Nejat Society Reporter “ Mehr Abad Airport Tehran
Two defectors of Rajavi’s Cult returned, being under pressure since long ago could join American camp and by cooperation of IRC they returned to their homeland and welcomed .
On 2nd February 2006, Mr. Abbas Sadeghi headed a delegation to the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg, to emphasise the concern expressed previously in a letter signed to the court by tens of people over the action by the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) organisation against the Council of Europe.
The Court of First Instance will hear the case on Tuesday, 7th February, 2006. Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation lawyers will represent their client against the decision made by Council of Europe in 2002 to include the group in the European list of terrorist entities. The group claims ‘breach of its rights of defence in that it was not given the opportunity to be heard before being included in the contested lists.’
The delegation on Thursday brought documents and evidence to the Court exposing the organisation’s twenty five year history of financial, military, intelligence and terrorist cooperation with Saddam Hussein, and raised the concerns of many about what has apparently been a new, duplicitous move by the organisation in which their lawyers would declare to the court that:
As the forces of the MEK surrendered their arms to the Special Forces of the American Army during Operation Free Iraq, they have therefore rejected violent means to achieve their political aims since that date".
Mr. Sadeghi explained and produced documents and clear evidence to show that the MEK surrendered only after it was bombarded by allied aircraft and suffered severe casualties. He also emphasised that the disarmament took place only with coalition forces aircraft flying constantly over the military camps of the MEK.
Since its disarmament, the MEK has continued to depict its so-called "armed struggle" as the only possible way to struggle against the Iranian ruling regime, and has refused even to accept that there may be any other means to achieve democracy and freedom in Iran.
The delegation went on to explain and produce evidence of countless cases of imprisonment, torture and murder of disaffected members under the full protection of Saddam’s intelligence services, as well as cases of targeting civilians in Iran and elsewhere during armed attacks. The delegation also explained how the MEK, headed by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, participated in the massacre of Iraqi Shiites and Kurds during their uprising against Saddam in 1991.
The delegation produced evidence which clearly show that the Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation and the National Council of Resistance (NCR) headed by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, have, in their propaganda outlets as recently as a few months ago, publicly issued death sentences against their critics who are the citizens of European countries. Mr Sadeghi also referred to the clandestine activities of the ‘Intelligence Section’ of the National Council of Resistance (an alias which the MEK uses to hide the illegal activities of the military cult in the European Union), in particular in London and Cologne. One instance of such activity resulted in attacks against reporters who may have written negatively about the NCR and MEK. Another case led to the assault and injury of ex-members who have openly criticised the NCR and MEK.
The delegation emphasised that the answer to the MKO’s lawyers who would claim the group has changed its strategy from violent means to peaceable means, comes from the NCR leader Maryam Rajavi herself who told an LA Times reporter from Auvers Sur Oise that:
…she declined to rule out armed intervention, saying, "The tactics and methods have been imposed not by us, but by the mullahs." (LA Times, February 01, 2006)
Mr. Sadeghi was welcomed and assured that the Court of First Instance would thoroughly consider all relevant information presented by both parties.
He was also advised that should the Court of First Instance decide to progress the action against the Council of the European Union, then more documents should be submitted to its offices in Strasbourg, and an application should be lodged for the concerned parties to directly take part in the procedure through an appointed lawyer.
Mr. Sadeghi said, "We will wait for the verdict on this case, which the MEK brought in 2002, and if necessary we will raise our own legal arguments in the Court. Our first issue will be whether the MEK’s claim to have renounced violence is genuine by asking for the MEK to make a public statement accepting the dismantlement of its military Camp Ashraf in Iraq as a first step." Mr Sadeghi also said, "we hope the MEK will give up its cult practices before too long."
February 3, 2006 – Iraninterlink
In a ceremony held in Samen Al-A’emeh complex in Abadan on Wednesday, a former member of the cult of Rajavi returned to his family.
Jaber Majdmian, expressing his happiness, said the situation in the MKO is inhumane.
