Page 598 – Nejat Society

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

US keeps MKO terrorists armed in Iraq

US troops have allowed the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) to secretly keep weapons inside their camp in Iraq, a defected member of the group says.

“After the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq, US troops appeared to have disarmed the MKO members at the camp, but in reality this did not happen,” Maryam Sanjabi, an ex-MKO member, told Press TV.

Link to the Video File

According to the organization’s defected members, since 2003 the leaders of the camp have been training the members on how to launch attacks against Iraqi forces if they tried to enter the camp.

“When the Iraqi government decided to set up a police station inside the camp, the situation got complex and the organization decided to fight back by preventing its members from communicating with the outside world,” Sanjabi added.

Former members have described life at the MKO’s Camp Ashraf as miserable, saying the organization has been brainwashing its members for the last two decades.

They further explained that the residents of the camp have to show blind obedience to their leaders or face the death penalty.

“MKO is a cult with an ideology of its own. Those in the camp are deprived of basic rights and must follow their superiors without any questions asked ,”Sanjabi went on to say.

The MKO is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community, and is responsible for numerous terrorist acts against both Iranians and Iraqis.

The group is especially notorious in Iran for siding with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

It has also claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks and the assassination of significant figures and ordinary civilians in Iran over the past three decades.

May 2, 2011 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

MEK brainwashes members

As recently defected MKO members speak about their ordeals, Iraqi security forces have gained more insight into the torturous workings of the terrorist organization.

The members have described life at their Camp Ashraf base in Iraq as miserable saying the organization has been brainwashing its members for the last two decades.

They say that the MKO members who reside in the camp are deprived of basic human rights. For example, they are not allowed to use the phone or internet or even communicate with the outside world by any means. They further added that the residents of the camp have to show blind obedience to their leaders or face the death penalty.

According to the defected MKO members, after the US-led Invasion in 2003, US troops have allowed the MKO to secretly keep some of their weapons inside the camp.

They also said since 2003, the leaders of the camp have been training the members on how to launch attacks against Iraqi forces if they tried to enter the camp.

The MKO is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community, and is responsible for numerous terrorist acts against both Iranians and Iraqis.

The group is especially notorious in Iran for siding with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

Wisam al-Bayati, Diyala

May 1, 2011 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Our Political Responsibilities

A group of prominent Iranian human rights activists and intellectuals have responded to the horrendous killings of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization members by publishing an open letter condemning the killings. The moderate and peaceful spirit of the letter is commendable and deserves support. Our Political Responsibilities

Harm to MKO members was feared from the day Saddam Hussein’s regime came to its end. Iranian freedom-lovers knew that in view of the nature of the new regime in Iraq the MKO would have difficulty in maintaining its camp, Ashraf Camp and organization. The new political realities would one day come bring their status to a dead-end. It was clear from many years ago that it was prudent for MKO leaders to decide to that its members should migrate to other countries.

When the US handed over Iraq’s complete sovereignty to the Iraqi government concerns amplified about the imminent catastrophe. Many Iranian organizations, including Etehade Jomhurikhahan Iran (The Union of Iranian Republicans) rightfully stressed the need for the MKO to immediately depart Iraq while also emphasizing governments to encourage the MKO to do this.

Unfortunately the leadership of the MKO spent its greatest and most effective resources on a campaign whose goal was to attain the right to remain at Ashraf Camp.

In view of the political goals and policies of the MKO today vis-à-vis the governments of Iran and Iraq, it is clear that attempts to maintain the MKO in Ashraf Camp will only lead to more violence and clashes. When the Mojahedin settled in Iraq Saddam Hossein ruled over Iraq and the war between his government and the Islamic republic of Iran was in full swing. The MKO too wanted to continue their war with the Islamic republic. Because of this, they received the full support of the Iraqi government and at the least their security was completely provided to them. Saddam’s relations with the MKO were very cordial while those with the Shiites and the Kurds were deeply inimical.

Today, the MKO is active in toppling both regimes ruling Iran and Iraq. On the other hand, the governments of Iran and Iraq are closely cooperating with each other.

In recent months, some very influential politicians and political circles in the US have been actively supporting Mrs. Rajavi – as president – and strive to use the force at Ashraf Camp to change the Iranian regime. During the last three months alone, six important conferences were held in this regard and all six looked at this force as the agent of change in Iran.
At these conferences US general James Jones, Obama administration’s former national security advisor is the key driver.

As these conferences began and progressed, it was clear that the Iranian and Iraqi regimes would not tolerate General Jones’s proposals regarding Iran. At the time I wrote a piece explaining that a new game had begun which was another source of danger for the country and the region.

