It has to be pointed out that there are no significant differences between traditional cult methods (like that of Hassan Sabbah) and the modern cults getting advantage of psychological modes. In all, the main identical factors are the self-appointed leader, total devotion and exploitation of members. After ideological revolution in MKO, leadership was considered as the zenith of the organization that, emphasized in inter-organizational meetings, had to be obeyed blindly and whose superiority could never be questioned. Such a leader is only accountable to God. In other words, he is regarded as the vicegerent of God. Mahdi Abrishamchi describes the position of leader as follows:

Leader is not accountable to low-ranking members. His responsibilities are determined by ideological and political necessities of the organization. (36)

Therefore, the leader is on top. Such a position makes the leader unchallengeable and holy to the point that the entrance of others to this position may be considered as a serious sin. Abrishamchi says:

Normally, all members are accountable to high-ranking officials. Now, to whom is Mas’ud accountable? Only to revolution. He is just accountable to God. Everybody has a responsibility in the organization except for the leader. Maryam and Mas’ud are not accountable to anybody. (37)

Such a view places the leader in the status of God. Abrishamchi believes that the whole universe depends on God; likewise, MKO depends on its ideology, i.e. leadership. He believes that:

The issue of ideology, is the issue of a revolutionary organization, the issue of being or not to be. If philosophy considers God as the creator of whole being, in a revolutionary organization, ideology works as such. The existence of organization depends on its ideology. (38)

Logical reasoning of Abrishamchi is like that of Hassan Sabbah. He proves his mission for leadership as follows:

The Arabic phrase ‘لا اله الا الله’ means that there is no God but Allah. First it says ‘there is no god’ and denies the existence of any god and in the second part it says ‘but Allah’. There is no logical relationship between these parts and it does not say why there is no god but Allah. So accepting the fact that there is no god but Allah is a obligatory. (39)

Mahdi Abrishamchi like his historical counterpart, Hassan Sabbah, regards leadership as an ideological matter of inevitable legitimacy. He says:

There should be an ideological interpreter in the organization to determine its ideological boundaries. In Mojahedin-e-Khalq, Mas’ud Rajavi does so. As such, leader is not accountable downward; otherwise his position would be interrupted. (40)

Such comments, compared with that of Batinis leaders who accused their supporters of failing to develop an esoteric understanding of divine verses and of the leadership, seems to be identical. Furthermore, irrational belief of some members in absolute leadership is like that of self-appointed Batinis leaders. A comparison between this claim of Hassan II, the third imam of Batinis, regarding his legitimate leadership with those of MKO helps develop a better understanding:

When you see the sunlight it is as if you see the sun itself. It is not possible to see sun without its light. As such, I am the divine light. When you see me it is as if you see God. Whoever wants to be blissful in this world and the hereafter should love me. (41)

Now, if not explicitly, such claims are implicitly made by the self-appointed leader of MKO. A high-ranking member when praising Rajavi says:

Thanks God I came to know you, otherwise, according to the holy prophet of Islam, if did not know my imam of the time, I would have died in ignorance. Today, I see myself embraced by God and I found Him at the end of the route wherein I saw you at the beginning. I feel his absolute presence as I feel yours. (42)

These cases show clearly the amazing similarities between doctrines of MKO and that of exoteric sect of Hassan Sabbah.

Such a background is formed by a mental shock imposed on the beliefs of members. Such a strategy reminds us of debriefing strategies in the medieval ages. Only the goals are different. It is similar to the strategies of exoteric sect (Hassan Sabbah). Despite what can be imagined regarding the brainwashing strategies for making people ready for any kind of sacrifice, physical sacrifice is a minor part of the demands of the leader of cults who exploit members. What determines the extent of members’ obedience is not only their self-sacrifice but also their blind obedience. It is a fact that physical self-sacrifice in cults is a preface to next steps. The significance of such organizational disciplines can be seen in exoteric sects. They force members to be devoted completely to all principles and values of cult and this happens before physical sacrifice. In principles of cults we read:

We don’t need exited members but members of stable belief. We want to be sure whenever a command is issued nothing may prevent it. (43)

The danger of boldness for cult leaders is the possibility that it leads to disobedience. Such a self-devotion is justified in exoteric sects as follows:

Only calm members are reliable and those who are so exited calm down quickly. (44)

It has to be taken into consideration that scientific studies focus on those components in cultist psychological strategies which have been mentioned as the key of success by cultists. Singer refers to falsification of conscience as the most important consequence of cultist strategies while studying empirical and psychological strategies for recruiting members in cults and says:

Nowadays, cults’ plans is based on forming personal imbalance through falsification of conscience, awareness, beliefs, worldview, emotions, etc. their main technique is attacking mental balance of members and also attacking a person capacity for self-evaluation. Such attacks are carried out under different conditions and rarely involve any force or physical imposing. Such a strong psychological process results in personal imbalance and dependence to others. (45)

Such components are the basis of mental background of mechanisms in terrorist groups. Comparing such components with theoretical analyses would show the points of similarity between these trends. It seems that so-called ideological revolution in MKO has been a starting point for using such strategies and developing blind obedience in members toward revolutionary principles.

