The MEK; the Hypocrites

MKO More Dangerous than Al-Qaida

Once again, the terrorist group of Rajavi means to hold an event in Paris, in the anniversary of the day they declared armed struggle against IR ,on June 18, 2011 so that the group might be able to fuel its propaganda machine for a few days. MKO More Dangerous than Al-Qaida

When MKO declared armed struggle on June 20th, 1981, the war between Iran and Iraq was in its bad days and Saddam Hussein (Rajavi’s master)’s forces had occupied regions of Iranian territory. The declaration of armed struggle was in fact Rajavi’s first step to flatter Saddam. By starting a civil war Rajavi was supposed to keep the country’s armed forces busy in the streets in order to let Iraqis achieve their goals in the fronts.

Besides, on June20, 1981, Rajavi’s treasonous decision ended with death and execution and arrest of thousands of Iranian youth who had been deceived by Rajavis’ passionate words although Rajavi has his hand in hand of Iran’s main enemy Saddam Hussein. They were both working hard to ruin Iran.

Now, by launching a new funny show in France abusing the bloods of those killed in Ashraf Iraq on April 8th, 2011, Maryam Rajavi and his husband want to hold an event supported by some retired MPs. They want to show off before the eyes of the world to say that they are still alive but the entire world has seen the death of such decayed group.

On the occasion of their first treason, they want to recruit participants from all European countries and refugee camps. These refugees do not have passport, they are mostly Afghans, Kurds, Turks and even Russians who are illegally taken to France by bus in order to play as mere numbers. These people are promised to go sightseeing in Paris and their stay in hotel and food are guaranteed by MKO so they are called as Iranians in exile.

As a former member of this terrorist group who had been deceived by the group’s reactionary system, and now is living in Germany, I warn all European states and security bodies that today they nurture a group which is more dangerous than Al-Qaida. The terrorist cult of Rajavi abuses social and international liberty to achieve their horrible, ominous objectives. The group has even no pity for its own forces and make them die simply to reach its goals.

European states and security organizations should seriously watch their nations so that their youth don’t get in the trap of these dangerous groups.

Amir Movassaqi, MKO former member

June 7, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq; A proxy force

MKO Using Former US Officials, Retired Generals to Pursue Terrorist Objectives

Sources revealed that the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) is using former US officials and retired Generals to advance its terrorist goals.

According to a report published by the website of the Habilian association – a human rights group formed of the family members and relatives of the Iranian victims of terrorism – the Washington-based ‘Iran Policy Committee’ is one of those agencies that serve the interests of the terrorist group.

Established in February 2005, the Iran Policy Committee (IPC) is comprised of former officials from the White House, State Department, Pentagon, intelligence agencies, and experts from think-tanks and universities.

Members of the IPC, a nonprofit and bipartisan organization based in Washington DC, include R. Bruce McColm; Lt. General Thomas McInerney USAF (ret.); Captain Charles T. "Chuck" Nash, USN (ret.); Lt. General Edward Rowny, USA (ret.); Professor Raymond Tanter; Major General Paul E. Vallely, USA (ret.).

The Habilian report said the IPC’s overt and covert policies are highly influenced by the MKO.
The report stated that the IPC’s stance on the MKO even runs counter to the declared policies of the White House, specially when the interests of the MKO are in danger.

The IPC members even embark on taking such stances which are completely in opposition to the policies that they adopted during the years of their service, the report noted.

The committee also is trying to portray the MKO as an alternative for the Islamic Republic and is trying to convince the US administration to take the MKO off its list of terrorist groups.

The MKO, whose main stronghold is in Iraq, is blacklisted by much of the international community, including the United States.

Before an overture by the EU, the MKO was on the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations subject to an EU-wide assets freeze. Yet, the MKO puppet leader, Maryam Rajavi, who has residency in France, regularly visited Brussels and despite the ban enjoyed full freedom in Europe.

The MKO is behind a slew of assassinations and bombings inside Iran, a number of EU parliamentarians said in a recent letter in which they slammed a British court decision to remove the MKO from the British terror list. The EU officials also added that the group has no public support within Iran because of their role in helping Saddam Hussein in the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988).

Many of the MKO members abandoned the terrorist organization while most of those still remaining in the camp are said to be willing to quit but are under pressure and torture not to do so.

A May 2005 Human Rights Watch report accused the MKO of running prison camps in Iraq and committing human rights violations.
According to the Human Rights Watch report, the outlawed group puts defectors under torture and jail terms.

The group, founded in the 1960s, blended elements of Islamism and Stalinism and participated in the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979. Ahead of the revolution, the MKO conducted attacks and assassinations against both Iranian and Western targets.

