Page 715 – Nejat Society

SIR – Your article on the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, also known as the Mujahedeen-e Khalq Organisation (MKO), was an accurate account of their past activities (“Where will they all go?”, April 11th). I was therefore surprised to read the letter from Lord Corbett attacking The Economist (May 2nd).

The Iraqi government has announced on a number of occasions that it has no intention of forcing the MKO members in Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad, to leave for Iran or to go to any other country. In fact, it is my understanding that 1,015 people out of the 3,400 people in the camp hold residence permits for different countries, many of them in the European Union. In addition, some 2,000 inhabitants have registered with the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees in the hope of being transferred to other countries ready to accept them.

For several years the Iraqi government has been working closely with UNHCR in order for this to happen. We in Europe, however, are not accepting these people, despite repeated requests by the Iraqi government. Why?

Most of Camp Ashraf’s inhabitants received military training under Saddam Hussein’s regime and took part with his Presidential Guard and other Iraqi security forces in crushing the Iraqi people’s uprising after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. There is ample evidence that the MKO harmed the Iraqi people when the Iraqi army refused to carry out the killings that Hussein required. Many families of the victims in Iraq cannot forget this. The Iraqi constitution does not permit the presence of groups such as the MKO on its soil. You also mentioned allegations of a bizarre and disturbing cult of personality that the MKO inculcates into all its members.

It is for Iraq’s democratically elected government to fulfil its obligations under national and international law, which it is doing in respect of Camp Ashraf, and not to heed the voices that would promote a group that has committed atrocities against its people.

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP
House of Lords
London

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13688130

May 30, 2009 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Letter to the Representative of Portugal in EP

Honorable and distinguished Representative of Portugal in the European Parliament, Mrs. Ana Maria Gomes

First of all we would like to thank you because of your brave positions regarding Rajavi’s Cult and your robust humanitarian views in this regard.

We, the victims of this inhumane and suppressive cult (Rajavi’s Cult) would like to further inform you that the existence of this cult is very dangerous not only for its own members who have been trapped for decades in the notorious Ashraf-garrison in Iraq, but it is also very hazardous and perilous for western and European countries.

The nature and the content of this so called organization is totally cultic and we can all inform you much more about this cult if you grant us an opportunity to have a personal appointment to meet with you.

We are all witnesses to the cruelty and tyranny which exists in this cult. We have all been under severe and harsh psychological and physical tortures which were implemented by the henchmen of this inhumane religious cult.

We support your activities and endeavors against violence, and Rajavi’s cultish ideology.

Best Regards,
Iran- Peyvand Association

May 30, 2009 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Serious Confessions on MKO Crimes

Former leader of the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq divulged serous confessions about their activities in Iraq

Al-Iraqiyah Television highlights in its 1700 gmt newscast on 23 May reports on a speech by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in which he called for giving up "quotas and consensual democracy," the arrest of a senior Al-Qa’idah leader, and the confessions of a former leader of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization about the organization’s activities in Iraq. Al-Maliki calls for giving up "consensual democracy"

– "Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki has stressed the importance of relying on the constitution and national denominators in the coming stage away from quotas and consensual democracy. In a speech at the First Constituent Conference of the Iraqi Chieftains Council in Baghdad today, Al-Maliki pointed out that national reconciliation is the basis for the success of the political process, stability, and security in Iraq."

Al-Maliki is then shown saying: "We have all raised the slogan of national reconciliation. I would like to say that national reconciliation was the main support for the success of the security agencies and the political process. While we acknowledge the efforts of the security agencies and the political forces, we reiterate that national reconciliation was the reason behind isolating the advocates of murder, takfir [holding other Muslims to be infidels], terrorism, and dictatorship."

– "The final statement of the conference included a number of decisions which stressed adherence to Iraq’s unity and adoption of a unified stand against any challenges that might obstruct the political process or destabilize the country."

