In the biggest-ever demonstration by Iranians in the United States, more than 10,000 Iranians demonstrated against Khatami's presence at the United Nations in New York. The protesters condemned continuing flagrant human rights violations and unbridled terrorism during Khatami's tenure. They declared that Khatami is no different from his predecessors and that there was no sign of change or reform during his term in office.

Iranians marched across from the clerical regime's UN mission in New York. They held a rally simultaneous with Khatami's speech at the United Nations from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm, and declared their support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran and its President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi.

Converging on New York from across America, Iranians were chanting "terrorist mullah out of UN," "Khatami does not represent the Iranian people," "down with Khamenei, down with Khatami, hail to Rajavi." A large banner carried parts of Khatami's one-year-record, which read: "260 public executions, seven cases of stoning, 42 terrorist assaults on Iranian dissidents abroad."

As Khatami was addressing the General Assembly, one of the sympathizers of the Iranian Resistance got into main hall and, in a courageous act of protest, she interrupted Khatami's speech by strong chants of "death to Khatami," "Khatami is a terrorist," "Khatami is a murderer," "Khatami out of UN," etc.  Holding a banner reading: "Death to Khatami," the Iranian protester was dragged outside by a group of police.

In the resolution of the march, Iranians said that Khatami shared responsibility in all of the regime's crimes. His presence at the United Nations is not only against the highest interests of the Iranian people, but also an affront to the very principles upon which the UN has been founded.

Simultaneously with the huge gathering in New York, similar demonstrations and rallies were held earlier in the day by thousands of Iranians across Europe, including Geneva, Bonn, London, the Hague, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, in front of United Nations office.
 

Thousands Demand End To 'Repressive' Iranian Regime, The Associated Press, September 21

Demonstrators near the United Nations on Monday called for the overthrow of Iran's Islamic government as a repressive regime led by a hard-line cleric masquerading as a moderate.

The demonstrations were timed to coincide with the appearance of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami before the U.N. General Assembly.

At the United Nations itself, an Iranian national disrupted Khatami's speech, shouting out "Khatami is a murderer," before being whisked away by security guards.

U.N. officials said she entered the building on a valid pass for international organizations.  She was in the public gallery of the General Assembly hall, where world leaders opened the 53rd session of the annual general debate. As Khatami began to speak, she shouted, "Khatami is a torturer, liar, murderer," U.N. officials said, speaking on condition they not be identified.

U.N. officials said they had no plans to file charges.

The theme of the massive protest was that Khatami has proved as uncompromising and brutal toward dissenters as the mullahs who ran Iran for the previous 18 years.

"He has come to the United Nations to prolong the life of his moribund regime," said one Iranian speaker. "There is no such thing as a moderate mullah," said Soona Samsami, an official of the sponsoring National Council of Resistance of Iran.

At the rally, Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., and two House members, Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., supported the group's call for a new democratic regime in Tehran.

"The tortures, the murders and state-sponsored terrorism are increasing. Simply because the United States government wants there to be moderation in Iran doesn't make it true," Torricelli said in a telephone interview.

In the sea of matching yellow shirts with the portraits of resistance leaders Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, Ayatollah Jalal Gajehie stood out in his traditional robes.

Through an interpreter, Gajehie described himself as a political exile who fled Iran to escape a death sentence by his one-time mentor, revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Gajehie now lives in France where he works on behalf of establishing democracy in his homeland, he said.
 

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