Iran Interlink Website

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest – 128

++ The families have been busy writing to various organisations to get help, in particular the UNHCR. They complain that in both Iraq and Albania, the local UNHCR officials are under the control of Massoud Rajavi and playing into his hands, whether by denying visits in Iraq or by refusing to accept the people in Albania as individuals. The UNHCR office in Tirana sends them back to the MEK telling them “they are your lawyers”. This has made it extremely difficult for people to get out of Iraq or to leave the MEK once in Albania.

On this issue of the families, irandidban website has a short comment titled ‘Iran is obliged to help the families of the people stranded in Camp Liberty’. The article says that families who visit Iraq from Iran must naturally be given consular support by their country. In the same way, families who visit or campaign from other countries must be supported by those other countries – which includes the families in London like the Mohammad Rahimi father and son. The concept that the MEK is labelling every family that wants to visit their loved one as an agent of the Iranian regime is the most ridiculous thing and is irrelevant to the task of the families. Their task is concerned with basic human rights which are not related to or affected by anyone’s allegiances or job in any way. The UNHCR should follow the law and not be intimidated by the MEK’s phobias and threats which are all just words.

++ This week people have continued writing about the pitiful situation of Ebrahim Mohammad Rahimi and his son who want to talk to the wife and mother, but are denied by Maryam Rajavi and the MEK.

++ The reaction to Rajavi’s silence over the execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia was to compare this with the MEK’s very overblown and public weeping and commiserations following the death of Zahran Alloush, the leader of Jaish al-Islam. Many writers talk about the mercenary relation between Massoud Rajavi and the Saudis going back to the time of Saddam Hussein, with some articles accompanied by documents and pictures of Rajavi travelling to Riyadh to collect his money. They remind us that the Saudi owned al Arabiyah TV replaced Baghdad TV to broadcast the MEK’s propaganda and interviews with Maryam Rajavi, etc. Some articles position the MEK as sitting somewhere between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Among them Dr Mohammad Sahimi, a prominent lecturer from the US, wrote an article expanding on the significance of Sheikh al-Nimr within the history between Iran and Saudi Arabia. In this analysis he includes a section discussing the Iranian opposition outside Iran. In this he says the most shameful are those who call themselves Iranian but who, at this time, take the side of the Saudis. Those who work for al Arabiyah or other media outlets may have an excuse because it is their job. But those who take backhanders and don’t openly claim any relation are truly despicable.

++ Farsi comments have gone to town over the Christmas activities of Maryam Rajavi. She has gone to a church in Paris and instead of joining the ceremony has positioned herself at the head of all the priests, attendants and congregation and pretended to pray. This has been ridiculed as the dirtiest kind of self-promotion. An article by Zahra Moini from the Iran Women’s Association reminds us of Edvard Termador, an Armenian Christian, who while inside the MEK was forced to denounce his faith and announce he has become a Muslim. At the same time, the MEK would parade him around the Christian churches in Baghdad to pretend they have Christians among them as well. Moini reminds us of Termador’s testimony as well as others that the only other Christian in the MEK, a man called Phillip, was killed when he protested and refused to give up his religion and tried to run away. Zahra has attached documents showing how Edvard Termador managed to contact the Pope who then arranged safe transit for him out of Ramardi camp – where he was hiding from the MEK – to Europe.

In English:

++ Emma Ashford in The American Conservative writes that ‘Exiles bend Washington’s ear—and drag us into conflict’ using Ahmed Chalabi as an example of exiles who want to influence American foreign policy for their own agenda. “Policymakers in Washington are not blameless in this. A recent invitation by Congress to the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), an Iranian opposition group, to testify before the House Subcommittee on Terrorism on issues relating to Iran and ISIS highlights how little scrutiny such groups sometimes face. Though certainly a vocal opponent of the regime in Tehran, MEK was only removed by the State Department from the list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2012, after heavily lobbying Congress. The group is communist and is often described as a cult. It is so extreme and so unrepresentative of the Iranian opposition in general that other regional experts testifying before Congress refused to appear on the same panel.”

++ Mazda Parsi writing in Nejat Bloggers explains that cult members like those in the MEK are deliberately made terrified of leaving their group. Parsi says the way to rescue such people is to first remove them from under the hegemony of the cult leaders. In Iraq, the UNHCR must cooperate with the families of Camp Liberty residents to open the gates and allow them to leave and get help.