Shaykh Ali Hatim al-Salman, chieftain of Al-Dulaym tribe, is then shown reading the following statement: "We underscore Iraq’s territorial integrity and unity of its people. We categorically reject any regional interference in Iraq’s internal affairs. Our relations with the neighbouring countries must be built on reconciliation, partnership, and good neighbourliness. Third, we call on the leaders of political blocs to adopt a unified political discourse to serve the higher interests of the Iraqi people."

– "MP Izzat al-Shabandar has said that Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki’s call on the political blocs to cooperate in order to bring about a cabinet reshuffle is an opportunity for getting rid of quotas. He stressed the need for the cabinet reshuffle to be based on the standards of citizenship, integrity, and qualifications. For his part, independent MP Wathab Shakir al-Maliki called for taking such a bold step as soon as possible. In press statements, he said that selecting independent technocrats will be the basis for forming future governments." Al-Qa’idah leader arrested

– "The Iraqi forces have conducted a new qualitative security operation in Baghdad, leading to the arrest of the so-called judicial emir of the terrorist Al-Qa’idah Organization. According to officials, the arrest took place in Zayyunah area based on accurate intelligence information."

The announcer-read report is followed by a video report by Al-Iraqiyah correspondent Ghayth Talal, who says that the arrested person is called Isma’il Abd-al-Sattar al-Rubay’i, and that he is the second-in-command in the Al-Qa’idah Organization. He notes that the detainee is also known as "the blind emir or the blind judge."

In the report, Interior Minister Jawad al-Bulani is shown saying: "The Iraqi security agencies have arrested the elements and cells involved in the criminal actions and recent operations. Our security activities have led to arresting Tunisian and Moroccan cells and people from other nationalities. These people had entered Iraq to carry out terrorist and criminal operations."

The report says: "The Ministry of Interior asserted that the interrogation of terrorist Isma’il Abd-al-Sattar al-Rubay’i, who is responsible for most of the criminal operations in Baghdad, led to the arrest of important leaders of Al-Qa’idah who are responsible for terrorist operations in Al-Sadr City, Al-Shu’lah, Al-Kazimiyah, Baghdad al-Jadidah, and the Police Academy. The terrorists confessed to receiving aid from Syria."

The television anchors then host in the studio Major-General Abd-al-Karim Khalaf, director of the National Command Centre at the Ministry of Interior.

Asked about the arrest of Al-Qa’idah official, Khalaf says: "This is a big network and includes many members. We will announce the results in the next two days. We will announce the details to our people so that they will be reassured that the investigation agencies do not stand idly by while criminal acts are carried out by these people."

Asked about the withdrawal of the US troops from the Iraqi cities by the end of June, Khalaf says: "We and the brothers in the Ministry of Defence have completed preparations. The operational committee, which is chaired by his excellency the minister of defence and includes officials from the Ministry of Interior, has completed all arrangements for the deployment of troops after the withdrawal of the US forces from the cities. By the end of June, our security forces will be ready to take over the files all over Iraq. As you know, Article 4 authorizes the Iraqi government to ask the US side to keep part of its troops if there is a need for this. Thus far, there is no need for keeping any troops in the Iraqi cities." Former Mojahedin-e Khalq official quoted on organization’s activities

– "Batul Sultani, former leader of the terrorist [Mojahedin-e] Khalq Organization, has divulged serious confessions about the nature of actions carried out by the organization. Al-Sultani has recently defected from the Ashraf Camp in protest against the policies implemented there."

In a video report by Al-Iraqiyah correspondent Haydar al-Abbudi, Al-Sultani is shown saying: "Mas’ud Rajavi had close relations with Saddam. He used to resort to him in many issues, like suppressing the sh’abaniyah uprising in the south and centre and the areas of Klar, Kifri, and Tuz Khurmatu in the north. Rajavi sent 5,000 members of the organization to quell the uprising and kill the innocents."

Al-Sultani adds: "After the fall [of the former Iraqi regime], Rajavi started planning to build relations with tribal chieftains and some opposition politicians. He sought to urge them to run in the elections. I also noticed that scores of poor youths were given shelter, education, and money to carry out the organization’s actions in Iraq. I call on the Iraqi officials to work as one team to expel this subversive organization, which continues to carry out suspicious actions."