"In 1987, I joined the MKO in Iraq but from the beginning, I realized the terrorist and inhuman nature of the group."
"I repeatedly tried to return to my family, but the MKO didn’t allow me to do so. After the fall of Saddam Hussein and due to the hatred of Iraqis for the MKO, there appeared a chance for us to return and I could come back home with the assistance of Red Cross and Nejat Association in Khuzestan Province. I believe I was born again. I try to be useful for my society."
Majdmian said that he had been treated well by Iranian security officials; he hopes he can compensate his past.
In the ceremony, Hamid Hassani, the head of Nejat Association in Khuzestan province, said: "300 former members of terrorist MKO have already returned to their families. The ouster of former Iraqi regime and the detention of Saddam Hussein weakened the MKO so that it lost the support of foreign countries and its members realized their own group’s terrorist nature."
He said the purposes of Nejat Associatin include "helping the deceived members of MKO, revealing the truth and nature of hypocrisy in the MKO and exposing the ugly face of the group in domestic and international scenes to the members".
"Former members can encourage their friends in Iraq, still with MKO, to leave the terrorist group; they can do this by radio messages, internet and phone."
We guarantee that MKO members won’t be harmed in the case of returning to the country. They will be protected by Iranian officials.
He asked MKO members’ families to make contact with their loved ones and encourage them to return.
"ID cards and Military Service Cards (that indicate they have finished military service) would be issued for former members who return to the country. The association is ready to help them if they face any problems," he added.
IRNA – 2006/01/29
Nejat Society meeting in Tabriz
This month’s article reviewing the activities of the Association of Victims of the MEK has brought back some special memories.
One thing that is clear from the past year’s activities is that some extraordinary people are involved in this Association; people whom I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with over the past year; people who have displayed a wealth of ability, humanity, kindness, wit and good humor; people with strengths perhaps they are not aware of in themselves. For some of these people, to have survived the crushing experiences during their time with the MEK is an extraordinary feat in itself. For them to find the strength and conviction to continue to speak out the truth is truly inspiring.
We all know people who have left the Mojahedin for whom simply the experience of having been in the cult has become a virtual prison from which they cannot escape. MEK indoctrination infects their thinking even now and stunts their lives in every aspect.
The former members who have had the courage to speak out about the crimes of the Mojahedin leaders are all extraordinary people. When these people joined the MEK it was because they were not ordinary; they felt the desperate need of their people for freedom and they acted on it. Now, they have come out of the MEK with their integrity intact. They did not give way to the crushing manipulations of Rajavi. It is because of this that they are able to resist the threats and expose the machinations of the leaders. It is also, we should not forget, because Rajavi is not godlike; he is mortal and fallible like the rest of us.
News of Massoud Rajavi’s arrest and interrogation by US forces in Camp Mercury in Iraq should not come as a surprise.
After all, the man is fallible. What is of greater significance is that the unanswered questions which the MEK leadership tried so hard over the past three years to sweep under the carpet have now infiltrated into the body of the organisation. Questions about Rajavi’s relations with Saddam Hussein, human rights abuses inside the camps and the massacre of Kurds and Shiites are no longer the questions of former members, but are rather the question of existing members.
Rajavi, having failed to fob off the ‘enemy’, is now hearing the same questions emitted from the mouth of his devotees inside the organisation. Looking back over the past, as we do at this time of year, what strikes me as most interesting is just how far the MEK has shrunk from its glory days at the time of the revolution in 1979, when it could command thousands of supporters. Now, instead of trying to set up her own regime in Iran, Maryam Rajavi is spending her entire resources on squabbling with a handful of former members – the Association – in the west. No doubt the people of Iran will be truly grateful to know that the MEK’s attention is taken up elsewhere.
Iran-Interlink
following the return report of four MKO defectors having escaped from Camp Ashraf and joined American camp and returned to their homeland by cooperation of IRC on Jan.14, 2006 here we present the names:
1. Sajad Afsary
2. Osman Aminie
3. Nasir Heidary
4. Jaber Majdmiyan
Nejat Society
Nejat Society Reporter – Mehr Abad Airport Tehran
Four defectors of MKO, who were under pressure since long ago, could escape from Camp Ashraf and join American camp. After a while, by cooperation of IRC they returned to their homeland and welcomed on Jan.14, 2006 at 2 p.m.