The condemnation of the tragedy that took place on the morning of April 8 in Ashraf Camp is the least and simplest response that Iranian pro-democracy activists can undertake. But our responsibility goes further. We have a deep responsibility towards the 3,500 individuals who are trapped in the neo-conservatist policies of the US and Israeli dreams for Iran. The policy of staying and preparing itself for the eventual outcome pursued by the MKO cannot last. Pressure and insistence of the neo-conservatists for using this force as a pressure against the Iranian regime must end.

Before the tragedy repeats itself, now is the time to approach the MKO and its powerful international supporters and press for the organization to submit its request to the UN Secretary General to resettle the group and its members in a secure country, while at the same time condemning any killing or bloodshed by the Iraqi army and to press the Iraqi government to announce a moratorium on the MKO.

I specifically request of the MKO, General Jones, John Bolton, Mrs. Mary Robinson, and Messrs. Howard Deen and Patrick Kennedy who are the most influential supporters of keeping the MKO and recognizing it as the alternative to the Iranian regime to facilitate the departure of this group from Iraq and set a specific date for this. At the same time, the Iraqi government should provided assurance that it would not enforce its sovereignty over Ashraf Camp until the departure of the MKO.

Translated by Rooz online

May 1, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization

Narrative of Ahmad Reza karimi about MKO

A Report from “A Description of the History of MOJAHEDIN KHALGH of Iran and Its Stand Point” Written by Ahmad Reza Karimi, one of the Previous Members of the Organization”. It deals with its

origins and Alteration
The recently published book "A brief history of Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization and its policies" is originally the personal notes of Ahmad Reza Karimi, one of the former members of the organization, written in 1984 (1364 solar Islamic year ). The author has tried to trace the incidents from the starting days of foundation through all later phases of change. Detailed and interesting information has been referred to in this text, useful to come to know the organization.

Ahmad Reza Karimi had some organizational and non-organizational contacts with a number of members of MKO between 1968 -1971 (1348 and 1351 solar Islamic year). He founded a new group along with an Iraqi student in the summer of 1351. His group was discovered by SAWAK in the beginnings of 1972 (1352 solar Islamic year). , he, then, took part in a TV interview show. From that time, he was accused of cooperation with the regime. In the initial months of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he was imprisoned where he spent a couple of months with Mohammad Taqi Shahram. For a while, one of his fellow inmates was Dr. Ali Shari’ati. After quitting his cell, he wrote a 30-page report on him by SAWAK order.

It is worth mentioning that karimi had spent his teenage and youth days in Qom, so topics related to Qom are here reflected. After the revolution, he remained in prison until 1365 but nothing is known about him after freedom.

In the opening section of the book, the author discusses the way the organization came into existence. He asserts that after some years of debate and discussion among a number of educated, believing Muslims in the early years of 1940 (1320 decade solar Islamic year). , the main people involved -Muhammad Hanifnejad, Saeed Mushin and Abdi NikBin, came to the conclusion that peaceful struggle was futile and only an armed struggle inside a modern and ideological frame and having a powerful and strategic leadership would serve the purpose.

"In the fall of 1967 (1347 solar Islamic year) in a session held in Tabriz, the organization was founded. The founders were the aforementioned three (the organization omitted the name of NikBin and in its propaganda named Ali Asghar Badi-zadegan as the third co-founder: because he had been previously executed, had taught in university and was well-known. Despite the fact that Badi-zadegan’s membership was more recent than Rohani and Mihandoost. They declared their foundation date as 1344 not the real date of 1345 to seem older than the Jazani group who was the initial core of Cherik’hay-e Fadaiy-e Khalq Organization.)

The prominent figures of Tabriz session were:

1. Muhammad Hanifnejad (one of the co-founders of MKO)
2. Saeed Mushin (one of the co-founders of MKO)
3. Abdi NikBin (one of the co-founders of MKO)
4. Hussein Ahmad Rohani (from the head-office members) whose personal notes by the name of "The MKo" has recently been published by the Centre for Publication of Islamic Revolution Documents.
5. Ali Mihandoost
6. Naser Sadeq
7. Torab Haqshenas
8. Abdolrasool Meshkinfam
9. Muhammad Bazargani
10. Bahman Bazargani
11. Ali Bakeri
12. Mahmud Askarzadeh
13. Ali Asghar Badi-zadegan (who later as was explained was declared as one of the co-founders)

The organization had initially not been named and only in 1970 (1350 solar Islamic year) and in prison was named "Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization" (1)