The group started assassination of the citizens and officials after the revolution in a bid to take control of the newly established Islamic Republic. It killed several of Iran’s new leaders in the early years after the revolution, including the then President, Mohammad Ali Rajayee, Prime Minister, Mohammad Javad Bahonar and the Judiciary Chief, Mohammad Hossein Beheshti who were killed in bomb attacks by MKO members in 1981.

The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it was protected by Saddam Hussein and where it helped the Iraqi dictator suppress Shiite and Kurd uprisings in the country.

The terrorist group joined Saddam’s army during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) and helped Saddam and killed thousands of Iranian civilians and soldiers during the US-backed Iraqi imposed war on Iran.

Since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the group, which now adheres to a pro-free-market philosophy, has been strongly backed by neo-conservatives in the United States, who also argue for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list.

May 23, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Mr. Karami Open Letter to President Obama

Mojahedin Khalq propaganda in US

Mr. President,

You must be aware of the accelerated propaganda machine of Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MEK/MKO/PMOI). A number of prominent politicians and former officials of Bush administration including former national security advisor General James Jones, former mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, former undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns, former US secretary of energy, Bill Richardson and Professor Ruth Wedgwood who fail to have enough information on Iran and the true substance of MKO were allured by the group to attend their events in Paris and European Parliament.

You may wonder what is the MKO’s motivation behind launching such an American campaign! The motivation lies in the organization’s objective to use these politicians as a lever pressure against your administration in order to remove the group from DOS’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.

Mujahedin -e- Khalq make efforts to delist themselves not only politically but also through civil procedures and they do not hesitate to pay large amounts of money for that cause. It’s been many years now that MEK has been spending huge amounts to magnify the group as an alternative to the Iranian regime. It has bought a large range of people from all over the world to run its cause. The above-mentioned objective was not important to Rajavi until the fall of Saddam but after his collapse finding a new sponsor became Rajavi’s concern.

Before the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Massoud Rajavi used to brag to his audience saying that he didn’t care if MKO was in the list of terrorist organizations of the DOS and that it could list them a dozen times and MKO didn’t fear! But after MKO lost its main military and financial supporter (Saddam Hussein), the group’s political gesture changed entirely. They set off active champagne to remove their organization from the blacklist at any cost, although their activities against Islamic Republic haven’t changed significantly since they were removed from EU’s terror list.

Mr. President,

People’s Mujahedin Organization began its struggle in the 1960’s based on an anti imperialism ideology which considered the US as its main target. They launched several terrorist attacks against American civilians and officials in Iran:

In December of 1970 carried out an abortive attempt to kidnap U.S.Ambassador Douglas MacArthur.

In May, 1972 they assassinated the US. Counselor General Price and exploded some bomb in American installations.

President Richard M. Nixon’s trip was marred by a series of bombings, including one explosion at the tomb of the Shah’s father shortly before the President and his hosts were scheduled to arrive.

Explosion in Shell-Lavan Oil Cogan .Jan. 28 , 1973

Sound bomb explosion in International Hotel Cafeteria – Jan. 29 , 1973

General Hawkins assassination – Jun. 1 , 1973

Assassination of US embassy translator Hasan Khan – July 2 , 1975

For sack of the regime dependence on world monopoly and exploitation in Jan. to Feb.2, 1973, they exploded and set on fire several offices such as US Oil companies, TV & Radio stations and Pan American airlines.

In May24, 1974 for the anniversary of hanging of their leaders, this organization operated some explosive actions in American and Jewish economic companies and internal depended capitalists such as American and Jewish General, English0-Court Insurance Company Pork Shire and Jewish company Techno vice.

In Jan., 26, 1975 as a result of Kissinger entering –the US foreign minister- to Iran and some objections against him, a set of explosion in ITT companies (US multinational), Naraqi agricultural & industrial and John deer (American Insurance).

In May10, 1975 while returning of Shah from US and as a reaction to killing 9 persons of the former political members in April18, 1974(Bijan Jozni – Hassan Ziya zarifi – Aziz Sarmadi – Masha’of Kalantari – Mostafa Javan Khshdel – Kazem Zol-Anvar – Mohammad Choupan Zadeh – Ahmad Jalil Afshar) they chased the John Turner’s car and general Shepherds, two US counselors in Iran and then blocked two sides of the car and set fire on them by machineguns.

In July 3, 1975 the plan designed for assassinating Donald Eruona the American diplomat have been run. Assassinators blocked the way of US service car in Hashemi and Kheradmand junction and set fire on it. But because of darkness of the inside of the car an Iranian embassy employee have been mistakenly killed.