Bijan Niyabati, a Marxist supporter of MKO, describes ideological revolution of the group based on cultist leadership of Rajavi, absolute mental, ideological and even sexual self-sacrifice of members. He refers to above-mentioned components as attacking conscience and basic receptions and thus shocking members. He refers to member’s conscience as old understanding and regards cultist components as new understanding. Comparing such comments with findings of Singer shows the amazing structural similarities between cults and MKO. Niyabati says:

A successive interpolation of new elements of value into the old system of values is possible only through upsetting the equilibrium of old value system that occurs only by the means of a sudden shock. (46)

He considers destabilizing of values as the starting point to reform the dominant values in the society. In other words, disruption of personal beliefs is followed by its disruption in the society. The success of personal effectiveness depends on the generalization of such strategies to the society.

However, he asserts that forming such a shift in society demands political power while mental shocking is sufficient for individual imbalance. He says:

However, although to disrupt the predominant value equilibrium in an individual in order to be substituted by new value equilibrium proves not to be unmanageable, it is a long, hard task to be accomplished either through assuming an authoritative political power (as well as controlling economy and the media) or a stricken shock. To disrupt the subsisting equilibrium and to prepare an individual to be reconciled with the new milieu, it is evident that only a shock and nothing else can possibly be productive. (47)

He regards such intra-organizational shifts as an index of an ideal cultist society resulting in political revolution. He also refers to all symbols and institutions of such a society and says:

Such a micro society needs all indices and political structure of a real society, i.e. government, president, parliament, army, police force, prison, legal courts, broadcast, diplomacy system, financial systems, etc. Such a micro society should be a pioneer in the transfer of human beings to humanistic values far from the existing animal-like values.(48)

He is aware of the mental consequences of this shock. He believes that such an attack may result in the person being wise or mad. In this strategy, classification of values into absolute good and absolute bad prevents person from a realistic analysis. Mahdi Abrishamchi, a member of MKO, justifies ideological revolution and the marriage of Rajavi with Maryam Azodanloo after her divorce, using an absolute reasoning. In such a situation any evaluation depends on absolute acceptance or absolute rejection. Such logic makes this act as a holy one beyond our understanding. Mahdi Abrishamchi says:

Our mind is aware of the logic of sacrifice. It is an amazing story. Everybody who hears it (their marriage) cannot remain indifferent or express a moderate idea. You have to regard it either as deceitful or eclectic or a purely ideological one. There is no middle point. You have to either confirm or reject it. (49)

The leader himself emphasizes such an analysis of subjects. He is not afraid that others regard this action as a dishonored one. Rajavi says:

This is a rebirth. You can accuse me of being whimsical, dishonorable and even a person who stole the wife of his friend. But if I were acquitted, you have to follow me to the end. (50)

Niyabati asserts the mental consequences of such a shock. He refers to the fact that if such a personal imbalance is not replaced with another system, it would not lead to expected results. He says:

Madness or wisdom is the inevitable consequence of such a value imbalance. The difference between a mad person with a wise one is that the former has not replaced his value system with an alternative but the latter has. In both cases, the main factor of such personal imbalance is a mental shock. (51)

He also refers to a third situation between madness and wisdom; A situation which results in the sense of absurdity and passivity in members. In this regard we read:

In summary, without that imbalance there is neither wisdom nor madness. It is evident that absurdity and absolute determinism are added to the consequences of such an imbalance. (52)

According to Singer, the main factor in the success of members’ brainwashing is the disruption of their value system to the point that makes them fully submissive toward predetermined behaviors and activities. Singer describes such a disaster as follows:

These latter-day efforts have built upon the age-old influence techniques to perfect amazingly successful programs of persuasion and change. What’s new-and crucial–is that these programs change attitudes by attacking essential aspects of a person’s sense of self, unlike the earlier brainwashing programs. (53)

