Nejat Society

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Michael Rubin: Rubio Should Re-Designate the Mujahedin-e Khalq

The US government adviser, Michael Rubin states that the recent Iranian protests have confirmed that the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) has no backing or legitimacy among ordinary Iranians advising the secretary of state department to re-designate the group.

Rubin is an American historian, foreign policy analyst, government adviser, and military lecturer who holds the position of a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He has long been a critic of the Iranian government as well as the MEK.

In his recent article published by the Middle East Forum, supporting the protests in Iran, Rubin warns about the MEK’s violent background. “Mujahedin bombs killed hundreds of Iranians, as the cult-like group cared little about collateral damage” he writes. “As a result, many Iranians consider them terrorists.”

The American historian correctly notifies that “more damning in Iranian eyes was the Mujahedin-e Khalq’s defection to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq at the height of the Iran-Iraq War.”

About the MEK’s current status as a “chameleon cult”, he writes: In the decades since, the Mujahedin has grown only more cult-like even as it has become a political chameleon, shifting its rhetoric to support whomever it thought its patrons might be. When it solicits Congress, it feigns commitment to democracy, even as its actions and its internal rhetoric suggest it remains unchanged and unabashedly anti-American. “Victory or martyrdom, fighting with America rises from our voice. … Compromise is a shame. Shout from your heart: destroy America!” goes one Mujahedin-e Khalq anthem.

Although this anti-Islam foreign policy analyst seeks the overthrow of Islamic Republic government, he truthfully asks Marco Rubio to designate the MEK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because he thinks that this unpopular group might deviate the aspirations of Iranians.

He assumes Rubio as the right person to do so: “Rubio, unlike some predecessors, has never accepted Mujahedin-e Khalq bribes under the guise of donations or honoraria; he is not beholden to a group Iranians despise.”

February 17, 2026 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Raha Bohlulipour’s Friends Reject Her Connection with the MEK

The young female student whom the MEK called “Mujahid Martyr Zahra Bahlolipour” liked to be called “Raha”. She was born in 2003 and was an Italian language student at the University of Tehran. She was killed on Friday, January 19, in street protests, and Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) added her name to the list of “martyrs of resistance units,” but her family, friends, classmates, and even the Tehran University Union Council denied her connection with the notorious MEK.

In a report published by Sharq Daily about the killing of Zahra Bohlulipour and several other students during the protests, her friends are quoted as saying that on Friday, January 10, Raha and several of her friends came to the conclusion that the dormitory was not safe; for this reason, they gathered their belongings to go to a friend’s house. They arrived at one of the city squares where they were shot by some motorbike riders.

After the shooting ends, the group tries to escape until one of her friends notices that Raha is still there. When he turns to her, he sees that she is bleeding. Later, at the hospital, they say that the bullet hit her heart and lungs.

Raha was laid to rest on January 14 in Firuzabad, a city near Shiraz.

An MEK-affiliated website, titled “Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance,” published Raha’s photo claiming that she was a member of the MEK: “Mujahed Martyr Zahra Bohlulipour (Raha), born in 2007, was a student of Italian language at the Faculty of Languages and Literature of Tehran University.”

The MEK-affiliated media even went a step further and published a message from Ali Safavi, an official of the so-called NCRI in the United States, who addressed Raha as “My dear sister, Zahra!” and wrote: “You now stand among 100,000 MEK martyrs”.

This extremely opportunistic and hypocritical act by the MEK has sparked a wave of anger and hatred among Raha’s friends who knew her closely. Her friends and acquaintances tried to clarify that she had no link with the MEK by publishing messages on social networks. Her family had previously denied their young daughter’s connection to the MEK.

Following this claim by MEK, the General Student Union Council of Tehran University also issued a statement strongly condemning rumors about the connection of Tehran University students with armed terrorist groups including the MEK.

One of Raha Bohlulipour’s friends wrote on her X social media account: “Raha (Zahra) Bohlulipour has never been linked to any armed group, including the so-called MEK, false claims and manipulated images spread by this discredited group aim to mislead public opinion and whitewash crimes.”

Another friend, who is also very upset about Raha’s blood being confiscated by the MEK, wrote: “Raha was the most alive person I had ever seen in my life. Be Raha’s voice. Raha has nothing to do with the MEK.”