Following this operation a powerful bomb exploded in Iran & US committee for the memorial of Tir 30th 1331 movement and another one in English Consulate in Mashhad which have destructed a part of that building.

In August 27, 1976 three employees of the American Rockwell international company in California who have intended in a confidential spy process named “Ibex” in Iran, have been assassinated. In this year a powerful bomb have been exploded in Shemiran municipality.

May 11, 1975 – assassination of Colonel Paul Schaeffer and Lieutenant Colonel Jack Turner, U.S. Air Force officers in the mission.

In 1979, 25 members of MEK had an active role in the takeover of US embassy in Tehran. Here, I provide you with a film in which an MEK official is being interviewed in front of the Embassy. The fil

m was shown by Iranian TV only once.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mm46368666nnsb#p/a/u/0/edeh3g4fhtY

When the terrorist attack on US World Trade Center on September 11th, ended with massacre of a large number of innocent civilians, the whole world were shocked and left in sorrow and all the governments, and international bodies condemned the inhumane act while MEK were celebrating that catastrophic event in Camp Baqerzadeh where Massoud and Maryam Rajavi congratulated members, giving out sweets and candies. Massoud Rajavi addressed the members: ”this was the reactionary Islam [Bin Laden /al-Qaida] that trembled the basis of the US Imperialism and destroyed the twin towers that were their symbols of power. What if Revolutionary Islam [pointing to his Saddam-made army NLA] comes on the scene? ‘’

As a main violator of human rights, MKO hasn’t been able to exploit human right abuses in Iran, yet. In 2005, Human Rights Watch published a detailed record on cases of human rights abuses in the organization. Besides it has been about 14 months that families of Ashraf residents have been awaiting to visit their children in front of Ashraf gates but MKO officials ,under the order of Massoud Rajavi do not allow them to visit their families but they order the residents to launch catapults to their own families .

https://st.nejatngo.org/media/Report/MEK_Throw_Stones_Families_T.wmv

Sir,

The US Department of States has designated People’s Mujahedin of Iran and its political wing National Council of Resistance as a terrorist organization since the 1990’s when DOS didn’t have a large amount of important information on the group. In 2005, DOS report on MEK noted that MEK has the potential threat of a dangerous cult. The significant example of that potentiality turned into practice in June 2003 after the arrest of Maryam Rajavi by French police when members of the group set themselves on fire to protest her arrest in European cities.

Although the reports of DOS on MEK in 2005 and 2006 are not complete, they offer a few examples of numerous cult-like approaches of MEK.

Today, considering valuable information on MEK published by DOS and DOD, including RAND report, the terrorist cult of MEK must not be allowed to spread lies and feed American politicians with its disinformation campaign. MEK’s re-designation as a foreign terrorist organization will disappoint the group and its propaganda machine. You may want to take a look at the group’s latest request made by its spokesman Ali Reza Jaafarzadeh to find out how its deceptive propaganda machine works.

Some documents are attached that expose the real nature of Mujahedin Khalq Organization:

Lets create another Vietnam for America (pdf). [Mojahedin English language paper April 1980]
Letter to Imam (Khomeini) (pdf.)[Mojahedin English Language paper April 1980]
Some questions unanswered regarding the US military invasion of Iran (pdf)[Mojahedin English Language paper June 1980 ]
The song, War with America which is an epic song
Lets create another Vietnam for America(pdf).
(Mojahedin English language paper April 1980)
Letter to Imam (Khomeini) (pdf).
(Mojahedin English Language paper April 1980)
Some questions unanswered regarding the US military invasion of Iran (pdf).
(Mojahedin English Language paper June 1980)

Mohammad Karami, Paris

May 18, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq; A proxy force

Giuliani, Dean Paid To Advocate For Terrorist Group

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal looks at the considerable support that the exiled Iranian Islamist-Marxist cult Mujahideen-e Khalq — which is designated by the U.S. State Department as

Are US Politicians Giving Support to "Terrorist" Mujahedin-e-Khalq?

a foreign terrorist organization — has been able to cultivate, both in European capitals and in DC, getting people like Rudy Giuliani and Howard Dean to speak at their events.

The article notes that these speakers “wouldn’t disclose their speaking fees, but many of them charge between $25,000 and $40,000 per appearance.” Dean also said that “he has made both paid and unpaid speeches for MeK.”

As I noted back in December, such activities skirt very close to violating U.S. law in regard to “material support” for terrorism. Responding to this charge when it was raised by attorney David Cole, Giuliani and his colleagues quoted the relevant law: “Individuals who act entirely independently of the [FTO] to advance its goals or objectives shall not be considered to be working under the [FTO]’s direction and control.”