Niyabati refers to the third index of cults as the determining factor in political exploitation and says:

Power equations should be changed objectively rather than subjectively and this is not possible without a basic change in value systems. (54)

Instrumental use of latest achievements of empirical sciences, and psychology in particular, shows only slight differences between brainwashing strategies of MKO and those of cults. Niyabati says:

In a conference on the study of the latest scientific findings concerning functions of different parts of human brain, it was argued that activating different parts of the brain may affect social behavior and characteristics of people. For instance, while the left hemisphere is the center of mathematics, logic, politics, etc the right hemisphere is the centre of culture, arts, poetry and emotion. Activating these hemispheres may determine the future role of children in the society. (55)

Despite all scientific and political reasoning of Niyabati for focusing on the achievements of ideological revolution, he finally refers to history. Such inevitable similarities relate cultist mechanisms to Sufis’ styles. He quotes Shams-Al-Din Ameli to justify the leadership of Rajavi:

"During spiritual path, there should be no question. The wayfarer has to be a devotee to Sheikh and accompany him submissively, never complaining of anything" and quotes Moulavi (Sufi poet) as follows:

A wayfarer has no responsibility and should be submissive like a piece of wood in the hands of carpenter. (56)

Such reasoning for proving ideological revolution and absolute leadership of Rajavi is that of a person who doesn’t believe in religion and metaphysics. Such a method is using religion for theorizing cultist principles.

Endnotes

36. Lectures of Mahdi Abrishamchi on the Ideological Revolution in MKO. (1985). Taleghani Publication.

37. ibid.

38. ibid.

39. Amir, Paul. (TR). . (2006). the Lord of Almout. Javid Publication.

40. Mojahed journal. No.255.p. 23.

41. Amir, Paul. (TR). . (2006). The Lord of Almout. Javid Publication.

42. Mojahed journal. No. 241. p.20.

43. Amir, Paul. (Tr). .(2006). The Lord of Almout. Javid Publication.

44. ibid.

45. Niyabati, Bijan. A different look at Mojahedin’s Ideological Revolution, 2004.

46. ibid .

47. ibid .

48. ibid .

49. Lectures of Mahdi Abrishamchi on the Ideological Revolution in MKO. (1985). Taleghani Publication.

50. Mojahed Journal. (1985). Marriage of Maryam and Mas’ud.

51..Niyabati, Bijan, A different look at Mojahedin’s Ideological Revolution, 2004.

52. ibid.

53. Singer, Margaret Thaler. Cults in our midst, 60.

54. Niyabati, Bijan. A different look at Mojahedin’s Ideological Revolution, 2004.

55. ibid.

56. ibid.

Nejat Association May 2007

Translated by mojahedin.ws,August, 2007

August 4, 2007 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Morphology of Terrorism, Cult, and Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (part 3)

Comparing cult characteristics with different phases of formation of ideological revolution in MKO proves that it is a cult

The translated text of Dr. Massoudinia’s speech made at the Symposium of the Link between Cults and Terrorism held in Isfahan.

3. Cult and Cult-like relations

Nowadays, there are at least two organization accused of being terrorist and cultist, namely Al-Qa’ede and MKO. In 1997, U.S. foreign ministry introduced MKO as a sect following cultist doctrine. The US State Department’s report refers to the terrorist nature of MKO and their cultist doctrine:

Rajavi, who heads the Mojahedin’s political and military wings, has fostered a cult of personality around himself. These characteristics have alienated most Iranian expatriates, who assert they do not want to replace one objectionable regime for another. (24)

These comments imply that such a cultist approach has been intensified after the so-called ideological revolution of MKO under the leadership of Mas’ud Rajavi:

The internal organizational structure of the Mojahedin has varied little throughout the group’s history. Importantly, the autocratic decision-making style of the leadership and the cult-like behavior of its members — two defining patterns of the organization’s operations — have combined to deny the Mojahedin the support of most Iranians (25)

In this regard, Eerevand Abrahamian writes:

Mujahedin-e-Khalq has a strict hierarchical system based on the commands issued from the top. The main duty of members is blind obedience. (26)

It has to be taken into consideration that the structural relations of political parties and democratic organizations is based on eliminating any kind of political and ideological ambiguity not to order blind obedience. In such groups, criticism is the absolute right of every member and the leader should eliminate all members’ ambiguities and doubts. However, in MKO even asking questions equals disobedience and is regarded as sinful. Its basic principle is “no thinking”. After the so-called ideological revolution in MKO, the Human Rights Watch issued a report and accused MKO of violating human rights and following trends of a cult. He refers to the internal ideological revolution of MKO and says:

