Bogota – The wives of Venezuelan opposition figures formed a “Committee of Relatives of Political Prisoners” after the opposition rejected the national electoral council agreement to collect 4 million signatures for a public referendum on Nicolas Maduro’s presidency.

The committee will also undertake activities once a week which remind the regime and Venezuela that today there are 109 political prisoners in Venezuela

Leopoldo Lopez, serving a 13-year and 9-months prison sentence, is the most prominent prisoner.

Asharq Al-Awsat met with Lopez’s wife, Lilian Tintori, who spoke about the current situations in Venezuela and the role of Iran in her country.

When asked about her evaluation for the protests in Venezuela, Tintori said that she thinks the protests are a positive thing. She added that her husband has always said that the people should have the final word.

She added that protests will continue for a referendum this year adding that they are trying to exert pressures to activate Article 72 of the constitution to choose to continue with current president or electing another.

Tintori explained that the issue is not whether the referendum will be successful or not, rather a moral obligation to commit to constitution and achieve rights through it.

When asked about the protests at the beginning of September, Tintori said that the democratic protest with the participation of million citizens shows that the country is aware how important it is to topple this government and replace it with democracy, peace, and prosperity.

Tintori said that nothing could be expected from Maduro who doesn’t care about Venezuela or the people. She added that regime is tyrant like any other oppressive regime which resorts to violence and suppression.

When asked about the changes since her husband’s apprehension, Tintori said that Maduro imprisoned many leaders in her husband’s party unfairly. She added that her life has changed completely.

Tintori never thought that she dedicated her life for human rights. She added that Venezuela as a whole changed because it had affected everyone.

In her response to the justice system under Maduro, Tintori said justice system responds to two persons: Nicholas Maduro and Diosdado Cabello who approve arrests and impose sentences.

She added that the public prosecutor had confessed that evidence against her husband has been fabricated. She added that the imprisonment of her husband is injustice and only reveals the failure and fear the government feels.

Lilian Tintori feels that the international community has its own agenda and there won’t be quick results and it won’t be easy to reach consensus. She addressed the international community saying: “Follow us in our struggle for our freedom.”

But what worries Tintori are the relations between the current regime and extremists in Iran and Middle East. She concluded that the entire international community should be worried about that.