Throughout the book, the author has referred in several places to the ideology, organization, internal and external ties and the operations against the regime as well as SAWAK offensives against it. (2) In his personal notes, Ahmad Reza Karimi describes the different phases of ideological transformation of the organization, "to instill the Marxist ideology in the minds of the people, interesting phases were needed, some samples are mentioned in here:

The first phase, brainwashing:

In the first phase, the Marxist leader of the session would very subtlety start to slacken the religious sensitivities of the group members, for instance after the end of a session, he might have told that he had not said his prayers and after some repetitions of this he made the members ask for an explanation ; his possible answer could be his occupation with other good deeds and performing the prayer at a later time for compensation … throughout, the pamphlet of "what is translation?" written by NikBin in 1346 were interpreted by the leader. In the part that were intended for discussion it is a said that "self-correction is good to the extent that it does not block the path of struggle". Prayers and fasting were mentioned as the examples of self-correcting acts. As a result in 1962 – 1973 (1342 and 1353 solar Islamic year )., the majority of the religious members did not fast by the order of their chief for the excuse that they would lose the energy for fighting….in the final stage, the religious member would have become indifferent to performance of rituals and practical worships.

The second phase, cutting the religious teachings:

Asserting that in general, the members had accepted Islam, Quran and Nahjul-Balagha but their weakness was unawareness of the revolutionary texts, the religious teachings gradually diminished.

The third phase, replacement by Marxist texts:

Simultaneously with cutting the religious teachings, Marxist texts occupied more of the teaching materials. In this phase, the teachings were focused on Lenin’s work "what must we do", Stalin’s "the brief history of communist party of USSR" and also Stalin’s "Leninism subjects".

The Fourth Phase, Shedding Doubts by green pamphlets:

From the earliest days of the fall of1972 (1352 solar Islamic year) Taqi Shahram brought up questions and brief answers in his article published in the organizations internal publications. By this he intended to destroy the religious base of the organization.

The Fifth Phase, Declaration of Marxism:

After all these phases and observing the potential inclinations of the member, the chief informed them that organization had become Marxist and they had to make their mind about it. The result was evident, in almost all cases; all the members would accept it." (3)

In page 97 of the book, Karimi points out that:

"From 1972 (1352 solar Islamic year), the time that the Marxist Taqi Shahram entered the head-office, he started to change the mixture of Marxist ideology and religious references of the organization to a total and pure Marxism. Therefore, the theory that says he had done a coup is irrelevant. The ideological basis of the organization was in essence Marxism but with a make up of Islam. Taqi Shahram cleaned this superficial enamel of religion."

In another part of the book, the author mentions the meeting of some of the members with three of the clergy (the late Ayatollah Taleqani, the late Lahooti and Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani). There they informed them of their new stances. In connection with the meeting with Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani, he has written:

"Bahram Aram met with Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani in the house of Haj Mehdi Ghayooran and informed him of this ideological shift. Hashemi Rafsanjani gave a negative response for their support continuation… after the arrest of Vahid [Afrakhteh] and the return of Mr. Rafsanjani from abroad, he was arrested.

Another important point in connection to these matters is Vahid [Afrakhteh]’s confessionary comments about the late Martyr Beheshti: in his private report t Taqi Shahram, Vahid’s last line is that the band of Shahram wanted to assassinate Dr. Beheshti in 1974 (1354 solar Islamic year). (probably because they saw him as the reason of the opposition of the clerics). I saw this confession in the dossier of Taqi Shahram in 1979 (1359 solar Islamic year); unfortunately it was not taken serious. Finally, the assassination plot drawn up by the head-office of 1974 (1354 solar Islamic year) was put into action in the July 1981(7th of Tir of 1360 solar Islamic year) by the head-office of that time. (5)

Elsewhere in the book, the author cites the unlawful male-female relations and organizational marriages:

"The MKO was originally in 1967 (in 1347 until 1351 solar Islamic year) a male’s organization and had no female elements. The need for safe houses with good covering made the organization decision makers use women and girls. The first members could be the relatives of the executed and imprisoned members…in that time Reza Rezayi had two marriages inside the organization which was the start of moral corruption: his first marriage with Leyla Zomorrodiyan (the next wife of Sharif Vaqefi) and the second marriage with Simin Salehi who had not even officially divorced his husband after going into hiding… some of the women and girls had the least political and organizational dispositions and were only kept as a coverage for safe houses and for sexual exploitation. (An element like Leyla Zomorrodiyan who after Reza Rezayi and Sharif Vaqefi as her husbands, became for a short while the spouse of Taqi Shahram and then by changing her safe houses changed her husbands is a tell-tale example)