The MKO’s leadership consists of the husband and wife team of Masoud and Maryam Rajavi. Their marriage in 1985 was hailed by the organization as the beginning of a permanent “ideological revolution.” Various phases of this “revolution” include: divorce by decree of married couples, regular writings of self-criticism reports, renunciation of sexuality, and absolute mental and physical dedication to the leadership. The level of devotion expected of members was in stark display in 2003 when the French police arrested Maryam Rajavi in Paris. In protest, ten MKO members and sympathizers set themselves on fire in various European cities; two of them subsequently died. (27)

A number of former members of MKO have predicted the shift of the group to a cult in 1970s. A good example may be the separation of three high-ranking officials from the organization, namely Reza Ra’eisi, Hamid Nuhi and Hossein Rafi’i in 1976. They have expressed the factors resulting in their separation from the MKO in a book titled “the Process of Separation”, saying:

As a result of the probable failure of Liberal party in the future, Mujahedin-e-Khalq may become a religious cult. (28)

Another former member of MKO believes that the shift of MKO to a cult is not an immediate process but has a historical background. He rejects the claim of organization as being a democratic one. He refers to the fact that if there was a democratic leadership in MKO, their ideological disintegration in 1975 did not occur. He says:

Disintegration of organization in 1975 and its splitting into a Marxist and a religious sect reveals that the leadership has never been a democratic one. (29)

Mas’ud Jabani, a former member, reports that Rajavi in 1985 asked the information office of the organization to conduct a research on cults which was justified it as follows:

Imperialists, through religious sects, are busy doing something. We want to know what they are doing. (30)

Despite such claims, we will review the modern and traditional indices of cultist organizations. Comparing such indices with the present doctrine of MKO would reveal its cultist nature. According to Singer, the author of the book “Cults in our Midst”, cults are a center for recruiting members rather than an organization with predetermined titles and goals. He defines cultist relations as follows:

Cultist relation means a relation through which one person consciously forces others to be dependent on him in making all his decisions. The followers are convinced that the leader has a special faculty, genius, and knowledge. (31)

In other words, cult is a process used to convince a person or develop an idea quantitatively or qualitatively regarding political, religious, ideological, military, economical, mental or other objectives. Singer concludes his studies concerning cult structure in three parts:

1. A self-appointed and life-long leader of a spiritual role. He is to be praised but not criticized and all members are linked to him mentally and ideologically.

2. A top-down organizational structure of totalitarian pyramid with the leader on top.

3. Mental reforming (brainwashing) and pushing members to extremism and absolute submission. (32)

Similar studies show that the role of the leader is highly determining in two-fold axes. In addition, a number of former members thus analyze the indices of cultist leadership:

Authoritative leadership is the main characteristic of a cult leader. Many former members of cults expounding on the characteristics of the leader say that he is the absolute authority, 2. has a doubtful character, 3. demands absolute confidence, 4.claims to have a direct connection to God, 5. Indulges in sexual abuse, 6. poses ambitious claims, 7.demands monetary support, 8.claims that evil forces are to deceive members. (33)

Another resource describes the characteristics of deviated cults as such:

Having a pyramidal structure and a leader on top, 2.charismatic leader(claiming that he is the agent of God and can interpret divine resources, 3.deceptive strategies for recruiting members and collecting money, 4.mental and physical isolation, 5.using mental controlling strategies.(34)

There is a question that is the degree of danger identical in all the cults? To determine how dangerous a cult might be, “the Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame” can be a good help. The frame refers to the factors as:

1- INTERNAL CONTROL: Amount of internal political power exercised by leader(s) over members.

2- WISDOM CLAIMED by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations.

3- WISDOM CREDITED to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s).

4- DOGMA: Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or "fundamentalism."

5- RECRUITING: Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing.

6- FRONT GROUPS: Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group

7- WEALTH: Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members’ donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members.

8- POLITICAL POWER: Amount of external political influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members’ secular votes.

9- SEXUAL MANIPULATION: of members by leader(s); amount of control exercised over sexuality of members; advancement dependent upon sexual favors or specific lifestyle.

10- CENSORSHIP: Amount of control over members’ access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s).

11- DROPOUT CONTROL: Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts.

12- VIOLENCE: amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s).

13- PARANOIA: amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories.

14- GRIMNESS: Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).

15- SURRENDER OF WILL: Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual disempowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).

