When a woman who has herself shaped political history raises her voice for Iran’s resistance, it deserves special attention. Professor Rita Süssmuth, former President of the German Bundestag, in her new book titled Iran on the Brink of Change: The Social Role of Women and My Personal Experiences, intertwines her autobiography with the freedom struggle of the MEK resistance in Iran.
This Christian Democratic politician, born in 1937, shaped German democracy as the Minister for Family Affairs and the first female President of the Bundestag. Her academic roots lie in philosophy, history, and sociology—a blend of intellectual rigor and political responsibility. But, as she writes, nothing reshaped her moral compass as profoundly as her encounter with Iran’s resistance.
The turning point came in 2008 outside her Berlin office: a young Iranian woman from the MEK asked her to sign a petition against executions in Iran. Süssmuth was immediately struck by the woman’s determination and belief in a better future. This spontaneous encounter sparked decades of commitment—marked by solidarity, political initiatives, and personal friendships.
German-Parliamentarians-visit-PMOI-MEK-in-AlbaniaSüssmuth describes the role of women in a captivating way. Whether students, mothers, or political leaders, they are united by the goal of freedom. Their strength, she says, is not only political but a “revolution within.” She experienced this mindset vividly during her visits to Ashraf-3 in Albania, where she met survivors of Iran’s prisons—women who endured torture and imprisonment yet remained full of hope.
A key figure in this context is Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Süssmuth sees Rajavi as embodying a unique blend of vision and compassion, determination and humanity. She places her among extraordinary figures like Nelson Mandela—individuals who transcend politics to become symbols of freedom and dignity.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, and Professor Rita SüssmuthSüssmuth actively engaged in the resistance: she fought for the protection of the residents of Camps Ashraf and Liberty and defended the resistance against political hostility in Germany. For her, this commitment was “one of the most challenging yet inspiring struggles” of her career.
Her book concludes with a clear appeal: the Iranian struggle for freedom is not an isolated fight but part of a global movement for human rights. Quoting Martin Luther King, Süssmuth emphasizes that “a new history is being written” in Iran—a history that brings hope not only for Iran but for the entire world.
With this work, Rita Süssmuth lends her voice to those who are often unheard. It is a passionate call for solidarity, courage, and responsibility—and a reminder that freedom and dignity are universal values worth fighting for.