…the sexual monopolism of the leaders of the organization was another consequence of this corruption. Taqi Shahram had five wives in the time of his activities… other consequences of this moral corruption of the organization were sexually-motivated suicides resulting from sexual and moral repressions". (6)

"Intra-organizational crimes" is another part of Ahmad Reza Karimi’s book where he explains the assassinations inside the organization for organizational settlement of accounts. The cases mentioned are the assassination of Javad Saeedi October 1972 (Mehr of 1352 solar Islamic year), Majid Sharif Vaqefi may 1974 (Ordibehesht 1354 solar Islamic year), failed attempt to kill Morteza SamadiyeLabbaf may 1974 (Ordibehesht 1354), assassination of Hassan Hasanan July 1974 (the last days of Ordibehesht or first days of Khordad 1354), assassination of Ali MirzajafarA’llaf fall 1974(fall 1354) solar Islamic year) and the murders of Muhammad Yaqini, Raf’at Afraz and Mahboobeh Afraz. (7)

Majid Sharif Vaqefi who was assassinated after the ideological shift of the organization (the Sharif University of Technology has been named after this Martyr).

In the nest section, the reasons of organization’s tendency to Marxism through the leadership and the deviation of the organization1974 (until 1354 solar Islamic year) have been elaborated. (8)

Counterfeiting SAWAK documents by the MKO in the first days of revolution, collaboration of some members with SAWAK, the complete list of the individuals’ names in analytical-pedagogical books, the explanations of Shahram’s bands for the change of ideology, ideological war and its different phases, resistances, troubles and impediments, and reasons behind the disillusionment of the members and their membership in other groups in pre- and post-revolution era, and other chapter-heads are included in Ahmad Reza Karimi’s book.

Also, the MKO’s stances and views on Imperialism bloc (US and …), Socialist bloc (USSR and …), China, Iraq and the Baath, right wing and left wing organizations, the clergy, Imam Khomeini, controllable classes of the society, war with Iraq, Dr. Shari’ati…have been treated and in the final part, the reasons behind MKO’s inclination towards the imperialism bloc is mentioned:

"Every power-seeking movement or individual creates ties with foreign powers to achieve its temporary aims…because of the anti-imperial atmosphere of the post-revolution era, in a period of its reshaping, MKO created connections with intelligence USSR. From 1981(1360 solar Islamic year), when on one hand the USSR were not able to publicly oppose the Islamic Revolution and on the other hand, the western powers like US and France had focused their subversive efforts against the government in Iran, they found the prepared ground in cooperation with the west. Another important point is their loss of ground inside the country which led to their tendency to seek help foreign aid for gaining power. The tactical silence of the eastern social bloc to oppose Iran facilitated their connection with the west. The collection of political movements in the west which supported this organization is dependent on Zionist circles that have been in charge of all efforts against the Islamic regime from the first days. From their point of view MKO is a probable alternative and a good puppet for the maintenance of their long-term interests. Particularly when they make Rajavi an infallible Imam and like all unreal Mahdis, they have a far-sighted vision in their makings. (9)

Footnotes:

1. P. 11
2. Pp. 12-44
3. P. 44
4. P. 97
5. P. 74
6. P. 92
7. P. 94
8. P. 96
9. P. 133

April 30, 2011 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Iraq: ICRC responds to situation in Camp Ashraf

Violent clashes in Camp Ahsraf, 60 km north-east of Baghdad, recently left a number of people dead or injured. Over 3,000 Iranian nationals belonging to the People’s Mujaheddin Organization of Iran (PMOI) live in the camp. Magne Barth, head of the ICRC delegation in Iraq, explains the ICRC’s role and response.

ICRC-1

What happened during the clashes at Camp Ashraf? What is the current situation?

Clashes on 8 April between Iraqi forces and Iranian nationals belonging to the People’s Mujaheddin Organization of Iran (PMOI) living in Camp Ashraf resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. According to our information, a number of casualties were taken to Baquba Hospital. These latest events have aggravated a situation that had been tense for quite some time.

We call on all those involved to exercise restraint and to comply with applicable law. This means, among other things, that the use of force by law-enforcement personnel must conform to the standards that govern law-enforcement operations. In addition, the dignity and physical well-being of all individuals must be preserved at all times.

What is the ICRC doing?

