Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Michael Ware discovers Mojahedin Khalq hasn’t abandoned belief in armed struggle

Michael Ware meets with high-level representatives of the MEK, a group that wants to overthrow the Iranian government.

[ Iran Interlink: Michael Ware discovers Mojahedin Khalq, MEK hasn’t abandoned belief in armed struggle

Leading MEK members squirm under the knowing gaze of Michael Ware. Watch the shifty looks and glances as the MEK representatives try to lie about their true intentions. They admit to wanting regime change, but claim to be pacifists. Ware asks ‘Why does a political organization still need to have a para-military organization?’ He then cleverly gets them to admit that their while their army is now defunct they do still believe in the use of violence to achieve their regime change goal. No wonder Ware looks puzzled.

[Mohammad Mohaddesin – Head of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) foreign affairs section, Pentagon contact during the Saddam era.

Shahin Ghobadi – Frequently presented as the spokesman for the NCRI, Mojahedin Khalq and or Maryam Rajavi.

Farzin Hashemi – Long serving MEK member, frequently used as translator for Maryam Rajavi as well as behind closed door meetings, at one time the liaison officer with the Saudi agents and Mossad agents in Paris. Served as a commander of Saddam’s Private Army also alleged to be one of the torturers for Saddam’s Mokhaberat.

Sarvenaz Chitsaz – Head of the NCRI Women’s Committee.]

National Geographic,

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Albania

Rajavi resorts to bargain basement speakers in Albania

[Iran Interlink: The MEK used to be able to call on personalities such as John Bolton and Rudi Giuliani to make public statements of support. Apparently these supporters have suffered blow back from this advocacy so that Donald Trump has been unable to offer them meaningful positions in his administration. With no other persons willing to risk their reputation or future career by supporting the MEK, the group has resorted to enlisting people such as Ingrid Betancourt instead. The MEK has also trawled through history to find Linda Chavez who served for less than a year under the Ronald Reagan administration between 1985-6. Chavez also gave her support to the terrorists in Albania.]

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Ingrid Betancourt defends Iranian terrorists Mojahedin Khalq in Albania

The Telegraph: Ingrid Betancourt was ‘worse than guards’, claims a fellow hostage

Ingrid Betancourt, politician and activist for human rights was brought to Tirana to say thank you for the hospitality of our country for hosting more than 2 thousand Iranian terrorists, while more are expected to come. And to meet with them, some of whom are her friends.

One of the most popular personalities in the world, who had aimed to be the first woman president in Colombia, but became the first woman who was kidnapped for six years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Betancourt regards Albania with admiration for its agreement to harbour Iranian terrorists. Betancourt apparently suffers from Stockholm Syndrome since she was herself a hostage of the FARC terrorist organization, and she now defends the MEK terrorist organization.

Below is her comment:

I feel honored to be here. Governments of different political parties were the first to welcome the Iranian refugees when they were hunted and persecuted. Your country has become known internationally as an example for human rights.

As one of the supporters of this Iranian opposition, the return of democracy, gender equality and freedom in a country where (Ingrid Betancourt says) there are public executions [..,]. Albania is a model where bigotry does not find expression regardless of different political approaches.

MEK is the only opposition party in Iran. They are Muslims, but Democrats, who are killed, tortured and persecuted. Your country is predominantly Muslim, but here there is no bigotry. So this idea is another good example.

(To stop the violence, Betancourt has the recipe, getting tougher on terrorism.)

Understand that they are powerful at dispensing fears, such as about public executions. Don’t fall into despair, history tells us that the battles for democracy have gained, not split asunder and especially do not have doubts. We will be clear on our positions because it is something that makes good ISIS’s disinformation.

Impact newspaper

http://www.gazetaimpakt.com/lajm/19354/ingrid-betancourt-mbeshtet-terroristet-iraniane/

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Iran Interlink Weekly Digest

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest -182

++ Abbas Mohammadpour was with the MEK for over two decades. After he escaped the group in Albania he returned to his family in Iran where he was interviewed by Nejat Society. He says “After couple of months I am only just beginning to wake up. I was dizzy. After being with the MEK I didn’t know what the real world was. I tried to get a temporary job to sort myself out, but discovered that I didn’t know what money is. With the MEK I had never worked for money, so I had no idea what wage to ask for or how much I should be spending. From that kind of problem to simply making relations with my own family and people in the neighbourhood, everything was alien and still is. I don’t know how to talk to people and I’m still trying to come to terms with learning things that a normal seven-year old knows about and how to do. I’m glad I’m out but the path to recovery is long.”