++ Nejat Society reports on what is happening inside the MEK‘s closed camp in Albania. Since the relocation of hundreds of people from Iraq, defections have increased dramatically. One defector, using the pseudonym Mehdi Tofiqi, describes panic among the leaders and a subsequent tightening of control over everyone. He says that contrary to conditions in Camp Ashraf where all the members were in one place, Rajavi now tries to isolate people in small groups in dormitories where the windows are covered in newspaper to prevent people looking in, or out. Female commanders have been sent from Paris to reinvigorate the brainwashing sessions. In addition, spies are distributed throughout the population to report on any signs of dissent.

++ The letter of one mother to the High Commissioner of the UNHCR makes a very simple and logical point: “I am Mahnaz Akafian, the mother of Mohammad Ali Sasani, who was a prisoner of war in Iraq but he is now prisoner in MKO in Iraq. I have not had any news from my son for 28 years. Some time ago I went to Ashraf Camp and more recently I went to Liberty Camp in Iraq to find him. Unfortunately, I did not get any result. I do not know if humans have different rights. I ask you a question as a human rights representative. If a person is in prison and is condemned to death, do they have the rights to have contact with and see their family members? We ask from the MKO that we see our children. Even if we are guilty of all the sins they accuse us of, why shouldn’t we be allowed us to see our children? So many fathers and mothers were not allowed to see their children and they died. With this weak body of mine I ask, let us meet our son! Kind regards, Mahnaz Akafian, a mother, 7 January 2016.”

January 9, 2016 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization members' families

My mother divorced her husband during the MEK Ideological revolution

The long-time MEK supporter Ebrahim Mohammad Rahimi is dying of brain cancer in a London hospital. His son Sepher Mohammad Rahimi also in London wants to contact his mother, who is in Iraq. The MEK’s response is swearing and defamation – saying Ebrahim has covertly worked for the Iranian regime for many years.

This week, Sepher wrote to the UNHCR and the ICRC refuting the MEK’s statements.

He added, “during the ideological revolution inside the MEK, my mother divorced her husband. That has nothing to do with me. Why is she refusing to speak with me, her child? Neither I nor my father have ever said a single word against the MEK. Please arrange contact with her before he dies.”

Ebrahim Mohammad Rahimi spent many years with the MEK. He eventually managed to escape the camp in Iraq by taking refuge in the American run TIPF for four years before getting back to London. During the internal revolution of the MEK, Rahimi sent his son, Sepher, live with his grandparents in Iran. Sepher has now returned to London where his father is terminally ill in hospital. Sepher’s mother is still with the MEK and Rahimi and his son have tried to make contact with her before he dies. They have now begun asking MEK lobbyists for help since the MEK leaders only reacted by calling them “agents of the Iranian regime”.

January 3, 2016 0 comments

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest – 127

++ In the UK, long-time MEK supporter Ebrahim Mohammad Rahimi is dying of brain cancer in a London hospital. His son Sepher Mohammad Rahimi also in London wants to contact his mother, who is in Iraq. The MEK’s response is swearing and defamation – saying Ebrahim has covertly worked for the Iranian regime for many years. This week, Sepher wrote to the UNHCR and the ICRC refuting the MEK’s statements. He added, “during the ideological revolution inside the MEK, my mother divorced her husband. That has nothing to do with me. Why is she refusing to speak with me, her child? Neither I nor my father have ever said a single word against the MEK. Please arrange contact with her before he dies.”

++ There have been several articles about the MEK reviewing the past year and speculating what the future will bring for the group. The situation of Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty are dominant in this writing, as is the loss of the atomic issue as a platform. With all these setbacks, many predict the end of Rajavi and his cult as a viable organisation. There are signs coming from Albania – where people arrive and then quickly disperse and disappear – that the MEK will soon stop trying to keep face as it shrinks to a small group.

++ As the families of Camp Liberty residents become more successful in getting the UNHCR and the Iraqi authorities to act to help free their loved ones, the MEK has embarked on a counter campaign. The message is that ‘Iraq will not grant visas to genuine families and this proves that the families visiting Iraq and Camp Liberty are all “agents of the Iranian regime”.