We are closely following the latest events, particularly the provision of medical care for the casualties and the evacuation of the dead and injured. Less than 24 hours after the clashes started, the ICRC provided dressing materials for Baquba Hospital, where casualties have been taken, and we remain in close contact with the hospital management. Should there be further needs, we are ready to assist.

After hearing that six people had been arrested and taken to Khalis Police Station, ICRC delegates visited the facility on 13 April to assess conditions of detention and the treatment of people being held there, and to give detainees the opportunity to contact their families.

Do you have regular contact with the residents of Camp Ashraf?

The ICRC has visited Camp Ashraf in the past in order to meet the residents and, in particular, to offer to help them contact their families in Iran and elsewhere through the exchange of Red Cross messages.

After the clashes on 8 April, people outside Iraq who have relatives living in Camp Ashraf contacted the ICRC and various national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as they were worried about what might have happened to their relatives. We will try to help people obtain information on those who were caught up in the clashes.

What are the obligations of the authorities?

The authorities have the obligation to respect the rights that Ashraf residents enjoy under national and international law. In particular, the authorities must preserve the residents’ physical and mental well-being at all times, and must allow families to remain together as far as possible.

Furthermore, the ICRC has regularly reminded the authorities of their obligation to respect the principle of “non-refoulement,” which is a principle of international law that prohibits a State from transferring people to another State or authority if there is a risk that they may be subjected to any kind of ill-treatment, or that they may face persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

We have also reminded the authorities of their obligation to ensure that civilians in Camp Ashraf – as elsewhere in Iraq – have access to such basic necessities as food, water and medical care.

April 30, 2011 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Give the Mojahedin Khalq an amnesty

As far as I can remember, Mojahedin Khalgh or MEK, an armed opposition group, has never enjoyed national support in Iran. When the MEK’S leader left Iran for Iraq and set up a camp to launch operations against the Iranian regime from Iraq, people shied away from them.
Iran was at war with Iraq and this group stood by Saddam Hussein, helping Iraq in their struggle against Iran.

The MEK’s operations were deadly. On one occasion they assassinated key revolutionary figure Ayatollah Motahari; on another occasion, they bombed the Republic Party’s headquarters in Tehran, killing about 70 people, including Prime Minister Masoud Rajai. I was at primary school at the time; the father of one of my classmates, Mr. Akbari, was one of those killed in the bombing.

After the Iran-Iraq War, the MEK faded from the scene, only to regain prominence when the US invaded Iraq.
Thousands of MEK members, most of them middle-aged, were residing in the Ashraf camp when it was taken over by the Americans in 2003. Iran wondered what their fate might be. Eight years later, still nothing has happened to them.

Iran won’t have them back and they’re struggling to stay in Iraq. Who’s going to offer a safe haven to 3,500 MEK members, all on the US terrorist list?

Last Friday, Iraqi forces last Friday killed at least 10 of them and injured more than 100 more.

Nouri Al-Malki’s spokesman said that they refused to let Iraqi soldiers enter the camp for a routine inspection.

On Tuesday April 11, the Iraqi government gave the residents of Ashraf camp an ultimatum: they must leave Iraq by the end of 2011.

But where they can go? What makes it more difficult is that the leadership refuses to let individual members leave.

Disarmed in Iraq by the Americans back in 2003, they blame the latter for not protecting them.

But the real problem is with their leadership. At least one-third of the MEK members in Ashraf camp are from North America or other Western countries, but the leadership won’t let them leave and go home.

In fact, no-one has heard anything about their leader, Masoud Rajavi, since 2003. His wife Maryam, who lives in France, is now running the show and she’s reluctant to hand over power to any of the members in the camp in Iraq.

Many Iranians think that the MEK are finished. Most of them feel sorry for these stranded MEK members. They regret that Rajavi trapped them and are also upset to see them being killed like animals in Iraq by Iraqis.

Some Iranians want the government to show the residents of Ashraf camp a little mercy, allowing them to come home to Iran and their families.

“These people have been wasting away for many years. It’s wrong. They are getting old and ought to come home. No-one knows who they were and what they did. An amnesty would save them from this nasty situation,” a journalist in Tehran told me.

Camelia Entekhabifard, Al Arabiya – Published in the Egyptian Gazette on April 27

April 30, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq; A proxy force

Will Giuliani invite MEK “freedom fighters” to relocate in Manhattan?

The MEK issued a statement late last week that not only casts serious doubt on their claims to have renounced terrorism but demands that they be allowed to come to the U.S.
The group cites a disarmament deal they negotiated with the U.S. as the basis for the demand:

The Ashraf residents, in their two-day negotiations with (former Commanding General of U.S. Forces in Iraq) General Odierno on 9 and 10 May 2003, announced that after their disarmament, upon conditions that the US is incapable of giving them protection in Iraq, they are ready to go to the US.