All the returnees declared that the depression and disappointing atmosphere in Rajavi’s cult leads every member to escape. A large number of members willing to return to Iran, will return in near future.
These separated members also stated that everybody in Camp has this question in his mind: why the leaders of MKO have all fled to Europe or hidden themselves while this serious situation in Camp.
These defectors also asked for the trial of Masud Rajavi as a war criminal in an international court since it has been revealed that he has been detained by US forces.
I’m a victim freed from Rajavi’s claws; please hurry to help other victims.
In a message to Entekhab News Agency, Aghil Barani, a former member of the MKO who has been freed from this terrorist organization, called for efforts in order to help and rescue other victims still captive of the Rajavis.
He wrote:
“Yesterday, when I was reviewing my calendar, I was taken away from this world by an occasion. You may ask what occasion! Those who know me can guess easily.
I’m Aghil Barani. I had gone to Turkey for a job when I was deceived by agents of Mujahideen-e Khalq and I was taken to Iraq. After years of wasting my life, I could return home.
Yes, you’re right. The occasion on the calendar was December 10th, when Human Rights Charter was approved in the United Nations. I was preoccupied by thinking about the reasons why some people in the world are still deprived of their basic rights, despite this charter!
It’s like a film moving before my eyes: how a group chooses a popular name like Mojahedin for itself and then, after recruiting members and pushing them through strange filters, resorts to various inhumane scientific and non-scientific methods to isolate its members. I was myself a member of this group, and the reality shocks me.
We celebrate Human Rights day while a group of miserable victims are in the captivity of Mojahedin cult headed by the Rajavis.
As a freed former member of this dark and anti-human organization, and regarding the new situation in Iraq, I ask all free peoples to help our compatriots, taken hostage under different covers in Rajavi’s camp. I hope we can reveal the ugly face of Rajavi and his mercenaries in order to help the freedom of human beings.”
Entekhab.ir
Dr.Mahmoud worked for Mujahedin’s diplomatic service in Italy and he is a doctor now:
– When for the first time did you contact with the organization?
– In 1980, while I was studying medicine in AncÔne, Italy. Therefore, I joined the Iranian youth supporting Islamic Revolution against Shah. I established some relations with Mujahedin Khalq since they were the only movement making news in Iran’s political scene.
– Where was their center?
– They had an office near the Medicine University “Posa Tora” and had named themselves “Muslim Students Society”.
– Haw many people were working there?
– There were only two permanent members. That was only a base to recruit forces and send them immediately to Rome or Iraq in accordance with the organizations need.
– How did you start to work for the MKO?
– At first I sold Mujahedin’s publications to Iranians who lived in AncÔne . Then they took the collected money. Since I could speak Italian fluently, they sent me to diplomatic committee in Rome, in 1984. We were settled in “Nomentania” which was not far from Iranian and Libyan embassies. I was obliged to give up my studies and dedicate myself to my mission. Our offices were in a small two floor building where we had twelve rooms, two for diplomatic committee, two for the committee responsible for distributing the publication , two for the manager and two for the service responsible for relations with Iranian students all over Italy. At night, we slept in an apartment which was named”relaxation base”.
– Did you receive any wage for your work?
– No. but if we became permanent, all our equipments including clothes would be met by the organization.
– How was the work in diplomatic committee?
– We were three people. My mission included arranging relations between the organization and Italian politic men in order to achieve their support for our own policies.
– Where did the orders come from?
– I received them from Paris through telephone, of course not from Masud’s own mouth but from a woman called "Elahe".
– In Rome, didn’t you have a responsible to organize your activities?
– No, we shouldn’t talk together about our own duties.
– What did they want you to do?
