Iran Democracy Advocate Criticizes European Journalists

to speak directly to the people of Europe. In the past two weeks I have had

two press conferences, one in Stockholm and one yesterday in Berlin. Between them

more than a hundred and fifty journalists attended. We spent more than

two hours together and in those two hours not a single of the hundred and

fifty journalists asked me a question about the 40,000 Iranians slaughtered on

the streets of my country on January 8th and 9th. Not a single of the 150

journalists asked me about the 19 political prisoners executed in the last

two weeks. When I told them that there were 20 political prisoners currently

sentenced to death, not a single one of the 150 journalists asked me about them.

When I stood next to a mother whose son was killed and a father whose son was

killed on January 8th and 9th and asked them to hear their stories, not a single

one of the 150 European journalists asked them a question. Here in the heart

of a continent that claims to stand for human rights, justice and dignity, its

journalists have fully abdicated their professional responsibilities and even

their moral objectivity. It is clear to me that my 40,000 brave innocent

compatriots who were slaughtered in the fight for liberty are of little interest

to these journalists. They seem more interested in criticizing America, asking

why the United States and Israel killed the dictator that has slaughtered our

people for 47 years, than criticizing the regime doing the slaughtering. They seem

more interested in asking questions about Iran's past and history than about

what is happening in Iran today or about the democratic future Iranians are

seeking. One member of Parliament even told me they didn't think Iranians were

ready for democracy. But to that member of Parliament, to those journalists, I remind

you, Iranians aren't just ready for democracy, 40,000 people just gave their

lives for it and I won't let that be in vain. So know this, whether or not Europe

stands with us, whether or not your journalists do their jobs, whether or not

your politicians demonstrate the courage to act, I will fight for my people and my

country. Even if we have to do this alone, we will fight until Iran is free.