Mujahedin Khalq Declining

Ashraf Camp to be evacuated of MKO by end of this month

Police sources said today that the anti-Iranian Ashraf Camp shall be fully evacuated by the end of this month. Ashraf Camp to be evacuated of MKO by end of this month

The source told Aswat al-Iraq that 2400 members of the camp were moved to Freedom Camp near Baghdad airport in six groups.

There are 800 members remaining who will be moved in two batches; the first will comprise of 600 members and the second 200.

The Camp shall be fully closed by the end of this month, the sources confirmed.

It was intended for the camp to be the headquarters of Dijla Operations Command, which includes Diala and Kirkuk military operations, due to the site’s location.

Iraq agreed with the United Nations to evacuate Ashraf Camp, Diala, 57 km northeast of the capital, Baghdad, and move its anti-Iranian members to an alternate camp near Baghdad before moving to another haven.

Ashraf Camp is the military camp of anti-Iranian Mujahidi Khalq (The People), which was regarded by the United States, Iraq and Iran as a terrorist organization, unlike the European Union which lifted it is name from terrorist organizations in 2009.

The members of the organization lack any legal position in Iraq, but the Iraqi government pledged to close it by the end of 2011.

September 10, 2012 0 comments

The MEK Expulsion from Iraq

Why do not Mutlaq ask Saudi Arabia to host Mojahedin Khalq?

The strange relationship between Saleh al-Mutlaq and Khalq organization is a relationship that makes question marks accompanied by doubts that rose around; especially that he represents a bloc not the government.

This organization had disgraceful positions against the Iraqi people and it had been brought in Iraq at the time of the tyrant for political considerations with Iran and such a thing is done by most of the countries in the world. As for Baghdad, it hosted Khalq because Iran hosted the Supreme Council, but was the work of this organization with Iran exclusively over years? There are evidences of eyewitnesses for the criminality of this organization against the Iraqi people. It had the authority at the time of the tyrant to arrest any Iraqi or even fire the citizens which had happened in front of my eyes in Baghdad. They had a place in which they could arrest and torture in Karrada not to mention the participation of their confrontational troops in annihilation of the uprising. Away from all these actions, for which they must be punished, different things have changed and Iraq had become in good relationship with Iran and the remaining of this organization on the land of Iraq has become a controversial. However, Iraq worked according to its origin and it has not handed over this organization to Iran despite the fact that there are similar organizations in the international community in terms of practicing terrorism striving to maintain the entity of this organization to be used in the interests of certain political future acts.

Saleh al-Mutlaq is desperate in defending of this organization, and it was strange that he was chosen as a president of one of the annual conferences. So what is his relationship with a Conference annually held by this organization? He was the most naysayers to send out Khalq from Iraq. He may have tense positions with Iran. Such organization makes tense positions between the Iraqi government and people with Iran if it remains on the land of Iraq. Al-Mutlaq now calls America to remove this organization from the list of terrorist organizations. He says this organization has a friendly relationship with Diayala citizens and he says, “The people of Diayala as far as I know have good relations with this organization and they wish the organization would continue in the same manners and ideals by which it treated their brothers in Iraq and join together to lift grievances from Iraq and the Iraqis. Their role remains positive in the defense of their brothers in Iraq and in support of their brothers in Iraq and stand against any force trying to offend the relationship between the two peoples of Iraq and Iran.”

What treatment with the Iraqis does Mutlaq mean? We met the people of Diayala who have been displaced to other provinces. They stressed that terrorist acts were launched from Ashraf Camp and this is not excluded. It is curious that the Iraqi government is careless in uncovering the facts about the role of this terrorist Organization against the Iraqi people. Anyway our last proposal to Mutlaq is: Why does not he demand Saudi Arabia to have the organization’s headquarters in the Kingdom? Especially the position of the Saudi Arabia towards Iraq and Iran is known.