Another user wrote in defense of Raha’s name: “Raha Bohlulipour has nothing to do with this dirty organization. A free, loving girl full of life…”

Yes, Raha, like many other Iranian girls, loved life and could not be a member of a group that denies life in practice and even removes the word “life” from the manifestations of its struggle. The fake narrative of the MEK that Raha’s blood was attributed to them can be proven in different ways. While the so-called NCR Women Committee website has included the fake slogan “Women, Resistance, Freedom” on its front, Raha wrote “Women, Life, Freedom” in her last message on Telegram.

Raha’s young body now rests in a corner of Iranian soil. Her grieving family and friends no longer have Raha, the very girl who was passionate about life. They are enduring this great pain while worrying that their beloved’s name will be tainted by the MEK’s notorious name.

Mazda Parsi

February 16, 2026 0 comments

Iran

The MEK’s self-declared role in Iran protests

In recent weeks, Donald Trump and a large section of the international media have pushed a familiar storyline: that protesters in Iran want the United States to step in militarily and bring down the country’s leadership.
Trump has paired that messaging with threats of major military action. He has not limited his demands to how Iranian authorities treat demonstrators. He has also insisted that Iran abandon what he describes as a nuclear weapons pursuit and give up long-range missiles and other defensive capabilities.

None of this changes a basic reality inside Iran. Many Iranians have taken to the streets because daily life has become punishing. Prices have surged, the currency has lost value and families have watched wages fall behind the cost of food, housing and medicine. The Trump administration’s sanctions have played a central role in tightening that vice, sharply restricting Iran’s ability to trade and access global markets, and adding momentum to inflation and financial instability.

Yet public discussion often stops there, as if economic pain tells the whole story. It does not. A second layer matters for anyone trying to understand what is happening, and for anyone tempted to treat escalation as “support for the Iranian people”: the question of foreign encouragement and involvement.

Mossad’s messaging and Israel’s public claims

Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad, has not confined itself to quiet signals. Mossad used social media to urge Iranians to mobilise, writing: “Go out together into the streets. The time has come… We are with you in the field.”

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu also spoke in unusually direct terms, referring to an operation he called “Rising Lion” and saying that Israeli forces had operated on Iranian soil and had people active there “right now”.

Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo reinforced that message with a tweet: “Happy New Year to Iranians and Mossad agents beside them.” Last year, Mossad director David Barnea said Israel would continue its activities in Iran, declaring: “We will continue to be there, as we have been.”

Taken together, those statements do not prove the scale of any operation. They do something else: they normalise the idea of foreign intelligence activity as a legitimate companion to civil unrest. That is a dangerous precedent, especially in a region where covert action has repeatedly escalated into open conflict and where civilians pay the price first.

The MEK’s self-declared role

Another actor frequently cited in discussion of the protests is the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), an exiled opposition organisation with a long and divisive history. The group presents itself as an organiser of protest activity and has issued sweeping claims about casualties and arrests.

The MEK says it has identified 1,449 people killed as of 30 January, 2026 and describes the unrest as a nationwide uprising. It also claims Iranian authorities have detained students accused of links to the organisation. These are serious allegations, but they originate in the group’s own statements and should be treated with caution until independently verified.

The organisation’s history helps explain why its presence triggers such sharp reactions. Founded in 1965, the MEK carried out armed attacks against the Shah’s government and US targets in the 1970s, and it initially supported the 1978–1979 revolution. It later turned against the new Iranian state and went into exile. Its decision to align with Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War remains, for many Iranians, a line that no rebranding can easily erase.

The US State Department designated the MEK a terrorist organisation in 1997, a label that remained until 2012, when the United States removed it during Barack Obama’s presidency.

Trump’s call to escalate

Foreign encouragement has not come only from Israel or exiled groups. On 13 January, 2026, Trump urged protesters to intensify their actions and seize state institutions, writing: “KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! … HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”

That language matters. It does not read like concern for rights or support for democratic participation. It reads like an invitation to confrontation, paired with the suggestion of outside backing. In a country shaped by long memories of foreign interference, that kind of messaging can deepen polarisation, raise the risk of violence and harden the very security posture it claims to oppose.

What would “regime change” even mean?