++ Iran Pen Association published a video of one of Rajavi’s indoctrination sessions. The heading is ‘Rajavi became Einstein in front of us, but we still didn’t get it because we were brainwashed’. The video shows Rajavi explaining Einstein’s famous formula and interpreting it by saying ‘this energy is really the energy of the Mojahedin Khalq which can explode the world’. Iran Pen Association writes ‘Rajavi was saying that the formula is not about atoms but about the MEK. We just watched and said nothing because we didn’t understand him’.

++ In response to the conviction of an MEK member in Albania on charges of theft, several Farsi commentators expressed shock that MEK members are so desperate even for a can of soup. ‘These are pensioners, but they are so hungry they must steal food. The money that they worked to earn has been stolen by Rajavi to pay for garish Conferences, for lobbyists and speakers and Maryam Rajavi’s cosmetic surgery. If the MEK membership is reduced to shoplifting, how do they believe they can help the people of Iran, who don’t even need their help?’

++ Commentators scoffed after it emerged that two lobbyists had visited Albania to praise the terrorist MEK. Clearly, they point out, the MEK can no longer find more significant lobbyists who are prepared to sacrifice their possible future careers and have been reduced to employing people like Col. Wes Martin and these women to have words put into their mouths by the MEK propaganda machine. In Albania, the MEK are concentrating on recruiting women members of parliament. The MEK wants to show a soft face to whitewash its violent past. But, commentators say, Rajavi tries this trick ‘several times a decade’. People don’t buy it because she simply isn’t a feminist and her claims are quickly exposed as ridiculous.

++ Rajavi’s website usually talk about everything under the sun. But after this year’s Oscar awards, Rajavi has said nothing. Some writers point out that if a sparrow jumps from one branch to another, Rajavi issues a statement about it, so this silence reveals that she was deeply hurt and jealous.

In English:

++ Mazda Parsi begins his piece for Nejat Bloggers by reviewing the AP article by Jon Gombrell in relation to the MEK’s violent past and cultic organisation. “A few cases of the MKO’s paid sponsors are discussed in Gambrell’s report while the MKO’s pay roll is full of bipartisan US politicians who intentionally or unintentionally ignore the true nature of the MKO as a destructive terrorist cult. The group has the blood of the Iranian people, Iraqi people, US military personnel and civilians on its hands. The group has also been involved in massacring its own members who disassociated themselves and did not go along with the attitudes and approaches of the Cult during different periods.” Parsi then brings in Michael Jansen of the Jordan Times who decries President Trump’s ban on immigration from seven Muslim countries. “Although federal judges issued restraining orders, temporarily rescinding Trump’s ban, Iranians are upset and confused by this measure, as it is meant to apply to citizens of countries involved in “terrorist” incidents in the US.”, Jansen adds. “There have, in fact, been no attacks by Iranians on US citizens in the US and only one in Iran itself… This took place in 1975, when two air force officers were killed en route to an air base”. The hypocrisy exposed in the article is that these murders were committed by the MEK which some Americans now consider a close friend to the Trump administration.

++ In a short piece, Iran Interlink describes the new MEK lobbyists who praised the terrorist group in Albania as ‘bargain basement speakers’.

++ Opinion Website, Tirana, Albania reported that MEK member, 47-year old Mohsen S. has been convicted on shoplifting charges and received a six-month suspended sentence. “The defendant admitted to the theft. At the same time, he admitted that he had also stolen goods the day before in the same market but stressed he was unable to pay because he had not yet received any payment from the Mojahedin organization.”

