The Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), also known as the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) or the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) (which is widely considered an alias for the MEK), is considered a destructive cult due to a combination of factors, including its charismatic and absolute leadership, enforced isolation and control over members’ lives, history of violence and shifting ideologies, and allegations of human rights abuses within the group [1] [2] [3].
The group was founded in the 1960s with a blend of Islamic and Marxist ideologies, initially opposing the Shah of Iran [1] [4]. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the MEK clashed with Ayatollah Khomeini’s new regime, leading to a period of assassinations and bombings against Iranian officials [1] [2]. In the 1980s, the MEK relocated to Iraq and allied with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, fighting against Iran [1] [4]. This alliance is a significant reason for its widespread unpopularity within Iran, as many Iranians view their collaboration with an enemy during wartime as unforgivable [1] [4].
Several former high-ranking members and human rights organizations have described the MEK as a cult. Masoud Banisadr, a former MEK representative to the UN and US, who left the group in 1996, now dedicates his work to understanding cults and terrorism, explicitly labeling the MEK a “destructive cult” [2] [3]. He highlights the presence of a charismatic leader (Masoud Rajavi, and later Maryam Rajavi), a black-and-white worldview, enforced isolation from family, and mind manipulation as key characteristics [2]. Banisadr recounts how members were encouraged to hate their family members if they were perceived as enemies and how he himself had to go into hiding after leaving the group [2].
Human Rights Watch and a 2007 US State Department report have documented allegations of severe mistreatment of MEK members, including forced divorces, lengthy solitary confinements, severe beatings, and torture for those attempting to leave the group [1] [4]. Banisadr himself was forced to divorce his wife, a common practice within the MEK where celibacy was enforced for all members except the Rajavi leadership [2] [3]. This control over personal relationships and the suppression of individuality are hallmarks of cultic behavior [2].
The MEK’s internal structure is far from democratic, despite its public portrayal as a democratic alternative to the Iranian government [1]. Critics argue that the group uses human rights concerns to obscure its past and present practices [1]. The group’s influence in Western political circles is often attributed to its significant financial contributions to speakers at its events, with estimates ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 per speech [1]. Despite its efforts to rebrand itself as a democratic force, analysts and former members assert that the MEK has little to no visible support inside Iran [1] [4].
Sources:
[1] Kamali Dehghan, Saeed, Who is the Iranian group targeted by bombers and beloved of Trump allies?, The Guardian, July 2, 2018.
[2] Adam Forrest, A Former MEK Member Talks About the Extremist Iranian ‘Cult’, VICE, September 2, 2014.
[3] Potter, Richard, The Cult in the Shadow War: An Interview with a former member of Mojahedin-e-Khalq, Mondoweiss, November 26, 2013.
[4] Lo, Joe, UK MPs attended rally for Iranian group whose leader is still banned by London, Middle East Eye, January 30, 2018.
Mazda Parsi