In order to provide evidence of this, the MEK has contacted some families who live outside Iran, mostly in Europe, and told them to fill in visa applications for the Iraqi embassy, but instead of submitting the documentation, to hand it over to the MEK which will pursue it on their behalf. The MEK then submits an incomplete or wrong application in order to manufacture a default rejection. They then publicise this as a rejection on the MEK websites. Some families have exposed this scam on Facebook and other social media. One says “I want my son out of Iraq but you [MEK] are asking me to go there!”

The MEK have also asked a few families in Iran who still have some sympathy for the group, to do the same thing. Telephone numbers used to call Iran are: 0044 2070 978 509; 0059 162 604436; 0088 622 740879. Families in Iran have said the MEK call using these numbers, but pretend to be families in Iran themselves saying “they don’t give us visas from here” and asking if there are plans to go to Iraq. The MEK is trying to get information from them about any proposed visits to Iraq. While doing that, the MEK announced that 400 families signed a petition against Iraq not giving visas. There were no names as usual.

In response, Atefeh Eghbal – who is not against the MEK but is running a campaign from France for them to be moved to third countries – says this petition is obviously made up. “I have been with you and know you don’t have contact with that many families. I do have contact with many, and most don’t like the MEK. It is clear to everyone, the UN, ICRC and Iraq all say it is you who are stopping the Camp Liberty residents from leaving. The issue is not about families.” The MEK has viciously attacked Eghbal using extreme language. One attack accused her, among other things, of being a narcissist. Sahar Family Association in Baghdad has given dictionary definitions of these terms and said this exactly describes Massoud Rajavi.

++ The annual NCRI meeting in Paris has been criticised. Commentators say “shame on you for getting money from Rajavi while MEK members are dying”. The NCRI announced its support for terrorism and sent condolences for the deaths of terrorist leaders calling them martyrs. Commentators condemn the French government for permitting support for terrorism from their country.

In English:

++ Mazda Parsi in Nejat Bloggers explores the ‘True Threat of Terrorism: Human Beings who turned into “acolytes” of Rajavi’. The article begins: “Over the past decades, much of the attention of the world has been focused on the radical extremist groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS. But the true threat actually comes from the cult-like structure of these groups. Cult-like controlling system and the indoctrination methodology of these groups finally results in the most horrible acts of violence. The Mujahedin Khalq Organization (the MKO/MEK) is characterized as one of these destructive cults that threaten the world’s security.”

++ Daniel Larson writing in The American Conservative warns ‘Beware of Exiles and Their Promises’. The article highlights the MEK as an example: “…Most Iranians in Iran and around the world detest the MEK for good reason, but to listen to their many fans in and out of government one would think that they are a democratic government-in-waiting and that cult leader Maryam Rajavi is Liberty incarnate. That allows many Iran hawks to align themselves openly with a group that is rejected by Iranians everywhere while presenting themselves as champions of the “Iranian people” against their government. The views and preferences of the people in the other country are of no concern for the hawks except insofar as they can be misrepresented to support their preferred policy. The exiles pretend to speak for their country, and their patrons here pretend to believe them. Maybe a few are genuinely gullible enough to believe that a totalitarian cult is Iran’s real “secular, democratic opposition,” but most can’t be that clueless and are cynically indulging a horrible organization for their own reasons…”

January 1, 2016

January 3, 2016 0 comments

Human Rights Abuse in the MEK

For the MEK some families are good but others are “agents”

MEK Internal Critics such as Iraj Mesdaghi, Hamneshinbahar, Esmail Yaghmai and others, have jumped on the issue and published articles decrying the human rights abuses of the MEK. However, this is not an isolated incident. This week Atefeh Eghbal wrote pointing out that for the MEK some families are good but others are “agents”.

This week many articles have exposed the hypocrisy of the internal critics for misusing the human rights issue themselves. They are afraid of being labelled by the MEK, so instead of defending the right of all families to find their loved ones, they separate the families into ‘mine and yours’. They advocate for the human rights of Rahimi and Sepher, but not for other families. This is the same thing the MEK does; if you are with us you are a ‘family’, if not you are an ‘agent’. Many articles write that in all the years that Mohammad Rahimi was in London, he loved to exaggerate to everyone about the time he suffered in prison in Iran. Yet he has never managed to offer any support for other families who tried to contact their loved ones. Now the situation has affected him, it is a reminder to everyone that even if you keep quiet for fear of MEK labelling, they will still come after you and cause you grief.