Al-Iraqiyah TV, Baghdad,1700 gmt 23 May 23, 2009
Translated by BBC Monitoring Middle East

May 30, 2009 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Culture of taboo in MKO

Former members, journalists, politic men and political activists who criticize the cult of Rajavi, are all considered as the agents of Islamic Republic Culture of taboo in cults is part of their mind control system. Cult leaders are not able to defend their manipulative practice against their opponents, so they try to demonize their critics.

Former members, journalists, politic men and political activists who criticize the cult of Rajavi, are all considered as the agents of Islamic Republic and therefore they deserve being boycotted. The leaders of People’s Mujahedin of Iran launch a large-scale propaganda campaign against them, turning their words into taboo words that no member of the cult dares listen to the critics since any word against MKO is definitely from the side of Regime!

Maryam Rajavi claims that her so called resistance (Cult of Rajavi) is the only democratic alternative for the regime of Tehran! But the true facts show that MKO has the most undemocratic approach against its critics. How can one consider MKO as a democratic movement while Tolerance is meaningless in Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization? Rajavi represents himself as the one on the summit of perfection and never admits the arguments against his cult.

As the main principal of a democratic society, Tolerance signifies the freedom of speech, freedom of decision ad freedom of thought but in fact any freedom in the cult of Rajavi endangers the existence of the cult. Therefore, MKO leaders never believe in political arguments or challenges, they just eliminate the rivals and opponents by viewing them as taboos.

Today the growth of societies is directly based on discussion, negotiation and consultation while MKO leaders view the world as Black and White. They divide the world as their supporters and their opponents who are all labeled as agents of Islamic Republic. A significant instance is the recent letter they sent to Economist newspaper (allegedly signed by Lord Corbett) following the publication of an article on MKO titled “where will they all go” dated April 11th. Via the letter, MKO attacked the Economist for repeating “untruths commonly voiced by the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and security”.

Despite all deceptive hawkish propaganda of Rajavi’s Cult, truth is always present. The history records all atrocities committed by the destructive cult of Rajavi: As Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP, clarifies in her letter (Mary 21st) to Economist, “the article on People’s Mujahedin of Iran” as “an accurate account of their past activities”.
By Mazda Parsi

May 27, 2009 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq 's Function

Logic of cultic Mojahedin in global scene

Despite the fact that Mojahedin have been accused of many criminal acts and terrorist activities in Iraq in the reign of Saddam including their alliance with him in suppressing Iraqi dissidents, misusing international humanitarian aid, Oil-for-Food program for example, as well as their current interference in the internal affairs of Iraqi government like intensifying religious and tribal conflicts, supporting terrorist groups, cooperating with problematic trends, the group’s hostile position toward Iraq has remained unchanged and they are still insisting on their illegal settlement therein.

It reveals that wherever settled, Mojahedin disregarding their wrongdoings and criminal acts, take a superior position toward the governments, individuals, and international bodies. This kind of relation has its roots in the totalitarian and absolutist viewpoints of Mojahedin and their methodology based on an authoritarian ideology that considers the outsiders as inferior. The organization regards itself the criteria of absolute truth in the world; a viewpoint that is evident in the position takings of Mojahedin in recent years. How a cultic-terrorist organization has managed to impose itself on the relations of governments and global society is an issue to be investigated in depth. In this regard, the mechanisms and levers of this strategy based on terrorist practices and threats have been repeatedly elaborated on.

The recent transitions in Iraq confirm that Mojahedin grab at all means and pay all costs to uphold their illegal settlement in Iraq to the point that they have even endangered the integrity and independence of Iraq asking for the extension of the presence of the US forces in Iraq. In other words, the independence and freedom of Iraqi citizens and government come to lie in the hands of a cultic and terrorist group.