The referenced deal, negotiated after the toppling of the MEK’s chief patron Saddam Hussein, apparently requires the United States to relocate MEK members in Iraq to the U.S. or E.U.:

…it is up to the US, in return to [sic] their disarmament and in accordance with the agreement signed with each of the residents, to transfer every one of them without exception to the US or European Union member States.

The fact that the MEK is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization would prevent them from legally coming to the U.S., but an assortment of prominent U.S. politicians, lobbyists, and consulting firms are working to reverse that terror designation. However, the MEK statement also raises new questions about whether the group has truly renounced terrorism as they have claimed:

Hence, if in the future similar to the past, the goal of establishing various committees in Iraq’s Prime Ministry is for the sole purpose of the residents’ repression, killing and closing down Ashraf, there will be no choice left for Iran’s freedom fighters other than resistance at any price.

So now that the MEK is threatening “resistance at any price” and demanding relocation to the U.S., the question is: will U.S. officials supporting MEK, some of whom have acknowledged receiving “substantial amount” of cash, invite these “freedom fighters” into their own backyards?

Perhaps Rudy Giuliani, who told an MEK conference in Paris last year that “the United States should not just be on your side…it should be enthusiastically on your side,” knows of a good place in Lower Manhattan to relocate the group. Never mind that MEK leaders Massoud and Maryam Rajavi reportedly celebrated September 11th by broadcasting the attacks at Camp Ashraf. Rudy apparently has no problem with the Rajavis’ declarations following September 11th that, “if (Al Qaeda) could do such a sophisticated military operation we must be able to do so in a much better manner,” and, “wait and see the fruits of our revolutionary Islam!”

Or maybe Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX), the lead sponsor of a resolution calling for MEK to be removed from the U.S. terror list, could invite the group to Texas. I’m sure he would enjoy informing his constituents in Liberty County that 3,500 Marxist-Islamist “freedom fighters” will be moving in down the street.

Or who knows, maybe the MEK’s U.S. supporters will be given pause by these new revelations, not to mention previous findings of torture and cult-like practices at Camp Ashraf. Maybe they will be convinced to focus not on legitimizing the MEK’s leaders but instead on the estimated seventy percent of Camp Ashraf residents that RAND estimates were brought there against their will and would leave MEK if given the chance.

But don’t hold your breath. If officials are being paid “substantial” amounts of money to advocate on behalf of MEK and have a change of heart, they might have to give the money back.

NIAC INSight

April 28, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

The Chameleon-like Mujahedin-e Khalq

The Mujahedin Khalq (MEK) is a cult which has a long history of terrorism; the leaders, with their chameleon like-nature have targeted and captivated various audiences throughout their existence as a group. They run diplomacy of deception and their opportunistic tactics are now fooling naïve Western sympathizers—so much that some sympathizers will lay down their The Chameleon-like Mujahedin-e Khalq political reputations for them, in the belief that they are supporting a legitimate alternative to the current regime in Iran. With an impressive ability to transform its image, the Mujahedin-e Khalq has managed to court potential allies. They have tailored their principles to obtain sympathy from and stir the attention of neoconservative warmongers who would like to see Iran acted upon with a major political operation. This is dangerous because any type of political operation against Iran, especially one that would result in the use of force would be catastrophic. Notwithstanding what the Iranian people think, an operation which includes the MKO would also include a goal of ending the current Iranian regime—and placing it with the MKO. The Iranian people would not, in any way, stand for it because Iranians have no room for a principle-bending cult who is out of touch with reality and who has not stepped foot in Iran for decades.

Development of Change
During the 1960’s when many Iranian youth were interested in Marxism, influenced by the USSR, founders of MEK based their ideology on a Marxist version of Islam. According to the US State Department report, the “MEK sought to counter what it perceived as excessive western influence in the Shah’s regime. Following a philosophy that mixes Marxism and Islam the MEK has developed into the largest and most active armed Iranian dissident group."[1]

When in the 1970’s, anti-western attitudes came to be shared by most guerilla groups around the world and also among Iranians who supported Ayatollah Khomeini as an Islamic anti-western leader, the MEK found it beneficial to develop an anti-imperialism dimension to their activities. They launched several attacks against American interests in Iran that killed seven American military personnel and civilians. The State Department reports that "its history is studded with anti-western activity.” [2]

