The director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran dismissed a claim by the Mojahedin Khalq Organization that Iran is building a new nuclear enrichment facility near the city of Qazvin.
“In Iran there is no nuclear facility with its own specific definition which has not been declared to the agency (the International Atomic energy Agency),” Ali Akbar Salehi told the Mehr News Agency.
Mocking the MKO for such naïve reports, he said, “If they have news of such a thing they can inform.”
The terrorist group Mojahedin Khalq Organization bars its penitent members from leaving the organization and joining their families, an Iranian envoy says.
There are some "remorseful Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) members [at Iraq’s] Camp Ashraf who wish to join their families but are prevented from leaving the camp by the group’s leaders," Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Danaei-far, told Mehr news agency on Wednesday.
He also made a reference to the "frequent" reports on infighting at the camp over such issues and said, "We hope the incoming [Iraqi] government applies more pressure [on the terror group] and helps reunite youth with their families and hands the criminals over to the judiciaries."
The Iraq-based MKO is listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community.
Founded in the 1960s, the MKO has masterminded terrorist operations in Iran and Iraq, killing thousands of people and wounding many more.
The group is especially notorious in Iran for having sided with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
Following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, US troops disarmed the MKO terrorists at Iraq’s Camp Ashraf, where they were based, and surrounded it until Iraqi forces took over responsibility for the camp in 2009.
The Public Prosecutor of the Iraqi High Tribunal, Jaafar al-Mousawi, stated in mid-August that investigations have also incriminated MKO members in playing a leading role in the killings of Iraqi civilians.
Mousawi further commented that the terrorist group had supported Saddam Hussein’s Baath regime, aiding in the suppression of the Iraqi people’s uprising in 1991 and the torture and massacre of innocent people in the northern and southern regions of the country.
Iran will deal with any political bloc in Iraq – ambassador
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Danayeefar, said on Wednesday that his country will deal with any political bloc, which will form the new government, considering the prime minister’s post as an internal affair.
“Iran is Iraq’s neighbor and this is a fact and the two states should work with each other within all circumstances,” Danayeefar told Iran’s Mehr news agency.
“Arguments on who will lead the government is an internal affair and the Iraqi parties will determine who will become the new premier,” he explained.
Regarding the Iranian visitors jailed in Iraq, the ambassador said that the issue included in his agenda and he follows up the issue with the Iraqi officials, noting that Iraq and Iran have reached an agreement in this regard.
“The Iraqi government considers the presence of the Iranian rebel group Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) on its territories as illegal,” he said.
MKO, an Iranian opposition group, stationed in Ashraf camp in Diala since 1980’s when the former regime of Saddam Hussein was fighting the Iranian government from 1980 until 1988.
Demanding the UN Secretary General to send a Special Rapporteur for human rights to visit Camp Ashraf in Iraq along with the former members and the families of present members
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
The United Nations Secretary General
You may be aware that Camp Ashraf in Iraq is the main base of Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO). This group has been designated as a terrorist destructive cult by the United States which is protecting it and by Iraq which is hosting it.
At the present time more than 3000 individuals are living in this camp under the cultic training of Massoud Rajavi (leader of MKO) and tough cultic regulations are imposed on them. These people do not have any right to demand contact with the outside world and their families. They live in a totally isolated atmosphere. The way that the leaders of the cult rule their followers is in such a manner that it is a clear example of violating their most basic human rights and an example of new slavery in our era.
Since the inhabitants of the camp have been away from the free world for many years and they are constantly under the influence of the leaders, they are not in a normal physical and mental condition. The phobic fear of the outside world has been planted inside the minds of these victims in such way that they can no longer think or act freely and they have become like robots which carry out the demands of the leaders without thinking.
Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq until now, roughly one thousand members of the MKO have managed to leave the cult at different times. Most of these persons have reported dreadful incidents of systematic brainwashing, solitary confinement, torture, and even murder inside Camp Ashraf. These reports and witness statements have been registered in the Iraqi Judiciary System. Some international human rights organizations have approved these reports.
It is now more than six months that a great number of families of the captive members inside Camp Ashraf have been picketing outside the main gate of the cultic camp under very challenging circumstances. They have announced that they will not leave the place unless they see their beloved ones. The leaders of the cult of course have denied their just demand and in reaction they have mobilized their psychologically manipulated victims to harass the families. Sahar Family Foundation is writing this letter on behalf of these families.