As it was pointed out, Mojahedin assume the main role in all the challenges and issues of the region and even world to the point that this viewpoint has turned to a strategy of dealing with any government. It is much easy to prove that Mojahedin misuse international conventions as a subterfuge and seize the precious "protected persons status" for postponing their expulsion from Iraq. They will pursue their objectives through this trick as long as there is the least possibility of misusing international levers and also as experience shows, in case of failing they would change their strategy in a blink of an eye and discard no threat and cultic-terrorist practice for furthering their objectives.
An obvious example is their current status in which despite their illegal presence in Iraq, they have resorted to the trick of the "protected persons status" to evade the challenges. Bijan Niyabati, of the main ideologues of MKO, openly declares that in the present conditions, the "protected persons status" has replaced Mojahedin armed struggle and is a solution for ending the current crisis until the time when Mojahedin take back their arms:

The worthy alternative of status or the protected persons status, both in the previous and present critical conditions have guarantee, even far beyond any other practical means, the survival of the mentioned army forces.

France has borne the consequences of the unexpected terrorist activities of Mojahedin in various occasions like the negative reaction of the organization after the banishment of a number of MKO members to Gabon, Masoud Rajavi’s expulsion from France, and Maryam Rajavi’s arrest in the form of cultic self-immolations that ended in the submission of judiciary system of France. Despite the fact that at the time being a minor part of MKO members reside in Auvers-sur-Oise, France has paid considerable costs for its negligence and multi-purpose policy toward the organization let alone the time when the remnant members of MKO enter France. There is no doubt that Mojahedin would be expelled from Iraq in near future and pursue their current policy wherever they settle.

France has to act logically in case of the transfer of Ashraf residents to its soil and foil the efforts of Mojahedin in preventing their host to make any decision for their location even if it makes them ally with the opposition groups and parties of the refugee givers or commit terrorist activities therein as they did in Iraq. As long as Mojahedin make use of the lever of cultic practices like self-immolation, referred to by Rajavi as a human disaster, governments are forced to surrender and grant a portion of the absolute rights of their citizens to Mojahedin as a cost for their humanitarian and altruistic viewpoints. The opportunistically ever-changing strategy and ideological doctrine of Mojahedin helps them to end their challenges. As Rajavi has repeatedly stated in the internal relations, all governments, and superpowers in particular, surrender to the activities of the so-called daredevil individuals (MKO members) due to their conservative inclinations and it suffices for MKO’s success and paves the way for the achievement of all its objectives.

May 26, 2009 0 comments

European Union

MKO ex-members’ letter to the President of EP

President of the European Parliament, Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, Brussels Letter of a number of former members of the MKO in Iraq to the President of the EP concerning the deeds of the proxies of the Rajavi terrorist cult in parliament

President of the European Parliament, Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, Brussels

On Thursday April 23, 2009, a motion for resolution was tabled in the European Parliament by a number of advocates of the Rajavi terrorist cult including Mr Alejo Vidal-Quadras who has recently been an exceptional guest of the MKO destructive cult in Ashraf garrison in Iraq. In that motion the situation that has been described is quite contrary to the actual facts as well as baselessly accusing the Iraqi government.

The text of the speech delivered in the Chamber of the EP by Mr Alejo Vidal-Quadras to defend such a motion and ruling out the other proposed amendments which in reality defended the inhabitants trapped in the Ashraf cult garrison is brought below as a reminder:
Friday, 24 April 2009 – Strasbourg

Alejo Vidal-Quadras, – Mr President, this morning we will be voting on a joint motion for a resolution co-signed by four political groups on the situation of the Ashraf refugee camp in Iraq. Three thousand five hundred Iranian men and women, members of the democratic opposition to the fundamentalist regime in Iran, live there completely defenceless. In the last few weeks they have been under pressure and harassment by the faction of the Iraqi Government under the influence of the Iranian regime, and there is a high probability that at any moment a tragedy could happen that would parallel the ones we witnessed in the Balkans not so long ago.

We all remember Srebrenica, and I have no doubt that no Member in this Chamber wants a second Srebrenica in Iraq. Our motion for a resolution is a call to alert public opinion all over the world before a disaster takes place. Unfortunately, some colleagues have tabled amendments that could increase the danger for the residents in Camp Ashraf and provide the Iranian regime and its proxies in Iraq with arguments to massacre them.