Sami Jawad Kadhim, Shafagh News

August 29, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Mujahedin, Running out of excuses

Another date has come and gone after Massoud Rajavi – through his wife Maryam – agreed that the next group of MEK members would transfer to Camp Liberty on 23 August. Of course, Mujahedin, Running out of excuses welcome as such statements of intent are, there are many considerations which need to be taken into account before such a move can be undertaken. Not least of which is that there exists an accountable, humanitarian process for transferring these people which needs to be in place before they can be moved. This process is reliant on the scrupulously proper procedures detailed by the UN working in conjunction with the Iraqi authorities. Certainly there will be nothing to prevent the movement once these procedures are in place. It will only depend then on the MEK leaders being true to their word and allowing the individuals to be moved. The arrest of MEK spokesman Mohammad Eqbal for deliberately obstructing this process must send a clear message to the MEK leader Massoud Rajavi that he must comply the with legal requirement to allow these people to leave Camp Ashraf.

Alas, so far the MEK continues to mire the process with unwarranted prevarication as the MEK leader persists in making his unreasonable demands; demands designed to cause confusion and frustration and to attempt to provoke disagreements and recriminations between the Iraqis, the UN and international observers.

The MEK leader says two things must happen before anyone else moves.

His first demand is a delaying tactic. Rajavi says that conditions in Camp Liberty must be improved – in spite of it being judged to meet internationally agreed standards. A Washington Times report quoting Mr Tahar Boumedra, the former human rights chief at the U.N. mission in Baghdad who resigned his post in May accused Martin Kobler the UN Special Representative for Iraq of deliberately covering up ‘prison like conditions’ at the camp.

Jared Kotler, New York-based spokesman for the U.N. Department of Political Affairs, which oversees the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq said, “It is regrettable that such a distorted picture is being presented of the efforts of the United Nations in Iraq to resolve peacefully the situation of Camp Ashraf”. Mr. Kotler said the U.N. mission under Mr. Kobler’s leadership had worked “diligently and impartially to facilitate a peaceful solution that respects the rights and concerns of both the residents and the government of Iraq.”

“These efforts are one of the main reasons why this very tense situation has not already spilled over into further violence,” he added.

Tahar Boumedra was a well known character in Iraq during his tenure there. He enjoyed friendly relations with the MEK and was one of very few outsiders who were allowed inside Camp Ashraf. After leaving his post in Iraq, flights and accommodation have reportedly been paid by MEK supporter, R.Bruce McColm, President of Global Initiative for Democracy, as part of a campaign to advocate for the MEK.

The second of Rajavi’s demands is that the MEK must come off the US terrorism list. There are a host of reasons behind this demand. The most important of which is that Rajavi believes this to be key to the continued longevity of his group.

Rajavi’s worst fear is the inevitable dissolution of his cult. This long term problem is still ongoing partly in the form of natural attrition of forces. As residents of Camp Ashraf have been moved to Camp Liberty, they are offered a glimpse of the normality of the outside world. Several have taken advantage of this and voluntarily walked away from the group to take refuge with the Iraqi authorities. A major problem for Rajavi is that during the UNHCR refugee determination interviews in which the residents of the camps are being assessed for refugee status, it is made clear that in order to qualify for refugee status the individual must renounce membership of the MEK. Rajavi is being advised wrongly if he believes that delisting the MEK as a terrorist entity will allow individuals to maintain membership of a political group and qualify for refugee status. He needs to ask for clarification of the legal requirements for assigning refugee status. Certainly delisting in the US will not affect the situation of individuals in Iraq.

More importantly however Iraq citizens demonstrated recently against the continued presence of the MEK in their country. The Iraqi government has reiterated their demand – the MEK cannot be regarded as anything except a terrorist organisation and they must all leave Iraq. Iraqis claim that the delays and game playing are all aimed at eventually taking the group off the US list and that this will lead to pressure on the Government of Iraq to keep the group there. The Iraqis argue that any such move would be irrelevant and that Iraq will always regard the MEK as terrorists because of its past history and its current behaviour. The MEK’s current behaviour is a clear case of interference in the internal affairs of Iraq should not be tolerated by mediators like the UN or US or EU.

The Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said however that delisting the MEK in other countries would allow these countries to receive the former members as refugees.

Anne Singleton, Middle East Strategy Consultants

Author of the books "The Life of Camp Ashraf (Mojahedin-e Khalq – Victims of Many Masters)" and "Saddam’s Private Army".

August 26, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq 's Function

The MeK’s failed Blackmail

Remnants of Rajavi trying to render withdraw into goodwill

The MeK leadership’s statement reveals that her intention of sabotage in the relocation process was not to improve the living conditions of her members, but to blackmail America’s government, especially for removing name of the group from the list of terrorist organizations. (It is likely that this scenario be repeated during next steps.)

The MeK leadership already had stated that no longer she would allow the rest of the group to leave the camp, unless her 6 conditions were met, and her sabotage in the relocation process was to persuade the US and Iraqi government to accept her illegal demands, but finally she was forced to withdraw and announced that another batch of MeK members will leave Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty on August 23.

The MeK leadership’s statement on this topic clearly reveals that her intention of sabotage in the relocation process was not to improve the living conditions of her members, but to blackmail America’s government, especially for removing name of the group from the list of terrorist organizations. (It is likely that this scenario be repeated during next steps.)

In the statement, without any reference to outcome of the pre- existing conditions, the US government, three times, is asked for removing the group from the terrorist list:

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran declared: As a gesture of goodwill, the residents of Ashraf will commence the 6th convoy of 400 residents from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty on August 23.

She added: The residents anticipate and expect that the completion of convoy 6 will be followed by a public statement by the United States Government that recognizes the cooperation of the Ashraf residents and reiterates continued U.S. commitment to:

(i) the approach on FTO designation and delisting outlined by Secretary Clinton on February 29, 2012, recognizing that the decision of US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit requires the Secretary of State to make a determination regarding the FTO designation of the PMOI (MeK) by October 1, 2012;

(ii) a real effort to resolve the remaining humanitarian issues at Liberty that materially affect the daily lives of the residents, including sustainable mechanisms to provide water and electricity; and

(iii) support the safety and security of the residents until they relocate to third countries outside of Iraq, in mindfulness of the fact that this universally desired outcome cannot happen expeditiously without delisting.

The MeK leadership’s statement reveals that what matter for her only are propping up the organization and self-regarding. So, the UN and the US government should not be deceived by this terrorist group and have to provide individual rights of the residents of Camp Liberty, and refrain from engaging in political considerations.

August 22, 2012 0 comments

Iraq

Iraq Arrests MKO Spokesman

Iraqi security forces arrested the spokesman of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization Iraq Arrests MKO Spokesman (MKO also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCR) in Iraq, local media reports said.

According to "Ashraf News" website, Mohammad Eqbal was arrested after the office of the Iraqi prime minister issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of provoking MKO members against the Baghdad government and the terms of the Baghdad agreement with the UN on the presence of the terrorist group in Iraq.

Eqbal has also been charged for resistance against the Iraqi government’s decisions, specially evacuation of the MKO terrorists from the group’s main training camp, Camp Ashraf (now the Camp of New Iraq).

Earlier in July, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the UN Secretary-General’s Representative in Iraq Martin Kobler agreed to put an end to the dossier of MKO’s presence in Iraq in accordance with the deadlines announced last year.

According to a statement issued by the prime minister’s office, Maliki met with Kobler in his office. During the meeting, the two sides emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Iraqi government and UN representation to help it perform the tasks entrusted to it.

"They also discussed issues of common interest," said the statement.

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.

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.

August 21, 2012 0 comments

Iraq

Iraq: MEK affects territorial integrity

There is no way in which a compromise can be made with the Mujahedin-e Khalq and the closure of Camp Ashraf is a problem concerning Iraq’s territorial integrity, said Iraqi Prime Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's media advisor. Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s media advisor.