Is it not necessary in such circumstances to send a Special Rapporteur from the United Nations to visit the camp along with the former members who are familiar with the internal situation of the camp, as well as the families of present members? Most certainly the leaders of the cult would not accept such a demand. In this case doesn’t the UN and the UN Security Council possess tools to force the MKO to comply with this demand? In view of the suffering families, the minimum that the Human Rights Commission of the UN can do is to bring up this issue and if the leaders of the cult did not accept such an inspection, to base its report on what the former members have to say from their long experience (some even from their childhood) with the group.
The reports issued by the US Department of State since 1994 up to the present time (2010) and their contents as well as the 2009 report issued by the RAND institute about the MKO in Iraq and the 2005 report of Human Rights Watch about the violation of human rights inside the cult and the comments given by the Prime Minister and the President of Iraq on several occasions as well as the Iraq security authorities’ comments and the continuous confession of the MKO leaders about violation of human rights are enough to condemn the leaders even without trial. If not, at least these should be basis enough for the UN to instigate an investigations into the human rights violations and send a Special Rapporteur to visit this isolated, closed and secretive camp and issue a report. Surely if the leaders of the MKO were honest they would not prevent a mother visiting her son and if the followers have divorced their spouses and their children and the normal life willingly, there is no need to hide things and disconnecting the members from the outside world.
All that the suffering families wish to be assured of is the mental and physical health of their relatives inside the camp as it is the most basic right of an individual to enjoy every Article of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Now, regardless of any political interests, the systematic violation of such rights cannot be acceptable and cannot be ignored. The families cannot help but blame the UN if it turns its face in a different direction and does not fulfill its duties. If the UN in Iraq does not meet these requests for any reason it should be held responsible for misconduct in these matters. One can say that the UN could do something but they did not.
The suffering families picketing outside Camp Ashraf in Iraq are looking forward for your reply and your action.
Sahar Family Foundation
Baghdad, 1 September 2010
Attachments:
1. Reports given by the US Department of State since 1994 until this year (2010) which emphasizes that MKO is a terrorist cult
2. The2009 Report of the American RAND institute about the MKO In Iraq
3. The 2005 Report of Human Rights Watch titled “No Exit” about the violation of human rights inside the MKO
4. The resolution passed by the Iraqi administration in its 27th session dated 17 June 2008 (no. 216) about the MKO being a terrorist cult and its illegal presence in Iraq. This resolution emphasized that the MKO base most be dismantled and their forces should leave Iraq.
Copy to:
UN Human Rights Commission
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
International Committee of the Red Cross
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights
Iraqi and international media
Another resident of Camp Ashraf defected from the cult of Rajavi.
Mr. Morteza Badanara Marzdashti escaped from Camp Ashraf and joined Iraqi forces on
Saturday, August28, 2010.
Mr. Marzdashti was recruited by MKO agents in 2002 in Turkey where he was hopeful to find a job. He was taken to Iraq by MKO recruiters who had duped him using their deceitful recruitment tactics.
The recently defected Ashraf member reveals that leaving the camp is a really difficult challenge for the residents. They are seriously supervised by MKO leaders who try to terrify them from the consequences of submitting to Iraqi forces.
Mr. Marzdashti said that he left the group in fear of being arrested and imprisoned by Iraqi forces.
On 19 June 2010, a large hall in Paris was a place of a meeting of more than 200 former members of MKO (Rajavi cult), families of present members trapped inside the cult in Iraq, and a number of reporters and human rights activists.
In this meeting titled “rejecting violence, terrorism and cultic behavior, as well as aiding the families of the victims of Rajavi cult in Ashraf garrison in Iraq”, dozens of foreign personalities, reporters and camera men from various organizations and media were present.
Happiness and rejoice of the Mojahedin-e Khlaq members did not last for a long time and the laughter transfixed on their lips soon. After that the US federal court issued an order to the Department of State for reviewing the terrorist designation of the MKO, Leaders of this organization intended to pretend that they had nothing to do with arms and terrorism. Now following the Department of state’s report for keeping the name of this organization in the terrorist list of US, they are completely stupefied.
Mojahedin leaders along with some anti- Iran newspapers of the United States including Washington Post were considering the rule of the court as the victory of Justice (!!). They thought that it is done and they will not be kept anymore in the terrorist list. However the security issues and the classified information of the US government and department of state were more than the documents of the judges who had not any clear awareness of the terrorist nature and background of Mojahedin-e Khalq. The order issued by the judge in this court was mainly dependent upon the claims of some Mojahedin members and their faked documents.