“As a result,” Giuliani et al concluded, “we felt quite secure, thank you, in relying on the protection Congress placed in the statute, backed up by the First Amendment.”

But can Giuliani and others really be said to be “acting entirely independently” of the MEK if they’re getting paid explicitly to advocate on their behalf?

That question aside, the MEK is clearly ramping up its lobbying effort here in DC. Yesterday, the Washington Post ran a full page ad calling on State Department ed-list the MEK. The ad claims that the MEK is “Iran’s principal opposition movement,” which would surely come as a surprise to Iran’s actual opposition movement.[..]
The Washington Post ad was paid for by the National Association of Iranian Scholars in Britain, which is listed as one of a number of MEK aliases by the Iran Interlink website, run by former MEK members.

Also yesterday, the Washington Times ran a pro-MEK ad of a different sort, in the form of a ridiculously misleading op-ed by Daniel Pipes. “The MeK issue reveals Iraqi subservience to Iran with special clarity,” wrote Pipes, suggesting that that the Iraqi army’s recent violent entry into Camp Ashraf north of Baghdad — where MEK members have lived since 1986, protected first by Saddam, then by the U.S. — was done on Iran’s orders.

While I appreciate the fact that neocons like Pipes have awakened to the fact of Iranian influence in Iraq (enabled, of course, by the U.S. intervention), the idea that Iraqis should need special Iranian encouragement against the MEK is amusing. The MEK fought alongside Hussein’s forces after the 1991 Gulf War to put down the Shia uprising in Iraq’s south and the Kurdish uprising in the north, driven by MEK leader Maryam Rajavi’s infamous command to “Take the Kurds under your tanks, and save your bullets for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.” Given the significant Shia and Kurdish presence in the new Iraqi government, it should come as no surprise that that government is not positively disposed toward the MEK.

The question of what to do with the residents of Camp Ashraf — which includes a number of children — is a tough one, but it should be separated out from whether they should be taken off the terrorism list. Barbara Slavin had a very good piece in March, looking at the delusion of some high-profile MEK supporters that the U.S. could support them as a credible Iranian political opposition force. It’s clear that some would like to treat the MEK as an Iranian version of Ahmad Chalabi’s Iraqi National Congress. Responding to that comparison yesterday, Kombiz Lavasany wrote via Twitter, “In Chalabi’s defense, not sure Iraqis knew or cared about him. Everyone in Iran just hates the MEK.”

wonkroom.thinkprogress

May 15, 2011 0 comments

European Union

MEPs warned not to fall victim to misleading MKO lobby

Massive human rights violations inside the MEK must be investigated: individual screening and resettlement by UNHCR needed

MEPs from five political groups have sent a letter to their colleagues to brief them about the PMOI lobby in the European Parliament. The letter says that while the deaths at Camp Ashraf were uncacceptable, MEPs should not ignore the MEKs history in Iraq and the overwhelming evidence of human rights abuses inside the MEK. The letter called for screeing and resettlement of individual camp residents and fair trials for members which Iraq alleges have committed crimes against humanity in their country.

An excerpt of the letter:

European Parliament
Strasbourg, 10 May 2011

Dear colleagues,
Before Easter vacation, Vice-President Vidal Quadras has addressed a letter to all members of the European Parliament accusing the Chair of the Iran delegation, Ms. Lochbihler, of diffusing false information about the Iranian People’s Mujahedin, also known as Mujahedin e Khalq (MEK), PMOI, MKO or National Council of Resistance. For your information we attach the two letters.
The PMOI was protected by Saddam Hussein who hosted them from the mid-1980s until his demise. They collaborated in his internal repression against Kurds and Shiites and have since that time had a military camp known as Camp Ashraf. When the US disarmed the camp in 2003 it housed over 3000 PMOI fighters. The group has developed a very strong lobby in the European Parliament over the last couple of years claiming to be the only serious Iranian opposition group.

The events of April 8, when the Iraqi security forces tried to force their way into the camp with armoured vehicles brought the existence of this group into the lime light again. We fully support the serious concern and condemnation expressed by Ms Lochbihler over the killing of some 30 camp residents and the injury of many more. While the main responsibility for the incident seems to be with the Iraqi security forces, they have so far only acknowledged responsibility for the death of three inmates. We therefore fully support the call of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for an independent investigation into the incident.

This unacceptable blood shed should not, however, distract us from an objective and level headed analysis of the track record of the PMOI. We urge all members to seriously consider the history, actions and behaviour of the PMOI before signing any declarations or letters of support in favour of this group in the future. Their method is very simple: they mobilise MEPs justified outrage at the nuclear issue, the human rights violations and the very character of the Iranian regime, but instrumentalised such opinion for a different purpose – the political legitimation of the Mujahedin organisation itself.