16- HYPOCRISY: amount of approval for other actions (not included above) which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate group’s declared principles for political, psychological, economic, or other gain. (35)

Bonewits draws a linear graph, numbering 1 to 10 to mark 16-fold characteristics of cults. According to him, resultant grade shows the extent of danger of a cult. It can also be used as a means for revealing the cultist nature of MKO and their danger. Comparing the studies done by Bonewits and Singer reveals the following points in common about a cult leader:

– A life long, self-appointed leader

– Pyramidal structure of organization.

– Brainwashing strategies for recruiting members, controlling and exploiting them.

After the ideological revolution of MKO in 1985, these points were taken into consideration as prerequisites for being a member of the organization. However, they have been implied in the morphological structure of MKO before it since at first it was not possible to express such conditions openly. Many of characteristics mentioned by Bonewits have been the most self evident principles of the formation of organization from the beginning. Comparing such characteristics with different phases of formation of ideological revolution in the organization proves that MKO is a cult.

Endnotes

24. The State Department Report on MKO. (1997).

25. ibid.

26. Abrahamian, Ervand; The Iranian Mojahedin,Yale University Press, 1989.

27. The Human Rights Watch Report; No Exit, (2005).

28. Raeis Tusi, Reza. The Process of Separation. Samadie Publication.

29. Rastgu, Mohammad Ali. MKO in the Mirror of the History. (2005).Islamic Revolution Centre Publication.

30. Jabani, Mas’ud. Psychology of Aggression and Terror.

31. Singer, Margaret Thaler. Cults in our midst.

32. ibid.

33. www.Phact.Org

34. www. refocus.org.

35. www.GED.Net/bonewits/ABCDEF.Html

Nejat Association May 2007

Translated by mojahedin.ws

July, 2007

August 4, 2007 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq 's Function

Subjugating The Members

subjugating the members

August 2, 2007 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Four more defectors of Rajavis’ Cult repatriated

According to Nejat Society correspondent, four other people defected MKO and repatriated. The four defectors, who were MKO members for a long time, spent a few weeks in TIPF Camp and finally could return Iran with Red Cross cooperation.

The defectors’ names:

Ahmad Rostamian

GholamReza Shirdom

Jamil Abdollahzade

AliReza Naghashzade

The above-named people will consequently state their comments on the disruptive atmosphere in Camp Ashraf.

Nejat Society

Tehran-July 30th 2007

August 1, 2007 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Status of Mojahedin Khalq (Rajavi cult) Members Held in Iraq Prompts Debate

SCOTT SIMON, host:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I’m Scott Simon.

Coming up, climate change comes to the Sky Islands. But first, the next round of talks in Baghdad between the U.S. and Iran is expected to take place before the end of July. One issue of particular interest to Iran is the presence in Iraq of more than 3,000 militants of the Mujahideen cult of the People’s Mujahideen.

Until the U.S. invasion of Iraq, this group carried out cross-border attacks against the government in Tehran aided by Saddam Hussein. Since the invasion, the MEK, as it’s known, has been confined to a base in Iraq under the control of U.S. forces. In Tehran, an effort has emerged to persuade MEK members to return home.

NPR’s Mike Shuster has more from Tehran.

MIKE SHUSTER: Arash Semitapur(ph) is a fresh-faced young man with unkempt black hair. Eager to police, he doesn’t look like a terrorist or an assassin. Only his false right hand suggests something may have been amiss in his past.

Semitapur is one of the leaders of the Najat Society here in Iran. Najat means salvation and its goal is to bring the Iranians of the MEK home. Semitapur joined the MEK in the 1990s, recruited as a naive college student in Virginia. Eventually, he made his way to a training base in Iraq. And in 2001, he was sent over the border with automatic rifles, ammunition, grenades and two cyanide pills in his mouth.

Mr. ARASH SEMITAPUR (Leader, Najat Society, Iran; MEK Member): That was like the street order we had that when you entered in Iranian territory, you have to have the cyanide pills in your mouth. We were convinced that if we get arrested here by the securities, we will be tortured to death. And we were told that the easiest way is just to have the cyanide pills and chew them if you are getting arrested. Then you will be a hero. You will be a martyr.

SHUSTER: Semitapur’s mission was to assassinate an Iranian general in Tehran, but everything went wrong and he was arrested. Even the cyanide pills did not kill him.

Mr. SEMITAPUR: Of course, my handgun was jammed and it didn’t work. And I was taken to the police station. There they didn’t search me. I had a hand grenade, like a small grenade in my pocket. Again, with the street orders of the organization, I tried to commit a suicide again so I exploded the grenade in my hand, but fortunately didn’t kill me.