During the Islamic Revolution in 1978, the MEK took part in anti Shah protests and supported the Islamic Republic. But soon after the revolution they clashed with the newly-settled government because they couldn’t find any position in the newly formed power structure. The group’s leader, Massoud Rajavi fled to Paris together with the Iranian former President, Abulhassan Banisadr (who now denounces the group and refers to it as a terrorist cult). In Paris, they found it advantageous to change their image and their name; they started the National Council of Resistance which is now the MKO’s political tribune in the West. Kathryn Spellman, a British Professor of sociology writes in her book *Religion and Nation: Iranian Local and Transnational Networks in London*, that "the NCR was founded in October 1981 as a provisional government of the Islamic Democratic Republic."[3]

The NCR was first headed by Massoud Rajavi and included 235 members of whom 90% were Mujahedin members. In response to the female impression on the Iranian government, the NCR cleverly decided to elect a woman, Maryam Rajavi as “President elect” of the Democratic Islamic Republic of Iran. The title "Democratic Islamic Republic" for the MEK’s dream government of Iran was not surprising because at the time Iranian public were seriously interested in Islam and most people wanted Islamic laws to be obeyed in their country. Knowing this, Rajavi adopted the majority “Islamic” view. He felt that it was important to change his group’s principles in order to be accepted as a viable alternative to the regime.
In 1985 the MEK made another transformation and moved to Iraq where Rajavi gradually transformed the MEK into a full blown military cult, appointing himself as the absolute leader.* *Antoine Gessler author of *Autopsy of Anti Ideological Drift*: *Analysis and Background on the* *MKO* describes the group:

"Operating as a political-military sect, based on a cult of personality, the people’s Mojahedin of Iran requires total obedience from their true believers. The hierarchy is very structured and very strict, demanding blind obedience to the leadership. Their methods are reminiscent of Stalin’s. They include the notorious model of the Moscow show trials overwhelming their internal critics with insults, mudslinging lies, accusations of treason, selling out or being enemy agents.“Yet, after almost thirty years of struggle, the PMOI and its National Liberation army have little to show for their efforts. They have squandered all their achievements of the Seventies and Eighties largely through their alliance with Saddam Hussein.

During the last two decades, Mr. Rajavi and his friends have only succeeded in cutting themselves off from the very people who want change in Iran, but will not follow the PMOI. They have never been able to lay the foundations of that ‘Islamic, Democratic Republic of Iran’ which is their principal aim." [4]

In 2003, after the fall of Saddam Hussein when the MEK’s Camp Ashraf was bombed by the American Air Force, Massoud Rajavi found a practical solution—he shifted with the wind and signed an agreement with US Forces, which required him to relinquish arms (to US Forces). This strategic move helped him draw the West’s attention towards his organization which has been listed as a terrorist group since the 1990’s. As the MEK increased its propaganda campaign in Western countries they intentionally distinguished themselves as a non-terrorist group and delivered an agenda which portrayed them merely as an opposition group which was rational, a friend of the West, but more importantly, secular, non-violent, and democratic. By the end of 2004, Rajavi’s democratic Islamic Republic militant group had apparently morphed into a “democratic, independent and secular regime.”

In 2010, the group made a huge effort to purify its image even more in response to the bad press it had been getting regarding its long history of terrorist activities. Ali Safavi, the group’s main lobbyist attempted to clear all religious associations from the MEK’s image and reintroduced them as a purely secular organization. Safavi re-wrote the group’s history in a a series of articles which were published by the *Huffington Post*. According to Safavi, *now* the “MEK was founded in 1965 as a Muslim organization. It saw the society divided between tyranny and liberation forces, and not believers and non-believers. Like most Iranians, its founders sought a secular republic and the establishment of a democracy in Iran. MEK has never endeavored towards an ideological government, be it Islamic or otherwise." [5] For naïve politicians who do not know the real history, this is successful deceit, and will no doubt, help buy support.

Rajavi would like us all to somehow believe that he can fulfill a promise that will take care of every one–a secular government which offers a foundation for a Democratic Islamic Republic. According to Dr. Ahmad Sadri, an Iranian–American university professor of Islamic World Studies and Sociology at Lake Forest College in Illinois, the MEK wears a mask and is basically telling the world that as long as it is beneficial, “we are whatever you want us to be.”[7]

By Mazda Parsi

References:

[1] United States. *Terrorist Designation Lists*. Washington DC: First published in 1999, updated every two years. Web
[2]ibid
[3] Spellman, Kathryn . *Religion and Nation: Iranian Local and Transnational Networks in London*. 1st ed. London, New York: Berghahn Books,2004. Print.p.28