Even if one sets aside legality and morality, the strategy collapses under its own questions. If Iran’s leadership fell, who would govern a country of roughly 90 million people? Some proponents point to the Shah’s son, but his support inside Iran is widely contested and he has lived abroad for decades, including in Maryland.

Then comes the issue of force. What would occupation and administration require in manpower, logistics and political cover, particularly in a society where many already distrust US intentions? A project of that scale would not resemble a “targeted strike”. It would look more like a prolonged crisis, with predictable spillover and unpredictable end points.
There is also a religious dimension that outside actors routinely underestimate. Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, carries religious authority for many Shia Muslims. A direct assault on Iran risks being read by parts of the region as an assault on a community’s dignity and security, not simply a dispute between states.

Regional actors would also respond through their own interests. Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and powerful Shia political forces in Iraq have long understood that an attack on Iran shifts the balance of power across the region. If they believe Iran’s fall makes them next, they will not disarm out of goodwill. They will prepare for survival.
Finally, escalation dynamics rarely stop where planners imagine. If the United States attacked and Iran inflicted serious damage in return, would Washington or Israel accept that outcome, or would they climb further up the ladder in pursuit of “victory”? In a world where nuclear threats have returned to political conversation with disturbing ease, that is not a remote concern.

A historical warning, and a hard question

Iran does not approach this moment without history. In 1951, Iran’s democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, became Time magazine’s Man of the Year. Two years later, a CIA-backed coup removed him. Decades on, the legacy still shapes how many Iranians read foreign pressure: less as humanitarian concern, more as a recurring pattern of control.

That history sharpens a final, uncomfortable question. If an Iranian citizen believed that only a credible deterrent could prevent an existential attack, would they support pursuing nuclear weapons? If not, what real alternative would allow Iran to escape sanctions, threats and covert action while protecting its sovereignty?

These are not abstract debates. They sit at the center of today’s crisis, and any honest discussion of Iran’s protests has to hold them alongside the country’s genuine internal grievances.

Jenny Williams, Middle East Monitor

February 14, 2026 0 comments

Terror Teams of the MEK

Former CIA officer Alleges Joint CIA-Mossad Campaign to Destabilize Iran

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou appeared as a guest on the program “Judging Freedom,” hosted by Judge Andrew Napolitano, to offer a searing critique of the US intelligence community’s legal boundaries and its controversial operational history.

Kiriakou asserted that while CIA officers swear an oath to protect the Constitution upon entering service, many fail to uphold that commitment. Recalling his first day at the agency, Kiriakou remarked: “When I stood with about 300 others and raised my hand to swear to protect the Constitution, I had to conclude that I was the only one there who truly meant it.”

In 2002, Kiriakou was asked if he wished to be trained in “enhanced interrogation techniques.” He recounted identifying the initiative as a torture program and stating it was illegal. According to Kiriakou, officials responded by saying, “It’s not illegal; the President approved it and the Department of Justice authorized it.” He emphasized that he was the only member of a 14-person team to refuse the offer.

Addressing the assassination programs conducted during the Obama administration, Kiriakou described how then-CIA Director John Brennan met with White House and Department of Justice officials every Tuesday morning to finalize a list of individuals to be killed that week.

Kiriakou described the process in stark terms: “Once the names were agreed upon, teams would deploy across the globe to carry out the assassinations, only to reconvene for the following week’s list.”

He also touched upon the practice of “extraordinary rendition,” reminding viewers that sending suspects to countries where they are known to face torture is illegal. Citing the example of a Tunisian suspect captured in Afghanistan and rendered to Egypt, Kiriakou argued that such practices lack any legitimate legal foundation.

Regarding the recent unrest and street demonstrations in Iran, Kiriakou contended that these events are the result of a joint CIA and Mossad operation. Referencing public statements made by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Kiriakou stated, “We know this is a Mossad-CIA operation thanks to Pompeo’s own comments.”

Kiriakou noted that while the CIA does not typically maintain personnel on the ground, Mossad has an extensive field presence. He alleged that both agencies work in close cooperation with the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK). He reminded the audience that the MEK had previously attempted to assassinate a US ambassador and was once designated as a terrorist organization before being removed from the list in 2009 during Hillary Clinton’s tenure.