SHUSTER: Because Semitapur didn’t kill anyone he served just four years in prison. When he got out, he joined the Najat Society to try to convince others of what he calls the MEK cult to return to Iran. The Najat Society also helps the families of MEK members to visit Iraq and try to persuade their loved ones to come home.

After the U.S. invasion, Masumai Rasahid(ph) tried to bring her son Sayed(ph) home. So far, she has not been successful.

Ms. MASUMAI RASAHID (Resident, Iran): (Through Translator) They’re completely brainwashed and even they don’t trust us. When my son accuses me as his mother that you got money from the Islamic government to come here, to persuade me and convince me to go back. And she says I’m your mother, how can I cheat you? And this is the way they taught you and they do not trust and believe nobody.

SHUSTER: The MEK is confined to Camp Ashraf, about a hundred miles north of Baghdad. When U.S. forces seized the camp, they disarmed the MEK and took possession of hundreds of tanks, artillery pieces and other military hardware. The State Department considers the MEK a terrorist group.

The U.S. has permitted family members to visit Camp Ashraf. Masumai Rasahid has been there to see her son four times.

Ms. RASAHID: (Through Translator) When he met me, he had a very bad reaction in front of everybody. He screamed at me and yelled at me. His friends told me that he was forced to do that. The last time that we met, it was much better. They let us stay for the night in the camp with him, and he was a little better than the previous time.

SHUSTER: The last time Masumai Rasahid saw her son was in 2004. Since then, it’s been far too dangerous to make the trip. The U.S. has been unable to decide just what to do with the MEK. The Iranian government has reportedly offered to exchange some al-Qaida members it says it is holding for the leaders of the MEK, permitting the rank and file to return to Iran to be reunited with their families.

Some U.S. officials have suggested sending the MEK to a third country. Others have argued that the U.S. should continue to hold the MEK as a bargaining chip and even use them for covert operations against Iran in retaliation for attacks that the U.S. says Iran is behind in Iraq.

Arash Semitapur(ph) urges Washington not to be tempted to use the group against the Iranian government.

Mr. SEMITAPUR: Maybe there are some people in U.S. government who would think that they are useful for them, but I don’t think that they are so naive that they can trust these guys.

SHUSTER: Semitapur argues for a more humanitarian solution to the problem – helping the families to spend more time in Baghdad or in bordertowns with MEK members. That way, he says, many will decide to come home. So far, according to the Najat Society, since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, about 300 MEK members have returned to Iran and are now living with their families.

Mike Shuster, NPR News, Tehran.

National Public Radio, Weekend Edition – Saturday, July 21, 2007

listen to the program:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12144968

July 24, 2007 0 comments

Missions of Nejat Society

Nejat Society Letter to Ms Beatrice Megevanal Roggo

The Nejat Society Tehran, Iran July 2007 Ms Beatrice Megevanal Roggo International Committee of the Red Cross The Middle East Department Dear Ms Roggo We in the Nejat Society in Iran would like to draw your good attention to a rather crucial matter regarding the members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO) in Ashraf Camp in Iraq and their worrying relatives in Iran.

The Nejat Society is an NGO consisting of those former members of the MKO who have organised themselves in order to help the mentally and even physically captive members to gain their freedoms.

As you may well be aware the MKO is considered as a terrorist cult by many governments and establishments around the world. This organisation is utilising psychological techniques to mentally manipulate its own members in order to make them commit deeds they would not perform in normal status. The self-immolations done by some members in European capitals after the arrest of their leader Maryam Rajavi in Paris on 17 June 2003, is one obvious example of the kind. Like all cults, this organisation needs a remote site to be able to isolate the members from the outside world. The residents of Ashraf Camp have no contact with the real world, not even with their relatives or old friends. The members are forced to participate in the daily ideological sessions called "the Current Operation". In these sessions members are systematically subject to peer pressure and coercion methods.

Last summer we had news “ later confirmed by the organisation “ which designated that Mr Yasser Akbari-Nasab had passed out due to self-immolation. This “ along with some other news indicating that the MKO had asked its entire member to volunteer for self-emblazing “ has put the families into grave distress.

The families of the members of the MKO in Iraq have strived hardly in the past three years to get some information about their beloved ones. They have approached the ICRC, UNHCR, and other international bodies as well as the Iraqi and the Swiss Embassies many times with no outcomes.