Surprisingly, the allegations of massive human rights violations inside the Mujahedin organisation are never subject of debate. According to overwhelming evidence the former militant group has turned into a repressive sect far removed from the respectable image the representatives of this group display when visiting the European Parliament. The human rights violations the leaders are committing against the group’s members are amply documented, starting with Human Rights Watch (HRW) and many witness reports of ex-members who were able to flee (including testimonies in the European Parliament).

The European Court of Justice removed the PMOI from the EU terrorist list in 2009 on a formality – the Member States who asked them to be included on the list refused to transmit the evidence on which their request was based to the court. This ruling does not make any statement as to the group’s practice of internal repression.

The support the PMOI receives from members of Parliament allows its leadership to perpetuate their absolute power over the rank and file, of which most are believed to want to desperately leave the group. The hundreds of members who have managed to escape from Ashraf and have been screened by the UNHCR bear witness of their plight.

Instead of boosting the PMOI, with all its criminal activities, we should urge the High Representative and the member states to help to find a humanitarian solution for the remaining camp residents (screening by the UNHCR and individual resettlement) and a fair trial for the approximately 50 persons in the camp wanted by the Iraqi authorities for alleged crimes against humanity.

Sincerely Yours,
Michael Gahler, Elmar Brok (EPP), Kurt Lechner (EPP), Maria Muniz, Ana Gomes, Hannes Swoboda (S&D), Marietje Schaake, Annemie Neyts, Jelko Kacin (ALDE), Isabelle Durant, Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL)

May 12, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

ADVT condemned the assassination of Iranian laborers by MKO

In this statement we read: first May is called the Laborers’ day in Iran. Laborers are considered as one of the studious work forces of the society. The great majority of laborers’ population and their demands have incited terrorists for conducting attacks against them frequently. In this Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism regard the terrorist cult of Rajavi has caused too much loss on this class of society. The great majority of victims of MKO terrorist attacks are laborers.

Based on this statement it has been asserted that the issue of laborers and the importance of supporting their rights have been mentioned in various international documents like the International Labor Organization Protocol, Articles 6,7 and 8 of the UN Cultural, Economic and Social Convention and the Articles 23 and 24 of the Universal Human Rights Declaration. However, in the list of the Mojahedin-e Khalq organization, there are the names of more than 4000 laborers, most of whom had not even heard the name of this organization. According to the claim of the organization leaders, these laborers deserved death just for supporting the regime. Based on the domestic and international laws of most of the countries, no one should be reprimanded for having a special approach or viewpoint. Far beyond reprimanding, MKO assassinates these people. The MKO leaders turn laborers into a political plaything for their own ends without considering their human dignity; in the case of any opposition, the laborers would be murdered. The reason behind the assassination of most of the laborers was that their work was leading to economic growth and consequently the increase of public trust in government.

The violation of the human rights of the laborers is not limited to the assassinations; The MKO illegally transfers many workers who are seeking for a job in foreign countries, to Iraq and MKO’s military base there. After confiscating their identity documents, these laborers receive compulsory military and terrorist trainings and also are exposed to forced labor. On one hand, based on the ‘freedom of the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work’, mentioned in Article 23 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights this issue is the violation of human rights. On the other hand, it is quit contrary to the laws related to the way of treating laborers.

Mojahedin-e Khalq organization which speaks out the rights of laborers, considers long working hours and lack of sleeping, as a way for making the members exhausted and preventing them from thinking. This is another evidence of the violation of primary rights of human beings. This issue has been completely explained in the Human Rights Watch report of May 2005 and American RAND Corporation report of August 2009. Studying these impartial reports can give a better understanding of these stone-age criminals of the third millennium.

With these descriptions about the approach of the Rajavi cult leaders and the inhuman situation governing the Ashraf Camp and the way they treat their members (like some slaves), we have to talk about the two types of the laborer victims of this terrorist cult; the first category is composed of the laborers who have been directly targeted by the MKO and the second one are the workers who have been deceived by MKO. The members of the second category seek for their rights although they can find nothing but the violation of their basic rights in these terrorist groups.

ADVT also announces that instrumental application of these laborers just like the other professions of the society including students, teachers, and sellers are common in this terrorist group.

This year, MKO arranged various propaganda plays in order to distract the society and create an atmosphere of opposition and objection among the laborer class of the society. However, all of these futile efforts foiled and no one paid any attention to such claims. Therefore, Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism condemning the assassination of laborers calls on international organizations to make their best efforts for the trial of Rajavi leaders who keep the MKO members as captives and abuses the laborers.

Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism, Tehran

May 3, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

The Chameleon-like Mujahedin-e Khalq

The Mujahedin Khalq (MEK) is a cult which has a long history of terrorism; the leaders, with their chameleon like-nature have targeted and captivated various audiences throughout their existence as a group. They run diplomacy of deception and their opportunistic tactics are now fooling naïve Western sympathizers—so much that some sympathizers will lay down their The Chameleon-like Mujahedin-e Khalq political reputations for them, in the belief that they are supporting a legitimate alternative to the current regime in Iran. With an impressive ability to transform its image, the Mujahedin-e Khalq has managed to court potential allies. They have tailored their principles to obtain sympathy from and stir the attention of neoconservative warmongers who would like to see Iran acted upon with a major political operation. This is dangerous because any type of political operation against Iran, especially one that would result in the use of force would be catastrophic. Notwithstanding what the Iranian people think, an operation which includes the MKO would also include a goal of ending the current Iranian regime—and placing it with the MKO. The Iranian people would not, in any way, stand for it because Iranians have no room for a principle-bending cult who is out of touch with reality and who has not stepped foot in Iran for decades.

Development of Change
During the 1960’s when many Iranian youth were interested in Marxism, influenced by the USSR, founders of MEK based their ideology on a Marxist version of Islam. According to the US State Department report, the “MEK sought to counter what it perceived as excessive western influence in the Shah’s regime. Following a philosophy that mixes Marxism and Islam the MEK has developed into the largest and most active armed Iranian dissident group."[1]

When in the 1970’s, anti-western attitudes came to be shared by most guerilla groups around the world and also among Iranians who supported Ayatollah Khomeini as an Islamic anti-western leader, the MEK found it beneficial to develop an anti-imperialism dimension to their activities. They launched several attacks against American interests in Iran that killed seven American military personnel and civilians. The State Department reports that "its history is studded with anti-western activity.” [2]

During the Islamic Revolution in 1978, the MEK took part in anti Shah protests and supported the Islamic Republic. But soon after the revolution they clashed with the newly-settled government because they couldn’t find any position in the newly formed power structure. The group’s leader, Massoud Rajavi fled to Paris together with the Iranian former President, Abulhassan Banisadr (who now denounces the group and refers to it as a terrorist cult). In Paris, they found it advantageous to change their image and their name; they started the National Council of Resistance which is now the MKO’s political tribune in the West. Kathryn Spellman, a British Professor of sociology writes in her book *Religion and Nation: Iranian Local and Transnational Networks in London*, that "the NCR was founded in October 1981 as a provisional government of the Islamic Democratic Republic."[3]

The NCR was first headed by Massoud Rajavi and included 235 members of whom 90% were Mujahedin members. In response to the female impression on the Iranian government, the NCR cleverly decided to elect a woman, Maryam Rajavi as “President elect” of the Democratic Islamic Republic of Iran. The title "Democratic Islamic Republic" for the MEK’s dream government of Iran was not surprising because at the time Iranian public were seriously interested in Islam and most people wanted Islamic laws to be obeyed in their country. Knowing this, Rajavi adopted the majority “Islamic” view. He felt that it was important to change his group’s principles in order to be accepted as a viable alternative to the regime.
In 1985 the MEK made another transformation and moved to Iraq where Rajavi gradually transformed the MEK into a full blown military cult, appointing himself as the absolute leader.* *Antoine Gessler author of *Autopsy of Anti Ideological Drift*: *Analysis and Background on the* *MKO* describes the group:

"Operating as a political-military sect, based on a cult of personality, the people’s Mojahedin of Iran requires total obedience from their true believers. The hierarchy is very structured and very strict, demanding blind obedience to the leadership. Their methods are reminiscent of Stalin’s. They include the notorious model of the Moscow show trials overwhelming their internal critics with insults, mudslinging lies, accusations of treason, selling out or being enemy agents.“Yet, after almost thirty years of struggle, the PMOI and its National Liberation army have little to show for their efforts. They have squandered all their achievements of the Seventies and Eighties largely through their alliance with Saddam Hussein.

During the last two decades, Mr. Rajavi and his friends have only succeeded in cutting themselves off from the very people who want change in Iran, but will not follow the PMOI. They have never been able to lay the foundations of that ‘Islamic, Democratic Republic of Iran’ which is their principal aim." [4]

In 2003, after the fall of Saddam Hussein when the MEK’s Camp Ashraf was bombed by the American Air Force, Massoud Rajavi found a practical solution—he shifted with the wind and signed an agreement with US Forces, which required him to relinquish arms (to US Forces). This strategic move helped him draw the West’s attention towards his organization which has been listed as a terrorist group since the 1990’s. As the MEK increased its propaganda campaign in Western countries they intentionally distinguished themselves as a non-terrorist group and delivered an agenda which portrayed them merely as an opposition group which was rational, a friend of the West, but more importantly, secular, non-violent, and democratic. By the end of 2004, Rajavi’s democratic Islamic Republic militant group had apparently morphed into a “democratic, independent and secular regime.”

