital. The others say they'll keep protesting until she's released.
http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/06/week_2/19_iran.html
Followers of an Iranian group whose leader was arrested in France on Tuesday have again been protesting - some setting themselves alight - in Italy, Switzerland and Iraq.
Of the more than 150 other members of the People's Mujahadeen arrested in Paris, only 22 are still in custody.
The French authorities suspect them of planning terrorist attacks. But as our diplomatic correspondent Lindsey Hilsum reports, the US has a more ambivalent attitude to this Iranian opposition movement.
Desperate and fanatical: today an Iranian protestor in Rome tried to set himself aflame. Italian police were ready. Protestors in Paris, London and Berne have tried to immolate themselves in recent days.
In London, the police were taking no chances. Clad in flame-resistant clothing, they were removing lighters and matches from demonstrators outside the French Embassy.
The group - the National Council for Resistance in Iran - is angry that the French authorities have arrested their leader Maryam Rajavi and several followers, alleging they were planning attacks on Iranian embassies in Europe.
A message from Rajavi was read - she's asked her followers not to set themselves on fire anymore.
Maryam Rajavi's spokesperson:
"I want to ask all of you to now refrain from self-immolation so that I will not become more concerned and aggrieved than I already am."
Many in the Iranian opposition see the NCRI as a strange cult, and it has little support inside Iran, but they see themselves as the true voice of opposition to the Mullahs.
NCRI protestor:
"It's because of freedom, because of dirty deals with the Iranian government, because of those Mullahs, because of 25-years of torture and killing people."
In 1992, the group set fire to Iranian embassies in 13 western countries.
Both European Union and American governments regard the armed wing of the group - based in Iraq - as terrorists.
The State Department says its philosophy is a mixture of Marxism and Islam, its history is studded with anti-western activities and it occasionally uses terrorist violence. But the American attitude may soon be about to change.
The military wing, the Mujahadeen al Khalq has been based in Iraq since the 1980s. It was funded and protected by Saddam Hussein.
When the Americans invaded Iraq they disarmed the Mujahadeen, but now it's believed the Americans are considering taking them off the terrorist list, re-arming them and using them against Iran.
President Bush, 18/06/03:
"Iran will be dangerous if they have a nuclear weapon."
Nowadays, President Bush never misses an opportunity to condemn Iran, saying it's building a nuclear weapon. But is the Mujahadeen al Khalq part of his plan?
Today, in Iraq, the disarmed Mujahadeen were - like branches elsewhere - protesting about the arrests in France. They fear that if the Americans don't re-arm them, they'll be left to languish in Iraq with dwindling support elsewhere.
Today French police searched Maryam Rajavi's house and made more arrests. Those who set themselves alight are in hospital. The others say they'll keep protesting until she's released.
http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/06/week_2/19_iran.html
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