By Pejman Amiri

As it was expected a huge crowd of Iranian and non-Iranians showed up, in Paris, today to hear Maryam Rajavi's speech at the annual reunion of the Iranian resistance. Authorities in the city of Villepinte, where the gathering took place, estimated the audience as to over one hundred thousand people. Many of the participants are Iranian nationals who live in different cities in Europe or Untied States and Canada who have got a few days off to join this grand meeting.

The meeting is regarded by many experts as a test for both the Iranian regime and their foes in the Iranian resistance. The two sides have made numerous moves and allegations against each other, in the recent years. The ruling Mullahs and their western allies blame the Mojahedin of having no considerable support among Iranians, and that they have retained their "scant" supporters by force or deception.

The presence of such a large number of Iranians today shows that the claims made by the regime's authorities against the resistance, are not regarded seriously. The regime's propaganda machine constantly labels the Mojahedin as," to have associations with the enemies of the state, scattering lies about the government and making false accusations against the authorities". The interesting point is that many in the audience are non-religious or even non-Muslims who have come to show their support for a devoted Muslim woman, Maryam Rajavi.

The great reception today can also be considered as a "no" vote for the regime and all of its internal fractions. In the past 36 years this regime has presented the Iranian people nothing but a crushed freedom and a bankrupt economy. The Iranian people have come to be poor and poorer while the Ayatollahs have glided themselves among the top richest people of the world.

Among the first victims of Iran's religious tyranny are the Iranian women. In the past year the regime has made more and more limitations for women. Women can be arrested for not obeying the state dress code. Women have been subjects of acid attacks by government agents while many women human rights activists are jailed. At the same time women in People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran achieved greater positions when the all women Central Council of Mojahedin was formed. A government affiliated group stated last week that they will show brutality against those women who appear in the sport arenas.

A part of Maryam Rajavi's speech today was on Women's freedom and their conditions inside Iran. She received a great welcome when she appeared on the podium. She partly said, "We revoke the regime's constitution. Iranian people do not want nuclear weapon, they do not want meddling into Syria and Iraq, they do not want torture chambers "." One basic point in the constitution should be women’s equality and their active and equal participation in political leadership." Rajavi's speech was frequently stopped by the crowd who showed their support and praise for her.

The meeting continued for a few hours in which more than 600 politicians, lawmakers, academicians and other celebrities from around the world participated. Some of the guest speakers included US Senator Robert Torricelli, former French Foreign minister Bernard Kouchner and, former Vice President of the European Commission Günter Verheugen.

Pejman Amiri ,Political and human rights activist who has fled Iran due to the repression of freedom activists.