In 2010, the group made a huge effort to purify its image even more in response to the bad press it had been getting regarding its long history of terrorist activities. Ali Safavi, the group’s main lobbyist attempted to clear all religious associations from the MEK’s image and reintroduced them as a purely secular organization. Safavi re-wrote the group’s history in a a series of articles which were published by the *Huffington Post*. According to Safavi, *now* the “MEK was founded in 1965 as a Muslim organization. It saw the society divided between tyranny and liberation forces, and not believers and non-believers. Like most Iranians, its founders sought a secular republic and the establishment of a democracy in Iran. MEK has never endeavored towards an ideological government, be it Islamic or otherwise." [5] For naïve politicians who do not know the real history, this is successful deceit, and will no doubt, help buy support.

Rajavi would like us all to somehow believe that he can fulfill a promise that will take care of every one–a secular government which offers a foundation for a Democratic Islamic Republic. According to Dr. Ahmad Sadri, an Iranian–American university professor of Islamic World Studies and Sociology at Lake Forest College in Illinois, the MEK wears a mask and is basically telling the world that as long as it is beneficial, “we are whatever you want us to be.”[7]

By Mazda Parsi

References:

[1] United States. *Terrorist Designation Lists*. Washington DC: First published in 1999, updated every two years. Web
[2]ibid
[3] Spellman, Kathryn . *Religion and Nation: Iranian Local and Transnational Networks in London*. 1st ed. London, New York: Berghahn Books,2004. Print.p.28

[4] Gessler, Antoine. *Autopsy of an ideological Drift*. Translated by Thomas R. Forstenzer 2004 Publishing Information is unknown: 13. Print
[5] Safavi, Ali. "Reality Check: Understanding the Mujahedin-e Khalq." *Huffington
Post*. March 3, 2010: Web.
[6] Lach, Eric. "Iranian Prof: U.S. Support For MEK Would Anger Ordinary
Iranians." *Talking Points Memo TPMMuckraker* (07 FEB 2011): Web. 23 Apr 2011

April 28, 2011 0 comments

MKO Former Member Open Letter to Ms. Ashton

Mojahedin Khalq exploit you for their own agenda

Honorable Ms. Ashton
I’d like to begin my letter by asking a few questions:
Have you ever been tortured? Have you ever been whipped? Have you ever been beaten, kicked, fisted or slapped? Have you ever been tortured psychologically so as you were forced to take drugs? Have you ever observed your friends’ committing suicide because they could no more tolerate terrible tortures they used to suffer?

Yes, Dear Ms. Ashton,
I was a member of Mujahedin Khalq Organization for about 30 years under the leadership of Massoud and Mayam Rajavi who claim to run a democratic organization that advocates human rights.

I was seriously beaten and tortured in MKO because I criticized the organization several times. I was imprisoned in camp Ashraf prisons where I was terribly tortured both physically and psychologically. I felt so terrible that the so-called doctor of the prison prescribed forbidden medicines for my mental problems. The scars left by torture are evidences of my words. However, Iraqi officials have documents on MKO’s human right violation cases. MKO’s propaganda presents itself as human rights advocate but in fact its leaders treat their dissident members so violently. To check the accuracy of my work, you may want to send a delegation to interview the twenty-eight members who have managed to escape Camp Ashraf since last year.

Dear Ms. Ashton,
Do you know the real meaning of those issues you mention about MKO in your speeches or your statements? Do you really know what you were given by MKO propaganda Machine? Those who are aware of MKO’s real nature believe that your words on MKO are dictated to you by the group. I’d like to warn you not to get involved in a cult-like culture. They exploit you to run their own agenda. To make sure, you might be able to have Persian language experts interpret what MKO has so far presented to you.

As soon as possible, you should stop MKO from playing with your ideals including human rights and democracy. They wear the mask of a democratic, humanitarian, peaceful organization while they widely violate human rights. I highly recommend reading the HRW’s report on MKO in 2005,No EXIT, and also RAND report published by the US Defense Department in 2010.