Kiriakou also highlighted the organization’s lobbying efforts in Washington, noting that “everyone from Rudy Giuliani to Howard Dean began lobbying for the MEK.”

Commenting on the burning of mosques and fire trucks during the Iranian demonstrations, Kiriakou argued these actions do not align with demands for democracy. “If you are demonstrating for democracy and freedom, why would you set fire to mosques and fire engines? Mossad and the CIA want chaos in Iran,” he evaluated.

The program also addressed remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the devaluation of the Iranian Rial. Evaluating Bessent’s admission that economic chaos was being used to trigger street protests, Kiriakou stated such actions fall under “covert action,” which requires presidential authorization.

“To implement a plan of this nature, one needs a ‘finding’—a document of authorization signed by the CIA General Counsel, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, the National Security Council, and ultimately the President,” Kiriakou explained.

Turning to Israeli operational methods, Kiriakou claimed that Mossad utilizes Afghan refugees in Iran for intelligence gathering. “The Israelis take Afghan refugees who are in desperate straits and have no access to state services, paying them $200 a month to carry out surveillance tasks,” he alleged.

In response to questions about whether Saudi Arabia possesses nuclear weapons, Kiriakou cited information from the legendary CIA operations officer Duane Clarridge.

Kiriakou stated that Saudi Arabia financed Pakistan’s nuclear program. “The Saudis provided the money the Pakistanis needed to develop a nuclear bomb as a counterweight to India. In return, I assume the Pakistanis have shared those bombs with the Saudis,” he said. While it remains unclear if Saudi Arabia possesses a missile system capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Kiriakou emphasized that their access to nuclear weapons is highly probable.

Evaluating the links between Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua and the influx of cocaine into the US during the 1980s, Kiriakou stated that the CIA’s role in this process is documented.

He noted that while the CIA armed Contra groups in the north, groups in the south were smuggling Colombian cocaine into the US, and the agency, at the very least, turned a blind eye to the traffic. Rejecting claims by his former colleague Jack Devine that the CIA was not involved in the drug trade, Kiriakou countered: “I believe Jack Devine is mistaken. The evidence shows the CIA facilitated the importation of cocaine.”

Kiriakou argued that Congressional oversight of the CIA has weakened significantly since the 1980s, signaling the end of the era defined by the Church and Pike Committees (1975–1982). He suggested that current intelligence committees act more as supporters of the agency than as overseers. “The CIA pushes the boundaries until someone pushes back. If no one resists, they gain new ground and they never give it back,” he remarked.

Finally, commenting on newly surfaced documents regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, Kiriakou noted that the possibility of Epstein having ties to the CIA has strengthened. Kiriakou mentioned that Epstein’s lawyers had approached the CIA to confirm a relationship between Epstein and the agency, though no response was given.

“Epstein was seeking a role with the CIA, and it appears he had similar relationships with MI6 and the Israelis,” Kiriakou concluded.

Harici.com.tr

February 14, 2026 0 comments

Maryam Rajavi

Maryam Rajavi’s Bodyguards Attack BILD Journalist in Berlin Rally

During a rally of supporters of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) in Germany, Maryam Rajavi’s bodyguards attacked a reporter from BILD magazine.

On Saturday, February 7, at the MEK’s so-called Free Iran rally held to mark the anniversary of the victory of the 1979 revolution, in Iran, Iman Sefati, an Iranian-German journalist who works for the German news outlet, Bild, was attacked and verbally abused by Maryam Rajavi’s bodyguards because of a single question he asked Maryam Rajavi.

A short question from the journalist turned into a crisis for Maryam Rajavi’s bodyguards. Iman Sefati was met with silence by the side of Maryam Rajavi for asking a question that criticized the background of the MEK, and her answer was replaced by an onslaught from her bodyguards. The question was: “Ms. Maryam Rajavi! What is your opinion about Saddam Hussein?”. The journalist referred to the group’s collaboration with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war.

The attack by Maryam Rajavi’s elderly bodyguards began with verbal abuse and labeling the journalist as Iranian spy. They tried to forcibly take the cell phones of Iman Sefati and his colleague, but they were unsuccessful due to the intervention of the Berlin police.