I recently visited the camp myself and I assure you that the allegations included in the amendments tabled are absolutely unfounded. People in Ashraf are there on a volunteer basis. They are free to leave whenever they want and they live in the best friendly relations with the Iraqi population of the region. The intention of our motion is to protect these people. Nobody would understand – but if these amendments are adopted the result of the motion would be exactly the opposite.
This is not a political issue, colleagues: it is purely humanitarian and it is very urgent. I beg you to vote against all amendments tabled to this joint motion supported by these four groups and support the motion as it has been agreed by these four groups that are of very different political stances. The lives of many innocent and harmless people depend on your vote. Please do not let them down.

As you are well aware, the proposed amendments which Mr Vidal-Quadras so strongly opposes are based on the testimonies given by many rescued former members of the Rajavi terrorist cult. They describe the situation of human rights inside Ashraf garrison as disastrous and remind us that visits by international human rights organizations to this cult garrison, which lacks the minimum individual rights, were sought. According to Mr Vidal-Quadras this just demand would provide the Iraqi government with the excuse to massacre all of them!

It is worth mentioning that the speech delivered by Mr Vidal-Quadras as well as the contents of his motion for amendment to the resolution is exactly coordinated with the bizarre stances of the leaders of the MKO. For instance nobody in the whole world claims that a faction of the Iraqi government is a proxy of the Iranian regime which is determined to massacre the inhabitants of Ashraf.

The aim of the leaders of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), which Mr Vidal-Quadras is pursuing in the European Parliament very determinedly, is to keep the people in Ashraf cult garrison isolated from the outside world since only in this case could they be trained to execute sabotage activities inside Iraq.

We wish to ask Mr. Vidal-Quadras through you, why he and the MKO leaders are so severely against the visits of international human rights organizations and direct interviews with the people over there without the presence of the MKO officials and also their free contact and visit with their families, and why he just repeats the MKO leaders’ excuses.

We of course do agree with him that a disaster is about to happen and also the fact that the issue of the Ashraf cult garrison is not a political matter but a human rights one. But those who have lost many years of their lives being captive in that garrison would also like to alert international public opinion to the threats against the innocents in that garrison from the MKO leaders. We do fear that the end of the Rajavi terrorist cult will be like many other cults such as that of Jim Jones in Guyana.

Individuals such as Mr. Vidal-Quadras are certainly responsible for the continuation of the mental and physical captivity of the inhabitants of the Ashraf cult garrison and all the consequences resulted against these people from the cult leaders.

With regards

A number of rescued former members of the Rajavi terrorist cult in Iraq
Baghdad, May 25, 2009

May 26, 2009 0 comments

France

French judges tough with terrorist MKO

Reported by Ayandenews , a new round of French courts’ investigating MKO leading cadres, including Maryam Rajavi and Mehdi Abrishamchi, for the terrorist charges has dropped the rankings just in the middle of a mare’s nest. The ranking leaders under the investigations are facing charges of terrorist plots in Iraq, Iran and Turkey as well as illegal activities of laundering and the like.

The leaders had already circulated among the cadres that they had arrived at a compromise with the European countries on many issues and that they could possibly face no problem therein.

The move by the French judges has made it really hard for the leaders to justify what is going on. It may intensify the challenges the organization is already facing as well as causing the members to lose their trust in what the leaders implant in them.

Despite having good lobbies in European parliaments, Maryam Rajavi’s base in Auvers-sur-Oise was unexpectedly raided on June 2003 and she was arrested along with a number of ranking members. It was only after the widespread self-immolation of members that Maryam Rajavi was set free. The organization is not acquitted of the terrorist charges and the French counter-terrorist forces closely monitor any move that may threaten the security of the country.