We are therefore urging you to use your whole capacity to ensure the visit of the families with their beloved ones in a place in Baghdad without the presence of the MKO officials. Some of these families have not seen their beloved ones for up to twenty years and they believe it is their right to have the chance to be alone with their relatives for a few days. The MKO, under the protection of the US Forces which are guarding the Ashraf Camp, has denied this right despite the efforts of the Iraqi government.

Please let us know of your activities. We thank you in advance for your attention and your good work.

Yours truly,

The Nejat Society

July 21, 2007 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Current Operation

July 18, 2007 0 comments

Media

Nejat Society Letter to France 24 TV

Nejat Society

P.O. Box 14395/679,

Tehran, Iran

Fax: 88 96 10 31

info@nejatngo.org

March 2007

France 24 TV

Immeuble Aphelion

5 Rue dos Natiousunies

92130 Issy-les-Mourineaux

Paris

Dear editor

We in the Nejat Society in Tehran learned through the website of the Mojahedin-e- Khalq Organization (MKO) called “hambastegimeli” that you have made interviews with Mr Afshin Alavi and Ms Farid Karimi, two well known members of the organization under the alias of the National Council of Resistance (NCR). We must draw your attention to the fact that the MKO terrorist cult is disguised as the NCR in its international relations. It is also worth mentioning that MKO has been in the list of proscribed terrorist groups issued by the council of the European Union since May 2002.

Nejat Society consists of those defected members of the MKO who have managed to rescue themselves from the boundaries of the Organisation. They do find themselves obliged to strive to help and rescue the members whom are still mentally or even physically captive inside a terrorist cult. We also would like to require your consideration on a matter concerning many families of members of the MKO residing in their base in Iraq called Ashraf camp.

Up to 500 ex-members of the MKO have managed to return home to their families since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Nejat Society of course played a vital role with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Iranian Red Crescent, and other international and domestic bodies as well as the families themselves to safeguard their homecoming.

Around 200 of those who have managed to flee the Organisation are kept in a nearby component under the supervision of “Temporary International Presence Facility (TIPF)”. And evidently there are some 3000 members still left in Ashraf Camp inside Iraq. These people need to be rescued out urgently.

The members and authorities of Nejat Society are well aware that they are facing a fierce tackle. The Mojahedin-e- Khalq Organization of course has adopted a hostile attitude against the Society and has never stopped its intense propaganda aggravation in order to stop the Society helping the MKO members.

All cults, typically try to intimidate their critics and opponents, particularly those who try to help the discontented members out. MKO is no exception. They have a long record of suppressing their despondent members and they have used all forms of mental and physical methods in order to make their followers yield.

On behalf of the anxious families of the members of the MKO we would like to invite you to come to Iran and make interviews with these families as well as the defected members and raise their voice in order to be heard by the international bodies as well as the organization’s leaders.

We are looking forward to seeing a reply from you as soon as possible.

With regards and many thanks

Nejat Society

www.nejatngo.org

July 15, 2007 0 comments

France

Nejat Society Letter to The Ambassador of the Republic of France in Tehran

Attention: The Ambassador of the Republic of France in Tehran

From: Nejat Society

July. 07

Your Excellency,

We in the Nejat Society would like to draw your good attention to a very crucial matter relating the security of the defectors and opponents of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO) in France.

To introduce ourselves, we are former members of MKO who have managed to flee the organisation from the Ashraf Camp in Iraq. We have organised ourselves to help the victims of a terrorist cult including the former members of the organisation as well as the families of the present members who have no trace of their beloved ones inside the MKO.

We wish to inform you that on 17 June 2007, about 50 members of a proscribed terrorist cult named the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO), who had been dispatched from Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany, attacked a seminar organised by the Association for Supporting the Emigrants and Iranians in France. The venue was at FIAP in the 14th District of Paris. The attackers used knives, broken bottles, etc and injured many of the guests as well as some of the organisers. More than 13 people were seriously injured. The incident was immediately reported by the local and international media. After police intervention, some of the MKO members were arrested and taken into custody.

There are many queries raised relating this incident; such as why the MKO elements attended the meeting and what was their purpose and why they brought recording cameras with themselves to the meeting and why they only used the elements residing in the countries other than France. All these factors prove that the act was previously planed and organised. We have also been informed about the depth of involvement of the leaders of the MKO, currently based in north of Paris in Auvers-sur-Oise. The following information has been revealed to us:

This terrorist act had been approved and arranged at the highest levels of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation and the National Council of Resistance (NCR) leadership and the cult leader Maryam Rajavi was involved in every detail of the operation. Mr Alaoddin Turan and Ms Shahrzad Haj Seyyed Javadi have acted as the "intelligence officer" and "operational officer" for this operation, conducting every detail from Mrs Maryam Rajavi’s headquarters in the north of Paris. The operation had been named "Destruction of the Nest of Snakes".