Source: Iran Interlink Weeky Digest

December 28, 2015 0 comments

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest – 126

++ Ebrahim Mohammad Rahimi spent many years with the MEK. He eventually managed to escape the camp in Iraq by taking refuge in the American run TIPF for four years before getting back to London. During the internal revolution of the MEK, Rahimi sent his son, Sepher, live with his grandparents in Iran. Sepher has now returned to London where his father is terminally ill in hospital. Sepher’s mother is still with the MEK and Rahimi and his son have tried to make contact with her before he dies. They have now begun asking MEK lobbyists for help since the MEK leaders only reacted by calling them “agents of the Iranian regime”. MEK Internal Critics such asIraj Mesdaghi, Hamneshinbahar, Esmail Yaghmai and others, have jumped on the issue and published articles decrying the human rights abuses of the MEK. However, this is not an isolated incident. This week Atefeh Eghbal wrote pointing out that for the MEK some families are good but others are “agents”. This week many articles have exposed the hypocrisy of the internal critics for misusing the human rights issue themselves. They are afraid of being labelled by the MEK, so instead of defending the right of all families to find their loved ones, they separate the families into ‘mine and yours’. They advocate for the human rights of Rahimi and Sepher, but not for other families. This is the same thing the MEK does; if you are with us you are a ‘family’, if not you are an ‘agent’. Many articles write that in all the years that Mohammad Rahimi was in London, he loved to exaggerate to everyone about the time he suffered in prison in Iran. Yet he has never managed to offer any support for other families who tried to contact their loved ones. Now the situation has affected him, it is a reminder to everyone that even if you keep quiet for fear of MEK labelling, they will still come after you and cause you grief.

++ This week another person has left the MEK in Albania. Mehdi Baghban Khatib, who was among ten others who have left, was open about his dissent. He says others don’t talk because they are under pressure from the MEK and the ground staff of the UNHCR in Tirana are listening to the MEK more than their own bosses. In that respect, Iran Pen Association has written an open letter to the UNHCR to explain that UN help is not reaching individuals but is being paid to Rajavi, and urging them to investigate and pay support direct to individuals so they have a choice.

In English:

++ On December 18, 2015 members of the Women Association visited an Albanian official in the country’s Embassy in Berlin. They described their bitter experiences of their long-time imprisonment in the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO). They also recounted how they were released from the group. They warned that unless the Albanian authorities take control and supervise the group’s activities in that country, the MEK will continue to violate the basic human rights of the members.

++ Former British diplomat Peter Jenkins writing in Lobelog criticises the IAEA’s Intelligence Acquisition Practices and suggests how this could be improved. The article identifies the fake information fed to the IAEA by the MEK as part of the politicisation of the Iran file.

++ Zahra Moeini who lives in Germany and is a member of Iran Zanan Association, writes an Open letter to Mr. Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister. Her letter points out that “despite of huge amount of money which this terrorist cult spends for its shows and its existance in France , the leader of this terrorist cult, Maryam Rajavi, does not do anything to rescue the residents of Camp liberty from the hell hole of Iraq.” Moeini goes on to urge Cazeneuve to do more to curtail the MEK’s activities in France.

December 25, 2015

December 27, 2015 0 comments

Iran Interlink

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest – 125

++ Habilian published a thoroughly researched online book. This charts the suicide operations conducted by the Mojahedin Khalq after the revolution. The evidence mostly comes from claims in the MEK’s own newspaper and websites. The book covers the various kinds of suicide operation from bombing to self-immolations. In addition to MEK produced documents the book refers to evidence from the US authorities, including the 2012 Department of State report which rejected efforts to have the MEK removed from the US terrorism list. Other documents like the 2009 RAND report explain the nature of the group. It is worth remembering that the MEK started its violent trajectory by assassinating six American personnel at the time of Shah. And the MEK’s first so-called martyr was Reza Rezai, the commander of these operations, who blew himself up with a grenade to evade capture.