Referring to the final stages of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK, a.k.a. MKO and PMOI) expulsion from Iraq, Ali al-Moussawi condemned as unacceptable MKO’s objections to the conditions at Camp Liberty, Habilian Association website reported on Sunday.

Al-Moussawi called on the western countries to accept the members of this notorious cult.

He went on to say that western countries’ refusal to accept MKO members in their countries contradicts their insistence on Iraq to observe human rights standards concerning them.

According to an agreement signed in December 2011 between Iraq and the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq, members of the terrorist group should be temporarily transferred from Camp Ashraf to a former U.S. military base, Camp Liberty, for the UNHCR to determine their refugee status.

To date, roughly two-thirds of the members of these people have been relocated to Camp Liberty in five groups of 400; however, some 1200 of them still remain at Ashraf under the pretext of “dire conditions” at the camp.

Earlier in July, Uday al-Khadran, Mayor of Khalis, warned of a possible explosion of Iraqi people’s wrath over the delay of the expulsion of remaining MKO members at Camp Ashraf.

August 14, 2012 0 comments

USA

MKO remains on the list Foreign Terrorist Organizations in U.S.

Chapter 6. Foreign Terrorist Organizations
MKO remains on the list Foreign Terrorist Organizations in U.S.
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism

Country Reports on Terrorism 2011

Report

July 31, 2012

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Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). FTO designations play a critical role in the fight against terrorism and are an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities.

Legal Criteria for Designation under Section 219 of the INA as amended:
1. It must be a foreign organization.
2. The organization must engage in terrorist activity, as defined in section 212 (a)(3)(B) of the INA (8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)), or terrorism, as defined in section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. § 2656f(d)(2)), or retain the capability and intent to engage in terrorist activity or terrorism.
3. The organization’s terrorist activity or terrorism must threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security (national defense, foreign relations, or the economic interests) of the United States.

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U.S. Government Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB)
Ansar al-Islam (AAI)
Army of Islam (AOI)
Asbat al-Ansar (AAA)
Aum Shinrikyo (AUM)
Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
Communist Party of Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA)
Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
Gama’a al-Islamiyya (IG)
Hamas
Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI)
Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B)
Harakat ul-Mujahideen (HUM)
Hizballah
Indian Mujahideen (IM)
Islamic Jihad Union (IJU)
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM)
Jemaah Islamiya (JI)
Jundallah
Kahane Chai
Kata’ib Hizballah (KH)
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LT)
Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ)
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)
Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM)
Mujahadin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)
National Liberation Army (ELN)
Palestine Islamic Jihad – Shaqaqi Faction (PIJ)
Palestine Liberation Front – Abu Abbas Faction (PLF)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)
Al-Qa’ida (AQ)
Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI)
Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
Real IRA (RIRA)
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N)
Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)
Revolutionary Struggle (RS)
Al-Shabaab (AS)
Shining Path (SL)
Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)

(…)

MUJAHADIN-E KHALQ ORGANIZATION (MEK)

aka MEK; MKO; Mujahadin-e Khalq; Muslim Iranian Students’ Society; National Council of Resistance; NCR; Organization of the People’s Holy Warriors of Iran; the National Liberation Army of Iran; NLA; People’s Mujahadin Organization of Iran; PMOI; National Council of Resistance of Iran; NCRI; Sazeman-e Mujahadin-e Khalq-e Iran

Description: Designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on October 8, 1997, the Mujahadin-E Khalq Organization ( MEK) is a Marxist-Islamic Organization that seeks the overthrow of the Iranian regime through its military wing, the National Liberation Army (NLA), and its political front, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

The MEK was founded in 1963 by a group of college-educated Iranian Marxists who opposed the country’s pro-western ruler, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The group participated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution that replaced the Shah with a Shiite Islamist regime led by Ayatollah Khomeini. However, the MEK’s ideology – a blend of Marxism, feminism, and Islamism – was at odds with the post-revolutionary government, and its original leadership was soon executed by the Khomeini regime. In 1981, the group was driven from its bases on the Iran-Iraq border and resettled in Paris, where it began supporting Iraq in its eight-year war against Khomeini’s Iran. In 1986, after France recognized the Iranian regime, the MEK moved its headquarters to Iraq, which facilitated its terrorist activities in Iran. From 2003 through the end of 2011, roughly 3,400 MEK members were encamped at Ashraf in Iraq.