Along with publishing a video of the incident on his account, Sefati wrote to Maryam Rajavi and the speakers of the event on the X social network:

As a journalist, I just wanted to ask you some questions. A basic right in a democracy. Reaction: Kicks in the groin, blows to the torso, pushing and choking. Is this the group’s understanding of democracy, freedom of expression and diversity of opinions?

February 9, 2026 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Reports on the MEK-Fabricated Free Iran Rally in Berlin

While the MEK constantly repeated in its propaganda before the so-called “2026 Free Iran” rally that 100,000 people were expected to participate, according to the highest estimate, which Reuters published, the actual number was around 8,000. The reported number were actually brought, bused or flighted to the demonstration site.

The Free Iran rally was held by the MEK in Berlin, Germany, on February 7, 2026, to mark the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. The event had been organized more than a month in advance and, after spending a lot of money on advertising, in order to prepare a rented crowd, finally took place on Saturday.

MEK's rented crowd Berlin

MEK’s rented crowd Berlin As predicted and previously reported, a large part of the crowd was consisted of non-Iranians, and the rest were a few MEK sympathizers who had been brought in from all over the world. These people literally came from Scandinavia, all over Europe and Germany and even the United States and Canada to fill the ranks; to make the rally seem crowded.

This type of crowd mobilization comes at a high cost to the MEK. Add the cost of transportation, flights, hotels, food and drinks to bring in thousands of people to the five-digit speaking fees that they pay the speakers.

Bused-MEK crowd

Despite spending this much, the Iranians did not allow the MEK to feed the media with their fake stories and narratives from their fake popularity among Iranians. Cyberspace and social networks are flooded with images and videos confirming the large presence of Ukrainian, Syrian, Afghan and Kurdish refugees among the participants.

Images from official German news agencies, including Berlin Berlin TV, show the presence of numerous Ukrainian and Syrian flags, as well as booths distributing free sandwiches and drinks and the demonstrators who are served.

MEK-run Sandwich Booth

Images and videos have also been released of participants riding buses from all over Europe and Germany to the event, which are good to see to know the type of citizens who attended the rally. There are non-Iranians on these buses who are heading to Berlin for a free one-day trip.

MEK’s rented crowd Berlin

In a video, an Iranian user enters the ranks of participants who are having fun and chatting, and in a quick move he asks random people about their nationality. Before being pushed away, he reveals that most of the people attending the event are not Iranian.

The documented reports show that the support Maryam Rajavi has is largely paid. The MEK’s propaganda machine has to lie about the number of people who attend their rallies. The group’s rebranding attempts are failed.

Mazda Parsi

February 9, 2026 0 comments

A Ukrainian's account of attending the MEK demonstration

Germany

Who attends Berlin Free Iran Demonstration?

Today, Saturday, February 7, 2026, after consecutive days of media and local propaganda, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) is planning to hold a demonstration in Berlin, Germany. While MEK propaganda media are trying to impress the number of 100,000 people on public opinion and the media by repeating the phrase “some 100,000 expected at free-Iran rally in Berlin”, the reality of MEK demonstrations speaks of a different truth.

The truth that the Iranian audience cannot forget is that the MEK has no base among Iranians, and every time there is a publicity frenzy for MEK demonstrations, they respond appropriately to the group’s propaganda on social media by trending the hashtag #MEKterrorists.

In these situations, social media users try to enlighten and inform Iranian and non-Iranian audiences by publishing content about the cult-like, terrorist, and treacherous nature of the MEK and its unpopularity among Iranians.

The main purpose of the MEK demonstration is political competition and rallying against Reza Pahlavi because they have already failed the competition on the streets of Iran.

However, Massoud and Maryam Rajavi need a demonstration with a significant crowd for such a rally in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. In the previous days, MEK agents tried to attract the attention of citizens in the freezing weather of Berlin without mentioning the MEK by name, exploiting the protests of the Iranian people, but they were only met with hatred and disgust from Iranians living in Berlin, the videos of which are available on social networks.

The texture and arrangement of the crowd at MEK rallies

Based on his field observations and numerous reports on other MEK demonstrations, the composition of the participants and their arrangement in the rallies are as follows: the first rows are reserved for members and sympathizers of the group; in next rows, non-Iranians are placed to increase the size of the crowd.