May 26, 2009 0 comments

Spain

The Iranian Pen Club letter to the main political Parties of Spain

Mr. Mariano Rajoy, Leadre of People’s Party (Spain)
Mr. Jose Luis Rodrigues Zapatero,Leader of Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party
Mr.José Montilla Aguilera, General Secretary of Socialists’ Party of Catalonia
Mr. Cayo Lara, Leader of United Left (Spain)
Mr. Artur Mas i Gavarró, Leader of Convergence and Union

Respectfully, we would like to acknowledge that the Iranian Pen Club is consisted of those ex-members of the MKO who managed to free themselves from the mental and even physical barriers of the Organisation. The main object of the Association is of course to try to help the previous comrades in such way that they be able to free themselves too and start a decent normal life again along with their families and beloved ones.

As you are aware, when Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was removed, some terrorist Cults with regional and international activities lost their only godfather and benefactor. One of them is the Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation.

Also the Mojahedin have alienated their own members and supporters who dare to speak about these realities. The organization imprisoned them so the others would understand the price of criticism. There are many who have had to undergo imprisonment and torture ordered directly by

Mr and Mrs Rajavi. Above and beyond that, was the exposure of the plans of the so called National Council of Resistance to eliminate disaffected members and critics.
Of course is it years now that the people of Iran have knowingly and deliberately turned their back on the Mujahidin Organization, which shows their political understanding, like the people and all political groups of the Spain that consider “ ETA “ as a terrorist organisation.

But we would like to inform that Mr. Vidal Quadrass, Member of The People’s Party ( Spain ) and Member of the European Parliament from Spain is supporting and backing up the Mojahedin Khalgh Terrorist Cult European parliament. Unfortunately, he is Rajavi’s cult representative in European Parliament now. Is it certainly a justly able position for a Spanish member of parliament to support a terrorist cult? What is difference between Terrorist Organization “ETA “and Mojahedin Khalgh Terrorist Cult?

we would like to ask from Mr. Vidal Quadrass many questions.

Has Mr. Vidal Quadrass ever asked Mojahedin Khalgh Terrorist Cult to explain about the forced separation of families and spouses?

Has Mr. Vidal Quadrass ever asked the leaders of Mojahedin Cult about the strategy of ‘war and Terror in the cities’ and the murder of thousands of people in Iran?

Has Mr. Vidal Quadrass ever asked for an explanation about the role of Masoud Rajavi and maryam Rajavi as the ideological leaders who have never made a mistake and never will? Why members of Cult have to attend brainwashing sessions in Ashraf garrison in Iraq and Auvers-Sur-Oise garrison in France that called "current operations" and be damned for their deeds and thoughts and even their night dreams. Why in these brainwashing sessions which are the most immoral methods of psychological pressures over people, the natural mental and emotional defense of one is shattered in such a way that one submits oneself to any unsound demand.

Also, I would like to remained you that cults do need an isolated remote place with tall walls in order to impose their brainwashing techniques over their followers and the Ashraf garrison in Iraq and Auvers-Sur-Oise garrison in France have provided such facilities for many years for the MKO.

In conclusion, we request from yourself and your colleagues as leaders of the political parties of Spain, in particular Mr. Mariano Rajoy leader of the Spanish People’s Party, that considering the local and internernational threat posed by the terrorist cult Mojahedin-e Khalq as described above, that you bring the complaints of the Pen Association and likeminded people to the attention of Mr Vidal Quadras over his cooperation and support for the terrorist cult Mojahedin-e Khalq.

With many thanks and regards
The Iranian Pen Club
22.05.2009
Postfach 90 06 63
51116 Köln
Germany
00491756391365
info@iran-ghalam.de
kanoon-ghalam@hotmail.de

Cc:
– Embassies of Spain in Germany and France
– Relevant MEPs
– Office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki
– US State Department

May 25, 2009 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

MEK helped suppressing 1991 uprising – defector

“MEK played a prominent role in repressing the intifada in the southern Iraqi cities in 1991 as it sent forces from the organization to the cities of al-Amara and Diala, as the former regime did not Batoul Soltani in a press conference held in Baghdad rely on its soldiers more than relying on the MEK fighters in this particular respect,” Batoul Soltani said in a press conference she held in Baghdad on Saturday.

On whether she was read to stand before the Iraqi judiciary regarding her involvement in repressing the intifada, Soltani replied, “I am ready to stand before the Iraqi courts to give my testimony on this case.”