The "executive field officer" of the operation has been Mr Mohammad Hayati (aka: Siavash) who has been a military leader of MKO from the time of the Shah and is currently a member of the MKO as well as the NCR. He conducted the attack using his men and had communication with them through mobile phones. During the years 1981 to 1986, Mohammad Hayati was a member of executive committee of MKO in France and after the departure of Mas’ud and Maryam Rajavi (cult leaders) to Baghdad in 1986; he was transferred to Iraq as the commander of one of five military bases of the National Liberation Army (NLA) of MKO backed by Saddam Hussein. Hayati has directed major military operations in suppressing the uprising of the Iraqi Kurds and Shiite Moslems as well as insurgencies inside Iranian territory.

According to news received from the Americans as well as the disaffected members of Ashraf Camp in Iraq, the name of Mohammad Hayati has been registered in the list of MKO members in the camp and up to 6 months ago, he has had regular contacts with the American forces in charge of the camp. It must be taken into account that his illegal move to France is not merely to disrupt a defectors’ meeting. His role was and still is to assassinate the discontented members and opponents in France and other parts of Europe, something he has been doing even before the Iranian revolution. His mission of course has not been accomplished yet.

We believe that Mohammad Hayati has specifically been sent from Iraq after the announcement of holding a meeting by the above mentioned association. He has been sent by Mas’ud and Maryam Rajavi and has been appointed to command this terror operation in Paris. He had been present at the scene from 12:00 on Sunday June 17 and had coordinated every movement by mobile phone. He had been in constant contact with the MKO headquarters in the north of Paris and had been reporting every step directly to Maryam Rajavi.

Mohammad Hayati was arrested by the police inside the FIAP building and was transferred to the police station. The police after examining his documents clearly were aware of his false ID and false passport which was used to travel from the Netherlands. His true identity and his mission were immediately revealed to the police, but astonishingly he was soon released.

We alert the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the American forces in charge of Ashraf Camp that the terrorist MKO has been transferring some of its military and operational forces from Iraq (Ashraf Camp) to European countries to carry out similar attacks and specifically to assault and assassinate its critiques and converts.

All this is happening at a time that about 200 people, who have clearly renounced terrorism and the MKO after the fall of Saddam Hussein, are still being kept under extreme conditions by the American forces and do not have the right to seek asylum in other countries or to leave the place.

We would like to bring into your consideration the very fact that contrary to the misinformation of the cult through its massive propaganda machine which has been granted to this proscribed terrorist organisation (MKO), the cult has been clearly demonstrating its true face and its deeply rooted beliefs in using violence and terror to reach its goals.

During the raid made by the MKO tugs in Paris, Mr Mohammad Hassan Sobhani who was badly assaulted and beaten by the intruders was also arrested by the French Police. Amazingly the photograph that was taken of him in the police station was published in one of MKO’s websites. We are puzzled how the MKO elements could get hold of the French Police properties.

We wish to remind you that Mas’ud and Maryam Rajavi have mistaken France with Iraq of Saddam Hussein, where they used to detain and torture and even execute their opponents and their discontented members. We are expecting your government to give a through examination of the case and announce the obtained results to the public and take sufficient measures to make sure that the MKO tugs could not harass the Iranians residing in France anymore. We therefore are very concerned about the security of the emigrants and Iranians in France and we urge your government to adopt appropriate measures to ensure the security of the Iranians in France. We would be very pleased if you could give some sort of response to our communiqué.

Pictures we have received to date are attached.

1 – Picture of Mohammad Hayati standing among some policemen plus his earlier photos in the organisation

2 – Pictures of Mr Mohammad Hassan Sobhani who was badly beaten and injured by the MKO tugs plus the photo of him which was taken in the police station by the police and later appeared in the MKO site.

3 – Picture of Mr Ali Akbar Rastgu who was also badly beaten and injured by the MKO tugs.

Yours truly,

Nejat Society

Copy to:

– The office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Tehran

– The office of the United Nations in Tehran

– The Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran

– The British Embassy in Tehran

– The Embassy of Iraq in Tehran

– The Elyse Palace “Paris

– The Media

July 15, 2007 0 comments

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