This arrangement is the same in all MEK rallies. The ones in the first rows, with pictures of Massoud and Maryam Rajavi and MEK flags in their hands excited to appear to be supporters of the group, but the flags of Ukraine and Syria, etc. in the rows behind them indicate that it is not a national protest of Iranian patriots.

In various European countries, MEK agents visit refugee camps and promise free trip (for example to Berlin), travel expenses, and hotel accommodations to persuade a number of refugees to participate in demonstrations.

The Arab, Ukrainian and African refugees are told by the MEK recruiters that the demonstration will feature well-known speakers from all over Europe who have influence in national parliaments or the European Parliament so the larger the crowd, the greater the possibility of influencing asylum policies.

The full coverage of travel expenses and the appeal of a temporary escape from the harsh environment of refugee camps provide many refugees with a chance to escape from the harsh conditions of refugee camps for a few days. Here is the account of a Polish student who attended an MEK-run rally in Germany in 2015.

How to recruit local crowds

For the February 7 rally in Berlin, the MEK produced leaflets and small posters in both Persian and German with identical graphics. The German version of these flyers was distributed in high schools or sports clubs and in neighborhoods where immigrants live the most.

The flyers are designed to be “youth-friendly” and reads “In support of the uprising of the Iranian people” and does not name the organizer of the demonstration. The MEK organization knows well how much it is hated by the people, which is why it refuses to write its name.

There are some intermediaries who are paid to recruit their friends. For instance, if he or she brings five people with him, he will receive 2,500 euros. For each additional person, he will receive 500 euros more.

In exchange for money, the intermediaries are responsible for recruiting participants and conveying the organizers’ messages to the participants. The more people they recruit, the more they receive. Some participants also receive money directly from these intermediaries just to attend the demonstration waving the flags that are given to them.

The MEK – through intermediaries – advises participants to refrain from dialogue or interviews. Therefore, documentation is not easy. Asking friendly and informal questions should be flexible, and tailored to the situation on the scene. The MEK agents have coerced their forces to prevent documentation of their nationality and their motivation of participating the rally.

Mazda Parsi

February 7, 2026 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq as an Opposition Group

The National Interests: The MEK Has Too Many Skeletons in Its Closet

Following the massive nationwide protests in Iran, described as the largest uprising since the 1979 Revolution, journalists and analysts tried to investigate the demonstrations, its roots and the Iranian opposition groups including the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).

According to many reports, the Iranian opposition remains ideologically diverse and often fragmented. On January 27^th, Natiq Malikzada and Trevor Filseth of the National Interest also suggested that “anti-regime” sentiment in Iran comes in many flavors. They try to answer the critical question: “What’s Wrong with Iran’s Opposition?”

According to Malikzada and Filseth, the Iranian opposition groups are “divided by identity, history, borders, language, religion, class, and even what the word ‘Iran’ should mean.” They present a brief but quiet comprehensive history and analysis of Iranian opposition groups of which this is about the MEK:

The other major Iranian opposition exile movement is the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), better known in the West as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). It, too, is unpalatable to a majority of Iranians.

The MEK began as a movement of Iranian leftists with Islamist ideas. Under the leadership of student leader Massoud Rajavi, it carried out bombings inside Iran, first against the Shah and later against Khomeini. After the group was banned inside Iran in 1981, it struck an alliance with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War and established military bases in Iraq that it used to launch attacks on Iranian troops. The MEK has gone to great lengths to stress that it never actually fought alongside Saddam’s forces—yet its members still fought against their own countrymen during a war for national survival, giving them a status within today’s Iran akin to that of Benedict Arnold in the United States.

For this reason, the MEK has virtually no chance to build a mass movement inside Iran. Outside Iran, the organization has gained some measure of influence, hosting prominent Western politicians at its conferences and gaining US congressional support for its “10-point plan” for a post-Islamic Republic government. However, it has also faced persistent criticism over its cult-like structure and practices. For instance, it requires that its members remain celibate, and insists that Rajavi—who has not been seen since 2003—is still alive and in hiding. (His wife, Maryam Rajavi, leads the group in his absence.) The group also carries the stigma of having been listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in the United States until 2012.