++ Fereshteh Hedayati this week announced her separation from the MEK. In her Facebook page she writes with the title ‘Don’t be silent’. Her defection has been welcomed by other former members, many of whom knew her from the Iraqi camps. Hedayati was from the MEK’s Central Council, its current top level. Some commentators have explained that when Batoul Soltani and other members of the all-female Leadership Council left, Rajavi tried to dilute this by adding more members. When that didn’t work, he disbanded it and created the Central Council, little knowing that within months another of these top ranking women would escape. Several bloggers write about the effect this will have on the lower ranks. Rajavi claimed he is pro-women, so people will question why they left. MEK rank and file are forced to accept these women as saints, but saints don’t run away. These defections are bound to increase since the MEK are leaving Iraq and defections are reaching up to ten per week now.

++ Following the closure of Iran’s case at the Atomic Agency, some wrote about the negotiations that no party has lost from this whole process except Rajavi, who was banking on war and destruction. Suddenly, Rajavi has gone quiet on the nuclear issue – which used to be his bread and butter – and is now hysterically attacking Russia and Syria while madly supporting Saudi actions in Yemen and Turkey’s actions in Kurdistan. In a desperate effort to close ranks with Turkey, Rajavi’s propaganda said “the enemy’s plane was downed by Turkey” – he doesn’t name Russia but describes it as the enemy. Considering the active negotiations to end the war in Syria, Rajavi doesn’t really have much hope in this arena either.

++ Ghorban Ali Hossein Nejad wrote an open letter to several Arabic and Islamic scholars informing them that Rajavi is misusing their names. Using screen shots from MEK sites he says “they come to you and ask for support on a humanitarian issue, but on their site they show that you support terrorism”.

++ Farsi writers have picked up on the acceleration in UNHCR relocations of Camp Liberty residents to third countries and predict that more will be defecting as a result. Twenty-six more were moved on December 15 and their names published to help their families identify them.

In English:

++ Aawa Association published Reza Akbarinasab’s letter from Tabriz to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Akbarinasab asks for help to contact his long estranged brother in Camp Liberty. His nephew died under suspicious circumstances in the camp some years ago. The MEK refused to allow an autopsy of his body.

++ Iran Interlink wrote to The Daily Telegraph online to inform them about one of their bloggers. No other than the notorious Ali Safavi who is wanted in Iraq for crimes committed as a member of Saddam’s Private Army.

++ An article in Reuters by Isabel Coles and Ned Parker and titled ‘How Saddam’s Men Help ISIL Rule’ is an example of why Massoud Rajavi keeps the MEK in Iraq – to join with ISIL when they take over the country!

++ UNHCR gave an update on the accelerated transfer of Camp Liberty residents to the safety of third countries. Nejat published a list of names of recent transferees to Albania to help their families identify them and get in touch.

++ Another top ranking woman member, Fereshteh Hedayati, successfully escaped the MEK and announced her separation in an article she published on her Facebook page.

++ Translated by Nejat Association, Italian l’interferenza site published a long, interesting article by Stefano Zecchinelli exposing the MEK and its faux political activities. The MEK has a history of human rights abuses and violence, “Yet, despite this, the leaders of the Mujahedin continue to give instructions in the EU institutions on democratic rights, especially civil and political.” The article also asks “How does the MKO make a living?” and says “The MEK is an ‘organization of a dubious purpose with strong connections with the most militaristic right-wing American imperialist sectors. The Washington’s high-profiles enjoy the MEK’s donations whose men are allowed to move freely, organizing activities and events planned to delegitimize what they call ‘the anti-democratic governments in Iran’. The figures in these donations are large, the New York Times has a precious revelation: ‘Many of the American supporters, though not all, accepted fees of $ 15,000 to $ 30,000 to give speeches to the group, as well as travel expenses to attend MEK rallies in Paris. Edward G. Rendell, the former Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, said in March he that had been paid a total of $ 150,000 to $ 160,000’”.

++ Gareth Porter’s article ‘The IAEA’s “Final Assessment”’, published in Counter Punch contains the “unsavoury truth” about the provenance of dodgy intelligence documents: “in 2013, former senior German foreign office official Karsten Voigt revealed to me in an interview that German intelligence had obtained the documents in 2004 from a sometime source whom they knew to be a member of the Mujahideen E-Khalq (MEK). A cult-like Iranian exile terrorist group, MEK had once carried out terror operations for the Saddam Hussein regime but later developed a patron-client relationship with Israeli intelligence.”