Activities: The group’s worldwide campaign against the Iranian government uses propaganda and terrorism to achieve its objectives. During the 1970s, the MEK staged terrorist attacks inside Iran and killed several U.S. military personnel and civilians working on defense projects in Tehran. In 1972, the MEK set off bombs in Tehran at the U.S. Information Service office (part of the U.S. Embassy), the Iran-American Society, and the offices of several U.S. companies to protest the visit of President Nixon to Iran. In 1973, the MEK assassinated the deputy chief of the U.S. Military Mission in Tehran and bombed several businesses, including Shell Oil. In 1974, the MEK set off bombs in Tehran at the offices of U.S. companies to protest the visit of then U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger. In 1975, the MEK assassinated two U.S. military officers who were members of the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group in Tehran. In 1976, the MEK assassinated two U.S. citizens who were employees of Rockwell International in Tehran. In 1979, the group claimed responsibility for the murder of an American Texaco executive. Alhough denied by the MEK, analysis based on eyewitness accounts and MEK documents demonstrates that MEK members participated in and supported the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and that the MEK later argued against the early release of the American hostages. The MEK also provided personnel to guard and defend the site of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, following the takeover of the Embassy.

In 1981, MEK leadership attempted to overthrow the newly installed Islamic regime; Iranian security forces subsequently initiated a crackdown on the group. The MEK instigated a bombing campaign, including an attack against the head office of the Islamic Republic Party and the Prime Minister’s office, which killed some 70 high-ranking Iranian officials, including Chief Justice Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, President Mohammad-Ali Rajaei, and Prime Minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar. These attacks resulted in an expanded Iranian government crackdown that forced MEK leaders to flee to France. For five years, the MEK continued to wage its terrorist campaign from its Paris headquarters. Expelled by France in 1986, MEK leaders turned to Saddam Hussein’s regime for basing, financial support, and training. Near the end of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, Baghdad armed the MEK with heavy military equipment and deployed thousands of MEK fighters in suicidal, waves of attacks against Iranian forces.

The MEK’s relationship with the former Iraqi regime continued through the 1990s. In 1991, the group reportedly assisted the Iraqi Republican Guard’s bloody crackdown on Iraqi Shia and Kurds who rose up against Saddam Hussein’s regime. In April 1992, the MEK conducted near-simultaneous attacks on Iranian embassies and consular missions in 13 countries, including against the Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York, demonstrating the group’s ability to mount large-scale operations overseas. In June 1998, the MEK was implicated in a series of bombing and mortar attacks in Iran that killed at least 15 and injured several others. The MEK also assassinated the former Iranian Minister of Prisons in 1998. In April 1999, the MEK targeted key Iranian military officers and assassinated the deputy chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, Brigadier General Ali Sayyaad Shirazi.

In April 2000, the MEK attempted to assassinate the commander of the Nasr Headquarters, Tehran’s interagency board responsible for coordinating policies on Iraq. The pace of anti-Iranian operations increased during “Operation Great Bahman” in February 2000, when the group launched a dozen attacks against Iran. One attack included a mortar attack against a major Iranian leadership complex in Tehran that housed the offices of the Supreme Leader and the President. The attack killed one person and injured six other individuals. In March 2000, the MEK launched mortars into a residential district in Tehran, injuring four people and damaging property. In 2000 and 2001, the MEK was involved in regular mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids against Iranian military and law enforcement personnel, as well as government buildings near the Iran-Iraq border. Following an initial Coalition bombardment of the MEK’s facilities in Iraq at the outset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, MEK leadership negotiated a cease-fire with Coalition Forces and surrendered their heavy-arms to Coalition control. From 2003 through the end of 2011, roughly 3,400 MEK members were encamped at Ashraf in Iraq.