In early 70s, Mojahedin members who were angry with the US support of Shah, attacked on Americans and killed many civilian and non-civilian Americans that were working on a defensive project in Iran.
After the Islamic Revolution, Mojahedin- e Khalq announced armed conflict against Islamic Republic and in short time Masoud Rajavi along with Bani sadr fled from Iran and took French refugee. In 1364 they began their cooperation with Saddam Hussein who was fighting against Iran at that moment. Until the collapse of Baath regime by American forces, they were working for Saddam and committing treason against Islamic Republic of Iran.
Some of the prominent attacks of Mojahedin-e Khalq terrorist organization include: killing 12 thousand civilians who had mostly private jobs; the explosion of presidential office; the explosion of prime minister’s office; assassination of Assadollah Lajavardi, the head of Iran prisons; assassination of Ali Sayyad Shirazi, commander of armed forces; mortar attacks on president office in 2000 which led to the martyrdom of 1 civilian.
This terrorist group which once had strong anti-American ideology and called this country the Imperialism of the century now is under complete support of the US. However the terrorist background of this organization is as much that the US Department of State could not remove the name of MKO from it Foreign Terrorist Organization’s list.
A top Interior Ministry official has dismissed reports that Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) members have been stationed in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
“Iraqi officials do not allow such transfer,” Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Ali Abdollahi stated on Monday.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Abdollahi refuted the news that Abdolmalek Rigi’s spouse has entered Iran.
Rigi, the leader of the terrorist Jundallah group, was arrested in last February and hanged in June.
Pakistanis not waiting to cross border into Iran
He also dismissed the reports that a huge crowd of Pakistanis from the flood-stricken areas are waiting across the border to enter Iran.
MP Abbasali Noura on Saturday warned about the potential arrival of a huge number of Pakistanis into Iran.
However, an entry of flood-hit Pakistani nationals into the country could be a security threat to the country in the future, Abdollahi noted.
He added that the Iran-Pakistan border is under tight control and necessary measures have been taken to prevent illegal crossings.
Although Iran borders insecure countries, it is among the secure countries in the world, the Interior Ministry official noted.
He also cited the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and alcoholic drinks into the country as the major nuisances
Closing the Washington backed MKO terror base in Iraq
More survivors reunite with families
Iran’s new ambassador to Iraq says high on his agenda is to settle the remaining issues in mutual relations such as the Algiers Accord and common oil fields.
"Among the most significant issues on the agenda …are to … settle the remaining cases from the past such as the 1975 (Algiers) Accord , common oil fields and the like, …to upgrade the current level of ties and institutionalize them by creating the necessary understanding and signing relevant agreements between the two sides," Hassan Danaifar was quoted by the Mehr News Agency as saying on Sunday.
He said among other top-priority plans are to "remove the existing misunderstandings and get a clear and precise understanding by both sides of the current situation, especially in Iraq."
The top envoy also underlined the need to increase the number of meetings between officials of both countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Iran’s new ambassador to Iraq stressed the need to enhance Tehran-Baghdad relations on different fronts, namely politics, economy, security, technology and tourism.
The top Iranian envoy further said the case is still open on the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO).
He expressed hope more MKO members will defect to Iran and return to the bosoms of their families.
"Both sides are working on the (MKO) case, and we will be witnessing positive developments in that regard," said Danaifard.
He further underlined Iraq is taking the ‘tough test of democracy’ now.
"Five years on since the election results were announced, the premiership question in the country remains unsolved, which affects a whole lot of domestic and social issues as well," he said.
The ambassador expressed hope a cabinet will be formed in Iraq as soon as possible.
An Iraqi security official has urged the government to fire members of the notorious terrorist group Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from the country.
The MKO is funding armed groups to cause chaos and disorder in central Diyala province, said Ahmed al-Zarkushi, the mayor of Saadiyah district in Diyala, Mehr news agency reported.
The mayor further pointed out that the terrorist group has been using Iraq’s wealth more than the Iraqi people.
The Iraq-based MKO is listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community.
Founded in the 1960s, the MKO has masterminded a slew of terrorist operations in Iran and Iraq, killing thousands of people and wounding many more.
The group is especially notorious in Iran for having sided with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
Following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, US troops disarmed the MKO terrorists at Iraq’s Camp Ashraf, where they were based, and surrounded it until Iraqi forces took over responsibility for the camp in 2009.