++ Balkanalysis published a detailed analysis by counter-terrorism expert Ebi Spahiu concerning the implications of hosting the MEK terrorist group in Albania. She examines the existing Muslim population which after centuries of influence from Sufi, Shia as well as Sunni traditions, does not identify in a sectarian form – Sunni or Shia – but simply as Muslim. However, Wahhabi activism in Albania has begun to implant a sectarian identity in the population. This, writes Spahiu, could clash with the MEK’s Shia/Marxist identity. It is the unknown nature of the MEK which troubles Albanians. “Whether Albania is prepared enough to inherit a long-standing struggle between a major regional Middle Eastern power [Iran] and a cult-like former terrorist organization is yet to be seen, but given Albania’s continued struggles with endemic corruption and organized crime, and the slow emergence of religious radicalization as a regional security threat, sectarian rifts may add to the list of challenges facing Albania’s political standing. One point of controversy that has already occurred domestically is that the agreement itself is very vague; there has thus been plenty of criticism domestically over a perceived lack of transparency on the terms agreed between Albania and the US.”

March 03, 2017

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Members of the MEK

Iranian Mojahedin member punished for stealing food cans in a Babrru market

MEK member arrested in Tirana Albania. An Iranian citizen, one of the Mojahedin refugees hosted in Albania, ended up as a defendant in the Court of Tirana, reports Panorama.

He was tried for committing theft, an offense which he committed while living at the Mojahedin asylum seekers refuge in Babrru village.

The trial of 47-year-old Mohsen S. ended a few days ago. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

He was tried under ‘obligatory appearance’ as a security measure and will not end up in cells. The court suspended his prison sentence for 18 months during which he must not commit any further offence.

The Tirana Court decision clarified that the defendant, Mohsen S., was currently based at the asylum seekers centre located in the capital’s province of Babrru. On August 31, 2016, around 13:30, he was caught by the owner of a market stealing food goods in his shop.

The market in question is a short distance from the center where Mojahedin asylum seekers have been placed. According to the Court decision, the defendant Mohsen S. placed some food stuff into the bag he had with him and tried to leave without paying. His actions were observed by the owner of the supermarket.

The owner prevented the 47-year-old from leaving his shop. In the refugee’s bag he found three cans of fish, a bottle of a carbonated soft drink and a bottle of ketchup. The supermarket owner informed the police.

After his arrest, criminal proceedings on the charge of theft were brought against the Iranian. The defendant admitted to the theft. At the same time, he admitted that he had also stolen goods the day before in the same market but stressed he was unable to pay because he had not yet received any payment from the Mojahedin organization.

Before and during the trial the defendant admitted the offense and showed deep repentance, asking forgiveness from the Court with the promise that he will not commit such an act again. In justification of the suspension of sentence for the defendant, the court emphasized that he posed little social danger, had no previous convictions and the fact that the defendant is seeking asylum in Albania.

Opinion Website (translated by Iran-interlink)

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Mujahedin Khalq; A proxy force

Nasty deals with MKO terrorists

What makes a terrorist who has assassinated your country fellow men a dear trustworthy friend?

The beginning paragraph of the extensively published article of Jon Gombrell of the Associated Press indicates how controversial is the affairs between the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (the MKO) and the United States: “An official in U.S. President Donald Trump’s cupboard and no less than considered one of his advisers gave paid speeches for an Iranian exile group that killed Individuals earlier than the 1979 Islamic Revolution, ran donation scams and noticed its members set themselves on fireplace over the arrest of their chief.”[1]

This short statement of the article is enough to learn that the MKO is a cult-like group with deceptive methods of fund raising and brainwashed members who set themselves on fire to protest against the arrest of their She-guru; it has assassinated some US citizens while it is donating large amounts of money to some other US citizens!

A few cases of the MKO’s paid sponsors are discussed in Gambrell’s report while the MKO’s pay roll is full of bipartisan US politicians who intentionally or unintentionally ignore the true nature of the MKO as a destructive terrorist cult. The group has the blood of the Iranian people, Iraqi people, US military personnel and civilians on its hands. The group has also been involved in massacring it own members who disassociated themselves  and did not go along with the attitudes and approaches of the Cult during different periods.  

Donald Trump’s aggressive policies against Muslim countries, particularly Iran, is warmly welcome by the MKO. The group’s propaganda machine is evidently pleased to see the perspective of further sanctions the US might impose on Iranian people. But, Are the Iranian people deserved to be treated like this? Are they deserved to be banned from entering the US?