Owing to these controversies, the MEK has few friends across the broader opposition universe, which regards it as compromised and untrustworthy. In turn, the MEK tends to treat other opposition currents as unserious or irrelevant, proffering its own structure and messaging discipline as the only credible alternatives to the Islamic Republic. These tendencies make it virtually impossible for the group to unify with any other opposition movements—and given the MEK’s baggage, it is unclear if such unity would even be helpful to the anti-regime cause.

February 3, 2026 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Press TV to interview former MEK member on riots in Iran

Former MEk member, Mostafa Beheshti’s testimonies on the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK)’s violence in Iranian protests was released in Press TV’s report.

In just one month, Iran was thrust into the global spotlight. Protests erupted. Chaos spread. Ordinary citizens stood against violence, restoring order in the face of terror.

But behind the unrest lay a hidden war; coordinated attacks, sabotage, and the deliberate targeting of lives, cities, and culture. This is the story of a nation tested, of resilience… forged in fire!

Mostafa Beheshti, former member of the MEK was interviewed by Press TV in this investigated report on the protests.
He explains how the group under the leadership of the US and Israel works against Iranian interests.

“At the top of the MEK, Israel and the US are giving the orders,” he told Press TV. “They issue the instructions and the terrorist group is just the executer.”

According to Beheshti, one or two months before these events the MEK began their work in the telegram groups using fake accounts. Then, they entered their operatives through western borders of Iran, those who are armed to commit acts of destruction and sabotage against civilians and security forces.

Beheshti said that paying the vandals is a longstanding tradition in the MEK. “They had also instructed their members that all activities should be done in person and that no messages should be sent on online platforms,” he explains how the MEK hires mercenaries. “They operated in three-person cells. I this set-up one person from outside the country contacted a three-member team.”

About the fee of violence, he adds, “We were paying around 200 to 300 million for arson and clashes with security forces using crypto currency and exchanging offices. In some cases, we had a separate method. The payment was hidden in trash bins in parks.”

Former member of the MEK finds a common aspect in recent incidents in Iran and the MEK’s acts of terror in the early years of the Islamic Republic. “If I want to put it briefly these events were very similar to what happened in Iran in the 1980s,” he states. “At that time, they needed to manufacture death and portrait themselves as victims in order to convince the public”
As a defector who spent 20 years inside the MEK, he has no doubt that the scale of killings carried out by the MEK has not even committed by Daesh. “These are done to demonstrate their loyalty and mercenary role on behalf of Israel,” he says.

February 2, 2026 0 comments

Nejat Publications

Nejat Newsletter No.133

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Nejat Society CEO: Rajavi wants killing of more Iranians

Ebrahim Khodabandeh, former member of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) and the current CEO of Nejat Society attended the recent sessions of the trial aimed at addressing the crimes of the MEK as a legal entity and its 104 leaders.

Middle East expert to DW: MEK has deep legitimacy problems

Following the protests in Iran, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) investigated the role of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) in the protest.

Preserving the authenticity of protests, rejecting the violence of the MEK

In a year that witnessed unprecedented US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Western economic sanctions against Iran, and the weakening of Iran’s regional partners, it is not surprising that prices have risen and uncontrolled inflation, has led to discontent and protests across the country.

MEK’s sponsors must acknowledge Iranian rejection of the group

In January 2026, the MEK, actively report on Iran claiming a role in protests across the country. The ongoing nationwide protests which were initially sparked by economic woes began in late December 2025/early January 2026. The MEK-affiliated media are constantly publishing reports, including claims that “Resistance Units” are operating within Iran.

Samira Shams, cruel MEK commander

In the testimonies of former members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), Samira Shams is a frequently repeated name. She is one of the group commanders who commanded MEK units in the operation to suppress Kurdish uprising in Iraq in 1991. As “Saddam’s private army”, the MEK aided Iraqi Baath regime to massacre Iraqi civilians and rebels.

Two MEK terror operatives arrested in Tehran

Foreign-backed terror cells across Iran crushed: Intelligence Ministry

TEHRAN — In a series of high-precision operations, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has announced it has successfully dismantled several foreign-backed terrorist cells tasked with orchestrating “kill-and-blame” plots and conducting high-casualty attacks on security centers. According to official statements released on January 18 and 19, these groups aimed to exploit recent unrest to manufacture chaos and target both law enforcement and innocent civilians.

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February 2, 2026 0 comments

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