[4] Gessler, Antoine. *Autopsy of an ideological Drift*. Translated by Thomas R. Forstenzer 2004 Publishing Information is unknown: 13. Print
[5] Safavi, Ali. "Reality Check: Understanding the Mujahedin-e Khalq." *Huffington
Post*. March 3, 2010: Web.
[6] Lach, Eric. "Iranian Prof: U.S. Support For MEK Would Anger Ordinary
Iranians." *Talking Points Memo TPMMuckraker* (07 FEB 2011): Web. 23 Apr 2011

April 28, 2011 0 comments

Iran

12,000 Iranians victims of MKO terror

Iran has criticized the West’s support for the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) despite the group’s deadly attacks and crimes against thousands of Iranians.

At a meeting with the head of South Korean Supreme Court in Tehran on Tuesday, Iranian Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari said “12,000 Iranians have fallen victim to MKO’s acts of terror but the U.S. and Europe keep supporting the terrorist group,” Fars news agency reported.

“Two-hundred revolutionary and significant figures have been martyred by the MKO members,” Bakhtiari added, singling out slain head of Iran’s Judiciary Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti.

The Iranian minister further highlighted the contradiction between the statistics and U.S. accusations of human rights violation against the Islamic republic.

“This number of terror victims comes while from the U.S. point of view Iran does not observe human rights, and this issue is not fair,” he underlined.

Bakhtiari called on the Korean judiciary official to be aware of Washington’s attempts to tarnish the humanitarian image of the Islamic Republic.

The Korean side welcomed the proposed exchange of experiences between the two countries’ judicial institutions and said he would discuss a Seoul-Tehran judiciary exchange agreement with the Korean justice minister.

April 28, 2011 0 comments

The MEK Expulsion from Iraq

Iraqi Government has the right to evict MKO

As the iron arm of Saddam Hussein to suppress Iraqi Kurds and Shiites uprisings in 1991, Mujahedin Khalq Organization is seriously detested by Iraqi nation and government. The Iraqi government has so far shown quiet amount of tolerance for a terrorist destructive cult that has Iraqi Government has the right to evict MKO occupied a large area of its territory and has the bloods of its Kurdish and Shiite nationals in its hands.

Ann Singleton who is a leading expert on MKO and also ex-member of the group attended a panel at al-Mostansariye University in Baghdad where she described MKO a force to disrupt the process of democtrization in Iraq. “MKO occupies the only remaining untouched infrastructure of the former Saddam regime”, Singleton asserts.

Following April 8th clashes at Camp Ashraf allegations propagated by MKO to demonize the Iraqi government especially Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki ended with Iraqi authorities’ firm determination to expel the group from Iraqi soil.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al – Dabbagh insisted on the "necessity of getting it [the MKO] out of Iraq", a week after the clashes at Camp Ashraf." This organization must be removed from Iraqi territory by all means, including political and diplomatic, with the cooperation of the UN and international organizations", he said in a statement. [1]

The Iraqi government doesn’t want a foreign terrorist group in its territory. The country’s justice minister, Hassan al-Shammari noted in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart that the decision to expel MKO from Iraq was made in line with the Iraqi constitution, which prohibits the presence of any militia group in Iraqi territory. [2]

To be fair, the Iraqi government has given enough notice to the group, and now, by the end of hostilities in the country, this democratically elected government wants them to leave its country. Those states that criticize the GOI for human rights violation against Ashraf residents can solve the issue simply by granting asylum to them. While Iraq has made clear that it intends to shut down the camp by the end of the year, members of the cult-like organization refuse to leave and other countries are reluctant to take them, according to the Christian Science Monitor. [3]

As Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari suggested," Countries who care about the fate and human rights of this group… should welcome them and resettle them in their countries." Zebari told Radio Free Europe, "The Iraqi government prohibits the presence of Mujahedin-e-Khalq or any other militia groups from neighboring countries ". [4]

As a matter of fact, it is not Iraqi government’s fault that Mujahedin Khalq , a long-time ally of notorious Saddam Hussein and a traitor to Iranian nation, do not want to leave Iraq.

By Mazda Parsi

References:
[1] BBC, Iranian PMOI exiles ‘must leave Iraq by end of year’, April 11, 2011
[2]PressTV, Iraq determined to expel MKO, April 25, 2011
[3]Arraf, Jane, UN calls for Iraqi probe of attack on Iranian opposition group, Christian Science Monitor, April17, 2011
[4] Eurasia, Iraqi FM: Western countries who care about MKO can Take them, April23, 2011

April 27, 2011 0 comments

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