December 18, 2015

December 19, 2015 0 comments

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest

Iran Interlink Weekly Digest – 124

++ The Day of University Students on 16th Azar in Iran has its roots in anti-Imperialist, anti-American student protests at the time of President Nixon and the Shah when three students were killed, sparking further widespread unrest. This year, as every year, Rajavi tried to jump on the bandwagon even though the MEK is no longer following its original anti-Imperialist path. This was the worst year ever for Rajavi because although the MEK had more slogans than ever not a single mention was made about them in Iran on that day. Genuine opposition forces commented that the non-violent nature of this year’s student activity was highly significant. Students chose to engage in peaceful, civil protest such as meetings rather than street demonstrations. These oppositionists blamed the MEK for this curtailment. They say the students would like to be more active, but want to avoid any risk of being associated with the MEK. This deliberate disassociation with MEK violence is seen outside Iran too. Over and over we see that where there is a demonstration or a meeting, the moment an MEK logo or slogan appears everyone disperses and runs away.

++ Last week forty Camp Liberty residents arrived in Albania and another forty will be transferred soon. The number over the past two months is over 200. In Iraq, the MEK is trying to slow down this process – they can’t stop it – so they can absorb the new arrivals and keep them under control. This week ten people separated from the MEK in Tirana and renounced the group. The MEK spend a lot of money and has sent its top people there for damage limitation and control. Anyone who wants to leave is required to sign a document agreeing to receive $500 per month (the UNHCR pays $200 pm) and that the legal work for their refugee application and their accommodation needs will be done by MEK representatives. The also promise not to talk. The MEK then maintain these dissidents in MEK buildings separate from the other members. Last week, seven such people left and asked the UNHCR to register them separately as individuals with nothing to do with the MEK. The UNHCR local representative laid the MEK paperwork on the desk before them and refused, saying they had already chosen to allow the MEK to pursue their cases. Iran Interlink queried this at the UNHCR office in Geneva and were told that no such agreement had been made between the UNHCR and the Mojahedin Khalq. The only conclusion which can be drawn from this is that the local UNHCR staff are open to corruption by the MEK. According to independent sources in Tirana, the MEK had told the ex-members they must sign a new agreement that from January they will be paid only $350 pm, though the MEK will still do their legal paperwork. Some have refused and this is what prompted the seven to try to leave.

++ The MEK’s NCRI website has complained this week that the government of Iraq is not allowing the “24 martyrs plus one dead” from the attack on Camp Liberty in October to be buried. Massoud Khodabandeh commented on Facebook: After being informed about this, I investigated the problem. I can’t understand why the MEK have a website called the National Council of Resistance of Iran which has no Farsi language on it at all. Instead, it has seven other languages, including the newly added Albanian language. I called Baghdad and enquired from officials there. They said “there is a person who calls himself the legal representative of the MEK – which we don’t recognise anyway – but who doesn’t know anything about law and is not even capable of arguing on the level of an ordinary person. He insists we hand over these bodies so they can hold a cultish ceremony in Camp Liberty and bury these bodies there. We have answered him clearly that these bodies are to be handed over to their next of kin and not their so-called ideological leader – we don’t recognise that. We have also informed him that if no next of kin come forward, they will be will be buried the same as everyone else in a cemetery and you are welcome to participate or help in that ceremony. We also reminded him that Camp Liberty is a transit camp and not a cemetery. Especially considering that relatives are not allowed inside so they wouldn’t be able to pay their respects to their relatives’ graves. But apparently the MEK can’t listen to or comprehend logic.”