Michael Jansen of the Jordan Times writes about Trumps’ hostile acts against Iranians, “Trump needlessly and heedlessly included Iran in the group of seven Muslim countries when imposing his hasty, poorly prepared and ill-conceived ban on US entry on citizens from these countries holding visas.” [2]

“Although federal judges issued restraining orders, temporarily rescinding Trump’s ban, Iranians are upset and confused by this measure, as it is meant to apply to citizens of countries involved in “terrorist” incidents in the US.,” She adds. “There have, in fact, been no attacks by Iranians on US citizens in the US and only one in Iran itself.” [3]

And then, she ironically points to nasty deals that are based on hypocrisy.  “This took place in 1975, when two air force officers were killed en route to an air base,” She reminds the audience. “This was before the 1979 overthrow of Washington’s ally, the shah, by the Islamic Revolution.” [4]

She explains that the American terror victims of the MKO were serious to pursue the case of their murdered loved one. “The family of Lt. Col. Jack Turner, one of the victims, filed a lawsuit, arguing his death was in revenge for the killing by the shah’s intelligence agency, Savak, which was supported by the US and Israel, of nine anti-shah elements fleeing arrest,” Jansen repeats what Gambrell had ended his article with. [5]

“The commander and members of this group [anti-shah elements], the Mujahedin e-Khalq, were executed in 1976,” Jansen links the MKO terrorist background to their today’s paid sponsors. “It does not make sense that the Turner family is suing Savak, which is long gone, or the Mujahedin, an enemy of the current Iranian regime and the friend of some senior members of the Trump administration.” [6]

By Mazda Parsi

References:

[1] Gambrell, Jon, Clarification: Trump-Iranian Exiles story, The Associated Press, February 16, 2017

[2] Jansen, Michael, Keeping Iran a bogeyman to further destabilise the region, The Jordan Times, February 8, 2017

[3] ibid

[4] ibid

[5] ibid

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Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

50 Years Later (Mojahedin Khalq)

Synopsis

Mojahedin_Khalq_Rajavi_Cult_50_YearsIn 1965, a number of university students in Iran decided to take up arms against the dictatorship of Mohammad Reza Shah, a proxy-war against US imperialism.

To that end, they founded the “Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization,” also called “MEK” or “MKO.” It was an organization established based on Islamic ideology and tilted toward Marxist armed struggle. The security apparatus of Iran, namely SAVAK (Organization of Intelligence and National Security) decided to nip the organization in the bud: most of its members were arrested, tortured, and executed. In the meantime, Taghi Shahram, among the arrested, brushed aside the Islamic ideology to become a true follower of Marxism. He managed to escape from prison and changed officially the organization’s ideology from Islam to Marxism. But not all the key members were all for it. Majid Sharif Vaghefi and Morteza Samadiyeh Labbaf were among the founding members of the organization who opposed the ideological change. Their opposition, however, cost them their lives. Press TV’s investigative documentary, “50 Years Later,” recounts what exactly happened 50 years ago to Majid Sharif Vaghefi and Morteza Samadiyeh Labbaf through conducting interviews with Majid Sharif Vaghefi’s family members. In the documentary, we see how, four decades after the assassination of these two members of the organization, the MKO infighting makes its way onto the Iranian silver screen. “Cyanide” is a movie which deals with the ideological U-turn in the MKO. Behrouz Shoeibi, the director of the film, talks about his underlying philosophies which led to the making of the film. Moreover, other different individuals including film critiques and an ex-member of MKO pass their comments and judgments in this regard. Throughout the documentary, we witness different scenes of the film which have been used to portray the past events in lieu of using reconstruction footage.

Download 50 Years Later (Mojahedin Khalq)

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Albania

Iranian and Albanian News agencies sign cooperation agreement

Agreement of cooperation signed in Tehran between Iranian News Agency (IRNA) and Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA)

The open communication established with counterpart agencies based on a professional point of view has enabled the Albanian Telegraphic Agency to expand its institutional cooperation with news agencies not only in the region but also beyond it. In the framework of this cooperation and a new approach of communication between the two countries, the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) and Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) have signed an agreement of cooperation.

For the Albanian part, the agreement was signed by director general, Gëzim Podgorica, meanwhile for the Iranian part it was signed by director general, Muhammad Khodadi.