“MEK used to back militias inside Iraq by training them and have them infiltrate the present Iraqi institutions,” Soltani, a former member of the MEK leadership council, said, declining to name those “militias.”

The 1991 uprisings were a series of rebellions in southern and northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Gulf War.

The revolts in the Shia-dominated cities of Basra and al-Nasiriya broke out in March 1991, sparked by demoralized Iraqi army troops returning from Iraq’s defeat in the Gulf War.
Another uprising in the Kurdish areas of northern Iraq broke out shortly thereafter. Unlike the spontaneous rebellion in the south, the uprising in the north was organized by two rival Kurdish parties: Massoud Barazani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Jalal Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Although they represented a serious threat to his regime, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was able to suppress the rebellions with massive force and maintain power, as the expected United States intervention never materialized.

The uprisings were eventually crushed by the Iraqi Republican Guard, which was followed by mass reprisals and intensified forced relocations. In a few weeks, tens of thousands of civilians were allegedly killed.

The prime defendant in this case is Ali Hassan al-Majid, alias Chemical Ali, who was condemned to death on charges of crimes against humanity in the al-Anfal case, in his capacity as former commander of the Southern Zone, based in Basra, and member of the dissolved Revolutionary Command Council.

Other defendants include Sultan Hashim, the former Iraqi defense minister; Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, former assistant chief of staff; Saber Abdul-Aziz al-Dori, the former chief of military intelligence; Sabaawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, former President Saddam Hussein’s half brother; Abad Hamid Mahmud, Saddam’s personal secretary; Abdul Ghani Abdul Ghafour, a former Baath Party official; Saadi Taama Abbas, the former minister of defense; Iyad Fatieh al-Rawi, former chief of staff and a Republican Guard commander; Latif Mahal Hamoud, former Basra governor; Sufyan Maher al-Tikriti, also a former Republican Guard commander; Iyad Taha Shehab, a former intelligence chief and Walied Hamid Tawfiq al-Naseri.

Soltani said she has heard from MEK chief Massoud Rajavi after the fall of the former regime in 2003 that the handover of their weapons to the U.S. side was a “tactical plan,” adding “MEK boasts a very strong intelligence system”.

The defector said she has spent more than 20 years of her life inside Camp Ashraf before she managed to escape a couple of years ago. Soltani has come to Iraq in 1986 with her husband using a fake passport and remained inside the camp until she was able to run away after the 2003 fall of the Saddam Hussein regime.

PMOI is a militant Islamic Socialist organization that advocates the overthrow of Iran’s current government.Founded in 1965, the PMOI was originally devoted to armed struggle against the Shah of Iran, capitalism, and Western imperialism.The group officially renounced violence in 2001 and today it is the main organization in the National Council of

Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an “umbrella coalition” parliament-in-exile that claims to be dedicated to a democratic, secular and coalition government in Iran.The group has had thousands of its members for many years in bases in Iraq, but “they were disarmed in the wake” of the 2003 US-led invasion and “are said to have adhered to a ceasefire.”The PMOI’s armed wing is, or was, called the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA).

The Iranian government officially refers to the organization as the Monafeqin (literally, “Hypocrites“), maintaining that PMOI is not truly Islamic.The United States, European Union (EU), Canada, Iraq and Iran have designated the PMOI a terrorist organization.Although the European Court of Justice has overturned the EU designation in December 2006, the Council of the EU declared on January 30, 2007 that it would maintain the organization on the blacklist.

Camp Ashraf, which lies in the province of Diala, 57 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, exists since the 1980s. The PMOI members in Iraq were collaborating with the former regime of Saddam during its war with Iran from 1980 to 1988.

Soltani called on the Iraqi government to “target all the leaders of the MEK,” expressing readiness to help the Iraqi government on this.

“There are about 3,000 MEK fighters whose hands are tied under the strong control of Massoud Rajavi and Maryam Rajavi. They do not have any media channels to exprss themselves and for more than 20 years they have been hearing nothing except the voices of those leaders,” noted Soltani.

May 25, 2009 0 comments

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