In English:

++ Nejat Society published an open letter to the UNHCR representative in Baghdad. Mahmonir Iranpour, the sister of Ahmadreza and Mohammadreza Iranpour, has asked for help in getting to visit her brothers in Camp Liberty. “I have repetitively asked for visiting both through Email or telephone contact. But, every time what I receive says that MKO members don’t allow any chance of visiting our brothers. Here is the question, generally wherever a group of people are under control of a commissioner, they should abide by the commissioner orders. Your responses in this regard are not acceptable. Unfortunately, it seems that instead of employing international regulations as regards defending refugees’ and their families’ rights, the commissioner acts against United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees committee decisions which is detrimental to those imprisoned in Camp Liberty. It is our right to meet our brothers and we expect you to defend this right, not to deprive us of it…”

++ Mazda Parsi writing for Nejat Bloggers describes the MEK’s fear of the members’ families as a sign of the cult nature of the group. Using several examples of estranged families unable to make contact with their loved ones inside the MEK’s camp, Parsi says, “One sure sign of someone being involved in a cult is that there is a clear separation from family and friends. This sign is clearly observed in the Cult of Rajavi.”

++ Iran Interlink reports on a “freak section in the House Report 114-270 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, gives us the ‘SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF IRANIAN DISSIDENTS LIVING IN CAMP LIBERTY, IRAQ’. According to the report it is highly significant that neither the Mojahedin Khalq nor the Rajavis are mentioned. Apparently, Senate has resisted lobbying efforts by the MEK’s advocates in the US, and has given the green light to cooperation between the UNHCR and the government of Iraq to bypass MEK leaders and to deal with residents of Camp solely as individuals. This will help expedite their removal from Iraq.

++ Anne Khodabandeh writes ‘Brainwashing? There should be a law against it’ in which she cites the MEK as just one of many examples of how brainwashing can be used to enslave and exploit victims. Giving a very specific definition of what brainwashing is, Khodabandeh says, “public apprehension over the war on terrorism in Syria and the perceived threat of blowback, is the perfect opportunity for the government to introduce and explain the phenomenon of brainwashing in this narrowly defined sense as an element of the Prevent Strategy. The introduction of a criminal offence which allows the detection, prosecution and punishment of this abhorrent behaviour will aid public understanding and allay fears.”

December 13, 2015 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Mojahedin Khalq Terrorist Commander poses as a human rights advocate to fool the Financial Times

Iranian exile Ali Safavi, who previously enjoyed infamy as a commander in Saddam’s private army – the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq (MEK) – and who is wanted in Iraq on charges of torture and murder, has now emerged as a ‘human rights’ blogger in the normally conservative Financial Times.

Safavi’s personal blog has been reinvented as propaganda for the MEK by publishing it as article for its National Council of Resistance of Iran website – which curiously has no Farsi language on it whatsoever. This is the site the MEK uses when it wants to disguise its violent beliefs for Western audiences, posing instead as a political, now human rights, organisation.

When the MEK’s main benefactor Saddam Hussein was removed from power in 2003, its leader Massoud Rajavi became a fugitive whose whereabouts are unknown. His wife, Maryam Rajavi claimed refugee status in Paris along with her former husband Mehdi Abrishamchi. Commander Safavi came along with them. They were quickly arrested on terrorism charges and are still under investigation. The rest of the organisation were left at the mercy of vengeful Iraqis who regard them as part of Saddam’s repressive apparatus – his own private army – responsible for the deaths of 25,000 Iraqi civilians.

While the FT is free to publish a variety of views on Iran, the editors should be aware of the hypocrisy of this particular writer. The MEK is reviled by Iranians both inside and outside the country. (The MEK doesn’t even try to pretend the NCRI represents any Iranian constituency and therefore doesn’t need any Farsi on its website.) A blog by anyone associated with the MEK will certainly not enhance the reputation of the Financial Times, rather it will provoke contempt among right minded Iranians and negatively impact the already difficult work of genuine opposition groups who are advocating for their people.

December 13, 2015 0 comments

Iraq

Iraq welcomes the omission of MEK terrorist leaders in Section on Camp Liberty of Congress Report

A freak section in the House Report 114-270 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, gives us the “SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF IRANIAN DISSIDENTS LIVING IN CAMP LIBERTY, IRAQ.” (Reproduced below.)

Iran Interlink spoke by telephone with one of the Iraqi officials in charge of expelling the residents of Camp Liberty from Iraq. He agreed to speak off the record to say that Iraq “welcomes and agrees with all seven articles”. He emphasised that “we noticed in particular that there is no mention of the MEK or the Rajavi leaders in the Senate document” and this has been “the most helpful position from America for twelve years… We take this as a green light to go ahead, without interference, to work with the UNHCR and deal with every resident of Camp Liberty as a separate individual with no connection with any group.”