Both sides described the signing of agreement as a crucial moment for both countries and a great opportunity to bolster the joint communication. While Iran and Albania are expected to boost their exchanges in trade, tourism and culture, the official information shared via institutional channels will be to the mutual benefit of this cooperation.

At the meeting between the two delegations, director Mohammad Khodadi pointed out that for the agency IRNA any cooperation is of high importance and the signing of this agreement is a concrete and great opportunity to gain new insights into Albania and everything your country offers, but also to give a new boost to communication between the two countries. I believe that the information we are going to exchange will ramp up the media presence of Iran and Albania and vice-versa, however they increase in value due to the timely information items portraying the latest developments in both countries.

For his part, ATA director general Gëzim Podgorica thanked Mr. Muhammad Khodadi for the invitation to visit Iran and the willingness to sign this agreement. Mr. Podgorica went on saying: “Iran, as a country that has witnessed an array of civilizations and empires, has made a great contribution to the world culture. The relations of Albanians with Iran go back a long way in history, suffice it to mention our great national poet, Naim Frashëri, whose first poetry book Tehajula (Dreaming) has been written in Persian. The conference slated for October, this year in Iran in honor of this outstanding personality is a testimony to these relations and a high appreciation of Naim Frasheri as well as a sign of the will to add a civilized dimension to our rapport.

As agencies, today we pave the way for a new communication, which will enable the public of both countries to develop new insights into complex developments, but also into history, traditions, culture, tourism and others. Iran boasts great assets in this direction not only as a big country but also as a country steeped in ancient history. On the other hand, Albania, although a small country geographically, boasts exceptional assets in culture and art. Through an open communication, there will be ample opportunity to turn the spotlight on these assets and this is all that matters – ATA director general Gezim Podgorica said. During the stay in Iran, the ATA delegation has visited a number of important historic and cultural sites.

ATA delegation also toured the venues of IRNA, where they were briefed with the efforts to deal with challenges on media market. The agency IRNA broadcasts in 8 languages and has correspondents and broadcasting centers in 32 countries worldwide. It has a staff of 1300 employees and issues 5 daily newspapers in Persian and English. It has 256 correspondents in different cities across Iran and 36 regional agencies. During the visit to IRNA, the delegation of ATA was also informed on the performance in photo archives and digitalization.

Sonila Mehmeti, ATA, Tirana,

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Iran Interlink Weekly Digest

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest – 181

++ Following the death of Mohammad Ali Jaberzadeh Ansari (aka Ghasem), Maryam Rajavi’s speech drew criticism as she offered her condolences not to the deceased’s family and friends, but to Massoud Rajavi. ‘You can’t offer condolences to a dead person’ wrote most commentators. Instead of attending the funeral in Paris, Maryam Rajavi went to Albania to firefight the chaos there among the members. In Albania she has been in desperate talks with people. Her main message is ‘please don’t run away’. Copying Massoud Rajavi’s well-worn formula, she tells the members ‘if only I had just four proper people I would have toppled the regime by now. It’s your fault, you can’t do, you are not dedicated enough to me’. She blames the members for her failures. The MEK leadership has established a ‘State of Alert’ in Albania in case any of the families come there. The members’ cult phobia is activated by dire warnings: ‘Agents of the regime are outside the door. If you leave they will kidnap, torture and kill you. Families are agents disguised as families. Weak families are used and behind every grandfather is an agent that wants to kill us. They are agents of the Khodabandehs. The Khodabandehs are very active and their agents are everywhere and they have even infiltrated inside us, so we must be careful, you must report everything in order to discover who the infiltrators are.’

These scare tactics have been used to the point that over 90% of the members can’t leave the building at all and are suffering sunlight deficiency – even the curtains are closed. For that reason, the families have published a petition condemning Maryam Rajavi’s refusal to allow people to contact their families. Some commentators on this situation link the death of Jaberzadeh with the deaths, one after another, of other members due to age and overwork and the untreated sicknesses they have endured for decades. Every death means that one more testimony, more piece of evidence is lost which, in a court of law, would allow the facts to be established about this group. One writer, examining these deaths, describes it thus: “The Angel of Death is circling over Auvers-sur-Oise, picking them off one by one”.