– First I had to find the most influential person in the party, then I determined different political movements. I sent the information to Paris and there they told me among these people which ones have the priority to be contacted.This way, we collected more than 700 signatures of ministers, ministers deputies etc.. .
– Give me the names.
Luigi Ciriaco De Mita one of the Democratic Christians, Bettino Craxi, general secretary of Social Democratic Party and former prime minister , Claudio Martelli, Craxi’s assistant , Nicollazi member of Social Democratic Party, Alessandro Natta of Communist Party, Enrico Berlinger Chief of Rome fraction of Communist Party, Flaminio Piccoli director of Christian Democratic Party, Emanuele Villante of Communist Party, Achille Occhetto Secretary of Communist party, Giacomo Mancini Socialist leader. I contacted all these people personally and convinced them to sign the petitions.
– How could you convince them?
– I emphasized that Mujahedin are working for peace. Besides I told each party what it was interested in. For Communists, we were seeking social justice. In Democrat Christians’ view we were supporter of Democracy. In Italy, we obtained a status where all politic men knew Mujahedin just as dissident movement against regime in Iran.
– Note some of the tactics you used to obtain these supports.
– For example, to obtain the support of Communist Party, we invited ourselves to the annual congress and tried to get a time for speech, so we used the situation and approached the most important participants.
Then with their support we could get the representatives’ rooms and contact parliament members. We acted in the same way in Senate.
– Did you use any other methods?
– We also distributed our journal "Iran Liberation", this journal included instructions for sending donations.
– What did you do with the collected sums?
– The sums were given to the financial committee of the organization in Italy. After that I didn’t have the right to know.
– How was your relation with your high ranking officials?
– Strangulating and even immoral. Every night, after saying prayers, we had to write our self – criticizing texts and give it to our responsible but he prevented us from reading books and even thinking our own thoughts.
– Why did you leave Mujahedin?
– For political reasons. Gradually, I understood that neither they defend democracy nor freedom, nor national independence. Besides I didn’t feel comfortable due to the money they gave us. We didn’t know where it came from. They claimed that they receive the money from European civilians or parties, but we knew they lied and they had special relations with Iraq. They also had some relations with terrorist organizations.
– Can you state them in details?
– In Ancône, I had married a girl who was a medicine student too. She worked in News Committee of MEK, in Rome. She was responsible for searching the press and her principal duty was seeking information on terrorism: information on Red Brigades and members of IRN in Ireland and Lebanon and etc.
– This does not prove the organization link to terrorism.
– Why do you think we did that? To fill the papers? Mujahedin got the information of the activities of these movements because of political objectives.
– Did you have other reasons for your tendency to defect from Mujahedin?
– My wife and I were worried about our security. I had realized that the MKO had called medicine students to Iraq in order to treat the allegedly injured members in the hospital. In fact, they send them to the front to fight while Iran and Iraq were fighting each other.
– Do you have any evidence for what you say?
– The students were killed. I think a boy named Mehdi was killed in such away after our departure. I didn’t know his last name but he was from Shiraz. Another person named Mehdi Ahmad Far who worked with me in diplomatic committee was killed in war, in 1987. Some individuals who saw they have been deceived, tried to return to Italy. They asked for their passport which was seized by the organization. In response, they were beaten or thrown in to the prison and then given up to Iraq Intelligence Service. They were taken to Turkey later and left without passport and money. Mujahedin even canceled their residential permission in Italy.
– I want clear names, prove or witnesses.
– This is what everybody says.
– Why did they give their passport and money to MKO?
– It was systematic. When one entered the organization, gave his passport and all his money. The passports were used to transfer other members.
– Did it happen to you and your wife?
– Yes, but when we insisted, the organization ended with returning our passports to us. However we didn’t have the right to leave the Camp, we escaped at night, in 1986.
– Why did they return your passports?
– Without doubt because we were two, so we were more powerful. Besides I worked for diplomatic committee. I had relations with influential politic men in Italy. Do you still have question?
– Just the last point. Have you ever visited Masud or Maryam Rajavi?
– No, never.