The official indicated that the whole Government of Iraq is “fully committed” to working closely with the US authorities in Baghdad and elsewhere to implement these seven non-binding recommendations of Congress. In this respect, he said, “Iraq will happily issue visas to anyone who would help remove the MEK – in particular, and naturally, the families of residents”. But that “any other independent person” would be welcome if they could help.

For years, both UNAMI and the Government of Iraq have tried to deal with the camp residents as individuals according to Iraqi and International law, but these efforts have been hindered by the MEK’s Western lobbyists and outside forces which have forced barriers between the UN and the individual camp residents. It is welcome news that in this report Senate has ignored these lobbyists and forces.

Following is the text of Section 1227 of House Report 114-270 – NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

SEC. 1227. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF IRANIAN DISSIDENTS LIVING IN CAMP LIBERTY, IRAQ.

It is the sense of Congress that the United States should–

(1) take prompt and appropriate steps in accordance with international agreements to promote the physical security and protection of residents of Camp Liberty, Iraq;

(2) urge the Government of Iraq to uphold its commitments to the United States to ensure the safety and well-being of those living in Camp Liberty;

(3) urge the Government of Iraq to ensure continued and reliable access to food, clean water, medical assistance, electricity and other energy needs, and any other equipment and supplies necessary to sustain the residents during periods of attack or siege by external forces;

(4) oppose the extradition of Camp Liberty residents to Iran;

(5) assist the international community in implementing a plan to provide for the safe, secure, and permanent relocation of Camp Liberty residents, including a detailed outline of steps that would need to be taken by recipient countries, the United States, the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Camp residents to relocate residents to other countries;

(6) encourage continued close cooperation between the residents of Camp Liberty and the authorities in the relocation process; and

(7) assist the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in expediting the ongoing resettlement of all residents of Camp Liberty to safe locations outside Iraq.

December 9, 2015 0 comments

Massoud Rajavi

Rajavi: To let go of my hostages, you have to pay me more

Rajavi reacts to the Iraqi parliament supporting families of the hostages in Camp Liberty (From Canada!!)

Mojahedin Khalq (aka National Council of Resistance, MKO, MEK, Rajavi cult) have put the reaction of their fugitive leader Massoud Rajavi on their site.

One of their banners reads “Issue Visas for us to visit our children in Camp Liberty”. We asked the Iraqi Foreign ministry about this. The reply was simple. “Ask for Visa and if rejected, then protest. Iraq is more that happy to give Visa especially if it is for reunion between families. We also welcome any help given to remove the residents of Camp Liberty out of Iraq”.

The other one reads “Dear Mr. Prime Minister, Order that obstacles of sale of Ashraf properties be removed or compensate the residents so their resettlement be expedited“.

Massoud Khodabandeh from Middle East Strategy Consultants commented on this saying:

“Considering the resettlement of MEK members from Iraq to Albania is financed by the United Nations (And partly by the Iraqi Government), Rajavi’s message could not be more clear. Pay me more if you expect me to release the hostages in Camp Liberty. This is not his first time. He has on many occasions asked for ransom whether in Iraq or in France. Unfortunately too many times getting what he wants but not keeping his side of the bargain. Remember America’s Secretary of State Hilary Clinton taking them off the American list of bad terrorists if they evacuate Camp Ashraf without violence in return. Rajavi’ cult got off the list as promised but refused to allow the transfer of the last 100 remaining people until over 50 of them were killed by the angry Iraqis who had their relatives killed by Mojahedin Khalq under the protection of Saddam”.

News Published in MEK Website:

Relatives of Camp Liberty residents rally outside Iraqi embassy in Canada

Thursday, 03 December 2015 09:12

NCRI – Relatives of members of the Iranian opposition who are under siege in Iraq held a rally outside the Iraqi embassy in Ottawa on Monday.

The protestors condemned the recent plots by agents of the Iranian regime’s Intelligence Ministry against the members of the main Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) in Camp Liberty, near Baghdad.

They pointed out that the regime’s intelligence agents were being sent to the camp under the ‘bogus guise’ of relatives of the Camp Liberty residents, while actual family members of the residents around the world were being denied visas by the Iraqi government to visit their loved ones in the camp….

December 5, 2015 0 comments

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