++ Davoud Baghervand Arshad, ex-MEK  member, participated in the 9th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Also attending the Summit was Dr Fariba Hashtroudi, a famous journalist and writer who lives in Paris. She was, for some time, a member of the NCRI but left over disagreements about human rights.

In English:

++ In the febrile atmosphere created by President Donald Trump, the respected Professor Hamid Dabashi of Columbia University has introduced a calm and reasoned tone with an article titled ‘Ten things Iranians can do to pre-empt a Trump war’. He encourages ordinary people (not just Iranians) to feel empowered and to take various actions not reliant on their government. The second item on his list is: “…denounce those treacherous forces among the expat opposition – now led by the cultic People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), and Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah – that demand “regime change” in Iran.

“Neither of these characters has the slightest legitimacy inside Iran. A blind hatred of the Islamic Republic is definitive to these expat forces, no matter what the consequences for Iranians as a people. That hatred is categorically different from any legitimate critical stand vis-a-vis Iran.

“There must remain no false claim that any one of these discredited expat oppositions represents the Iranian people. They do not.”

++ Sonila Mehmeti from ATA News Agency, Albanian announced the agreement of professional and institutional cooperation signed in Tehran between Iran’s official agency IRNA and the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). On the same day, Iran’s Fars News Agency attacked human rights bodies for trying to whitewash the MEK’s terrorist crimes and criminal history. “[The] Secretary of Iran’s Human Rights Council Mohammad Javad Larijani in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in November called on the European states to annul the legal immunity of MKO members.

“’The spread of plights and dangers of terrorism in the European countries as well as its negative consequences, including the refugees crisis which has inflicted the European states too, have more than ever shown the necessity for real serious determination to fight against it,’ Larijani wrote in his letter.

“He stressed that the European states’ double-standards on human rights issues and their support for the MKO terrorist group whose hand is stained with the blood of the Iranian and Iraqi people and even its own members is not acceptable at all.”

++ Press TV has produced several documentaries and film reviews covering MEK history. Modern Slaves is an informative review of the film ‘Mina’s Facility’ about MEK activities just after the Iranian Revolution. The film won several prizes in Iran’s Fajr International Film Festival. The documentary ’50 Years Later’ covers the period before the Revolution when the MEK was riven by schism and internal violence.

February 24, 2017

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Iran

Iran, a Major Victim of Terrorism

From the very beginning of the Revolution in 1979, Iran  has suffered many terrorist attacks. One could even say Iran is somehow one of the major victims of terrorism in the world.  If you take a look at the history of countries in the world, you’ll notice that no other country has ever lost such a great number of officials in terrorist acts as Iran has.  Interestingly, those who are claiming to be at war with terrorism provide those responsible for the death of civilians with office and the free rein to work in their countries.

The contradiction sharpens and reaches to the point that one of these terrorist groups rented an office a block away the White House which is the so-called pioneer of war on terror! All these measures prove the fact that terrorism is divided into two forms of "good" and "bad" from the point of view of certain Western countries; since they describe those who are for them as "good terrorists" and those who are against them as "bad terrorists".

That is why each year Iran faces different kinds of labels by the West as well as the usurper Zionist regime.

Below you will find brief accounts of the terrorist attacks carried out against the Iranian people over the last 38 years.

Attacks by Mujahedin-e-Khalq

The People’s Mujahedin of Iran (also called Mujahedin-e-Khalq, MeK or MKO) is a terrorist organization regarded by the Iranian, the U.S. governments, and others as a terrorist organization. This group has publicly accepted the killing and assassination of 17000 innocent Iranians (including both ordinary people and government officials).

On 28 June 1981, bombs set by the MKO killed 70 high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic Party, including Chief Justice Mohammad Beheshti who was the second highest official after Ayatollah Khomeini at the time. Two years after the Islamic Revolution of Iran, the MKO detonated bombs at the headquarters of the now-dissolved Islamic Republic Party. Two months later, the MKO detonated another bomb in the office of the president, killing President Rajai and Premier Mohammad Javad Bahonar. Their attacks did not succeed in overthrowing the Islamic Republic of Iran government.

