MICK WALLACE HAS said there is “more democracy in Iran than in most countries”, as he was questioned about an award, which was set up by the country’s former supreme leader.
The Irish MEP travelled to Tehran last week to accept the ‘Right Side of History’ medal.
According to the Tehran Times, the award recognises individuals who support “the Palestinian cause” and have challenged Western narratives about the Middle East.
An award ceremony took place near where the former supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on 28 February. The late Ayatollah established the award.
Speaking to South East Radio’s Morning Mix, Wallace said the medal is for “speaking the truth and having the courage to call things as they are”.
He said it is “mostly about Palestine” and “resistance to western imperialism.”
“It’s difficult for people to speak the truth a lot of the time, especially in the political dimension,” said Wallace.
“In the European Parliament, if you dare to say something controversial or against the mainstream, you’ll be attacked more often than not by the media because they have a different agenda.”
Wallace added that he was “honoured” to receive it, but didn’t feel he deserved it because others are doing “a lot more than I have done”.
Wallace was asked on air about Iran’s restrictions on freedom of speech, its crackdown on anti-government protests, and other human rights abuses.
“There is no country unblemished. I have never seen a government I’ve liked anywhere,” he said.
Wallace said people should “go over there and see for themselves” what Iran is like.
“Iran has a democracy and the decision-making process is very broad and a whole lot of people have a say… you don’t have that in a western country,” he said.
Things are far from perfect in Iran the same as they’re far from perfect in any country.
Wallace went on to take aim at the Irish government.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, at the moment, are threatening to get rid of the Triple Lock even though the vast majority of the Irish people don’t want that,” he said.
“They want to break away form the UN and get closer to NATO with this move, and it’s completely against the wishes of the Irish people.”
Wallace also said Iran has been “demonised” and more “lies” have been told about it “than any other country on the planet”.
He added that if the Irish government wanted to give him an award for “doing something positive”, he’d accept it.