Mohammad Karami, Paris

April 23, 2011 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

MKO Exploits Crisis for Propaganda

The situation of Camp Ashraf poses complex challenges for MKO leaders with no easy answers.
The group leaders are the same criminals who have the blood of Americans, Iranians and Iraqi Kurds and Shiites on their hands and are the most hated by the majority of Iranians, even those who criticize the current government of Tehran. They find no way to prolong their survival except by attracting the West’s attention towards their bankrupt organization.

The recent clashes at Camp Ashraf were part of MKO’s propaganda campaign to buy support of the West. Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman, Mohammad Al-Askari attended a new conference a day after clashes, he showed the media a metal hook used by residents of camp Ashraf to attack Iraqi security forces. [1] While MKO websites claim that 31 Ashraf residents were killed during the clashes with Iraqi Security forces, Iraqi authorities say that these people were killed at Camp Ashraf on Friday when security forces responded to rock-throwing and threats by residents during an operation to reclaim land from the camp, according to Reuters.[2]

Along with their misinformation campaign MEK have posted videos on the Internet showing some soldiers appear to be Iraqi troops walking around and in one case targeting Ashraf residents. The videos also show an American Humvee bearing an Iraqi flag chasing some people on foot around. You see one man throw himself in front of the vehicle. The vehicle stops right away and reverses away. You may wonder who those dead and injured bodies MKO TV shows and claims the number to mount 31 are. The videos are so ambiguous that CNN declared that it could not confirm them.[3]

Haider Adel is an Iraqi policeman who was wounded by MKO forces on Friday. "We were at a checkpoint to provide protection for them (Ashraf residents), but all of the sudden they attacked us with stones and iron bars," he said.[4]

The comments from Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh came shortly after a United Nations Spokesman in New York said 34 people were killed in April8 raid on Camp Ashraf.[5]"Our security forces believe that this (the deaths) has been done by their (the PMOI) guards killing those who were willing to escape from the camp", Dabbagh said in a text message to AFP, adding that government was investigating the issue.[6]"Similar methods have been used before by them", he added.[7]

The Iraqi military, which rings the perimeter of the 19-sq-mil (49 sq km) Camp, denies using firearms and says only three residents were killed – when they threw themselves in front of military vehicles, according to an article by Rania Abouzeid of the TIME. [8]

Things can rapidly devolve into violence, given growing Iraqi frustration with the organization, whose members exhibit a cult-like obedience and willingness to sacrifice themselves for their cause, Abouzeid believes.[9]

Although the allegations of Iraqi officials and MKO propaganda on the case are entirely different, one thing is sure and that’s the victimization of a number of human beings whom unfortunately, among them there are intellectuals and educated people that have been caught in a destructive terrorist cult. Deprived of the most basic human rights, they have no way out except absolute obedience to a power-thirsty cult leader who doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice his followers just to guarantee his own survival.

By Mazda Parsi

References:
[1]Reuters, Iraq to probe Iranian camp deaths, April 12, 2011
[2]ibid
[3]NEW JESTIC, Iraq defends violence!, April 11, 2011-04-17
[4]ibid
[5]Agency France Press, Iran camp victims killed by own guards, April 14, 2011
[6]ibid
[7]ibid
[8]Abouzeid, Rania, TIME, Could the MEK Be Evicted From Camp Ashraf by Iraqi Military? , April15, 2011
[8]ibid
[9]ibid

April 21, 2011 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Hidden arsenal found in Ashraf Camp

The Iraqi local officials in the Province of Diyala have revealed that the Iraqi security forces found a hidden arsenal inside camp Ashraf.

Camp Ashraf was for years the armed training base in Iraq for the members of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization known as MKO, where the group was sheltered by former President Saddam Hussein.

The local officials stated the US troops already claimed they had disarmed the MKO members but it seems that was not true.

The mayor of Al Khalis where the camp is located showed the pictures of the weapons and said that they were buried inside the camp near the shacks of the MKO members.

Diyala’s police chief said the MKO leaders also claimed that they had handed over more than 17 thousands of weapons to the US troops since the US invasion in 2003.

Recently MKO said the Iraqi security forces killed more than 34 of its members in the latest clashes on April.

Clashes reportedly erupted when Iraqi security forces began to regain control of the land confiscated by Saddam Hussein to setup the MKO camp. Officials say, members of the camp began hurling stones and attacking the security forces with knives and other weapons as they were carrying out their duty.

Iraqi defense ministry also held a press conference inside the camp to show that the MKO claims were baseless.

The MKO is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community, and is responsible for numerous terrorist acts against both Iranians and Iraqis.

Since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the group has been backed by some in the US, who also argue for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list. However, in line with the new Iraqi constitution, Baghdad government has assured it is determined to expel the MKO from Iraq by the end of 2011.

Wisam al-Bayati

April 19, 2011 0 comments

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