There is also a deep-seated resentment toward the group in Iraq because of its criminal past. The MKO widely supported Saddam in his brutal crackdown on opponents.

In recent years, attacks carried out by the Mujahedin-e-Khalq include:

Asadollah Lajevardi assassination (1998)

Two members of Mujahedin-e-Khalq assassinated Asadollah Lajevardi, a prosecutor and director of Evin Prison, along with his brother and a bystander on 23 August 1998.

Assassination of Ali Sayad Shirazi (1999)

On April 10, 1999, 6:45 local time Brigadier-General Ali Sayad Shirazi, deputy chief of staff of the regular army of the Islamic Republic and a military adviser to the Supreme Leader of Iran, was assassinated outside his house as he left for work. The People’s Mujahedin of Iran claimed responsibility for the assassination of Sayyad Shirazi.

Attacks by Taliban extremists:

Mashhad bombing (1994)

On June 20, 1994 explosion of a bomb in a prayer hall of Imam Reza shrine in Mashhadthat killed at least 25 people. The Pakistani daily The News International reported on March 27, 1995, "Pakistani investigators have identified a 24-year-old religious fanatic Abdul Shakoor residing in Lyari in Karachi, as an important Pakistani associate of Ramzi Yousef. Abdul Shakoor had intimate contacts with Ramzi Ahmed Yousef and was responsible for the June 20, 1994, massive bomb explosion at the shrine Imam Ali Reza in Mashhad".

Mazari Sharif killings (1998)

On August 8, 1998 the Taliban assisted by Al-Qaeda, attacked the Afghan city of Mazari Sharif killing 11 Iranian diplomats and journalists along with thousands of Afghan civilians, in what was considered an attack motivated by takfir against Shia.

The Taliban were also thought to have "secretly" backed anti-Iranian terrorist groups. The group received weapons and support from the Taliban.

The group sought to overthrow what it called the "Shia Iranian government", despite the fact that Iran has always been home to both Shias and Sunnies and has always strived to foster amity and unity amongst all Muslims of different faiths.

Jundallah (since 2003)

Jundallah is a notorious terrorist organization in Balochistan.  It is believed to have to have killed 800 Iranians. The group has been identified as a terrorist organization by Iran and Pakistan and many have confirmed  it is linked to Al-Qaeda. It is also believed to receive support from the US government.

Zahedan bombing (2007)

A car filled with explosives stopped in front of a bus full of Revolutionary Guards in Ahmabad district, Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province at 6:30 a.m. on 14 February 2007. A few seconds later the bombs exploded, killing 18 Guards.

Jundallah claimed responsibility for the attack on 15 February.

The Iranian government has arrested five suspects, two of whom were carrying camcorders and grenades when they were arrested, while the police killed the main "agent" of the attack.

Tehran attacks (2001)

MKO members fired five rockets at the general command of the Internal Security Forces in Tehran, killing and injuring several, on 7 January 2001. MKO members fired mortar shells at several government buildings, including the Supreme Court, in Tehran on 21 January 2001.

Ahvaz Bombings (2005)

The Ahvaz bombings were a series of bomb explosions that took place mostly in Ahvaz, Iran. The first bombing came ahead of the presidential election on 12 June.

Shiraz bombing (2008)

A terrorist bombing inside a mosque in Shiraz in April 2008 killed 14 people including 10 men, 2 women and 2 children. More than 200 were also injured.

Scientist assassinations (2010 -2012)

Four Iranian nuclear scientists-Masoud Alimohammadi, Majid Shahriari, Darioush Rezaeinejad and Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan-were assassinated between 2010 and 2012, and one further scientist wounded in an attempted assassination. Two of the killings were carried out using magnetic bombs attached to the targets’ cars; Darioush Rezaeinejad was shot dead; and Masoud Alimohammadi was killed in a motorcycle bomb explosion. Israel was behind the killings. In 2011-12, the Iranian authorities arrested a number of Iranians it said had carried out the assassination campaign on behalf of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service. Western intelligence services and U.S officials are said to have confirmed the Israeli connection. In June 2012, the Iranian government stated that it was confident it had arrested all the assassins.

Moshe Ya’alon, the Israeli defence minister, stated, "We will act in any way and are not willing to tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran."

According to private American intelligence firm Stratfor, a fifth Iranian scientist was poisoned by Mossad in 2007. In January 2015, the Iranian authorities thwarted a further attempt by Mossad to assassinate an Iranian nuclear scientist.

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Iran

Iran Blasts HR Bodies for Attempts to Cleanse MKO Terrorists’ Crime History

 Spokesman of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Keivan Khosravi rapped certain human rights organizations for their attempts to erase the history of the terrorist crimes committed by Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCRI).

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the victims of terrorism and most assassinated Iranian citizens and officials have been killed by the Monafeqin (Hypocrites as MKO members are called in Iran) terrorist group but human rights bodies are trying to clean up their black record without paying attention to their crimes," Khosravi said in a meeting with a media delegation from Albania on Tuesday.

He called on the European media to clarify the dangerous approach adopted by the MKO ringleaders against their members to meet their illegitimate interests.

The MKO has been incarcerating, torturing and killing all dissident members as well as those suspected of future plans for defection. The terrorist organization has assassinated many of its defected members in Europe and Canada.

Secretary of Iran’s Human Rights Council Mohammad Javad Larijani in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in November called on the European states to annul the legal immunity of MKO members.

"The spread of plights and dangers of terrorism in the European countries as well as its negative consequences, including the refugees crisis which has inflicted the European states too, have more than ever shown the necessity for real serious determination to fight against it," Larijani wrote in his letter.

He stressed that the European states’ double-standards on human rights issues and their support for the MKO terrorist group whose hand is stained with the blood of the Iranian and Iraqi people and even its own members is not acceptable at all.

"Therefore, I ask your excellency and other relevant European officials to consider the numerous crimes committed by Monafeqin terrorist group and adopt serious measures to prevent the free activities of the terrorist group’s members in Europe, try its leaders and criminal members and make them account for their deeds," Larijani concluded.

The MKO, founded in the 1960s, blended elements of Islamism and Stalinism and participated in the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979. Ahead of the revolution, the MKO conducted attacks and assassinations against both Iranian and western targets.

The group started assassination of the citizens and officials after the revolution in a bid to take control of the newly-established Islamic Republic. It killed several of Iran’s new leaders in the early years after the revolution, including the then President, Mohammad Ali Rajayee, Prime Minister, Mohammad Javad Bahonar and the Judiciary Chief, Mohammad Hossein Beheshti who were killed in bomb attacks by the MKO members in 1981.

The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it was protected by Saddam Hussein and where it helped the Iraqi dictator suppress Shiite and Kurd uprisings in the country.

The terrorist group joined Saddam’s army during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) and helped Saddam and killed thousands of Iranian civilians and soldiers during the US-backed Iraqi imposed war on Iran.

Since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the group, which now adheres to a pro-free-market philosophy, has been strongly backed by neo-conservatives in the United States, who argued for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list.

The US formally removed the MKO from its list of terror organizations in September 2012, one week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent the US Congress a classified communication about the move. The decision made by Clinton enabled the group to have its assets under the US jurisdiction unfrozen and do business with the American entities, the State Department said in a statement at the time.

In September 2012, the last groups of the MKO terrorists left Camp Ashraf, their main training center in Iraq’s Diyala province. They have been transferred to Camp Liberty. Hundreds of the MKO terrorists have now been sent to Europe, where their names were taken off the blacklist even two years before the US.

The MKO has assassinated over 12,000 Iranians in the last 4 decades. The terrorist group had even killed large numbers of Americans and Europeans in several terror attacks before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Some 17,000 Iranians have lost their lives in terror attacks in the 35 years after the Revolution.

Rumors were confirmed last September about the death of MKO ringleader, Massoud Rajavi, as a former top Saudi intelligence official disclosed in a gaffe during an address to his followers.

Rajavi’s death was revealed after Turki al-Faisal who was attending the MKO annual gathering in Paris made a gaffe and spoke of the terrorist group’s ringleader as the "late Rajavi" twice.

Faced with Faisal’s surprising gaffe, Rajavi’s wife, Maryam, changed her happy face with a complaining gesture and cued the interpreter to be watchful of translation words and exclude the gaffe from the Persian translation.

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