In 2003, French authorities arrested 160 MEK members at operational bases they believed the MEK was using to coordinate financing and planning for terrorist attacks. Upon the arrest of MEK leader Maryam Rajavi, MEK members took to Paris’ streets and engaged in self-immolation. French authorities eventually released Rajavi.

Strength: Estimates place MEK’s worldwide membership at between 5,000 and 10,000 members, with large pockets in Paris and other major European capitals. In Iraq, roughly 3,400 MEK members were gathered at Camp Ashraf, the MEK’s main compound north of Baghdad, at the end of 2011.

As a condition of the 2003 cease-fire agreement, the MEK relinquished more than 2,000 tanks, armored personnel carriers, and heavy artillery.

Location/Area of Operation: The MEK’s global support structure remains in place, with associates and supporters scattered throughout Europe and North America. Operations have targeted Iranian government elements across the globe, including in Europe and Iran. The MEK’s political arm, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has a global support network with active lobbying and propaganda efforts in major Western capitals. NCRI also has a well-developed media communications strategy.

External Aid: Before Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003, the MEK received all of its military assistance and most of its financial support from Saddam Hussein. The fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime has led the MEK increasingly to rely on front organizations to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian communities.
(….)

August 2, 2012 0 comments

Iran

MKO Unable to Influence Iran-Iraq Ties

The terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCR), cannot leave even a little impact on Iran-Iraq friendly ties, a senior Iranian lawmaker said.

"The imploded grouplet of the MKO is not able to influence the friendly relations between Iran and Iraq," Vice-Chairman of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Seyed Ahmad Reza Dastqeib told FNA on Monday.

"Given the fact that the MKO terrorist group has fallen apart and has no weight in comparison with the might and power of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is no foreign policy priority for the Iranian officials’ peaceful ties and relations with Iraq," the lawmaker said.

He further noted that Iraqi officials are resolved to expel the terrorist group from their country, and stressed that there is no more room in Iraq for the MKO.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the UN Secretary-General’s Representative in Iraq Martin Kobler agreed to put an end to the dossier of MKO’s presence in Iraq in accordance with the deadlines announced last year.

"They also discussed issues of common interest," said the statement.

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

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.

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.

July 31, 2012 0 comments

Iraq

Iraqi official warns of people’s anger over delay of MKO expulsion

Mayor of Khalis warned yesterday of a possible explosion of Iraqi people’s wrath over the delay of the expulsion of remaining MKO members at Camp Ashraf.

According to Habilian Foundation website, Uday al-Khadran said Tuesday that they wanted the central government in Iraq to “forcefully close down Camp Ashraf,” since it is a terrorist group and is “responsible for killing thousands of Iraqis over the past three decades.”

“MKO is not committed to the agreement signed with the United Nations”, he said, adding, “This is why the expulsion has been postponed till after (Islamic holy month of) Ramadan.”

The relocation is in line with the memorandum of understanding signed on 25 December between Iraq and United Nations to temporarily transfer them to a former US military base for the UNHCR to determine their refugee status.

July 26, 2012 0 comments

Iraq

Complaints filed against MKO in Germany, Spain & Turkey

The Committee for the Defense of Iraqi victims of the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) has reportedly lodged 114 complaints against the group in German, Spanish and Turkish courts of law.

In an exclusive interview with AKnews agency on Monday, chairman of the committee Nafee Issa said his agency, thanks to the assistance of five lawyers, has filed complaints on behalf of Iraqi victims particularly those living in Tuz Khormato town — located 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad – against MKO in German, Spanish, and Turkish courts.

He added that his committee plans to take legal action against MKO in French law courts.

“As many as 275 court cases have already been filed against the MKO. Out of the total number, 114 have been lodged by farmers in Diyala province whose crop lands have been occupied by the terrorist group,” Issa pointed out.

Martin Kobler, the UN Special Representative for Iraq, told the UN Security Council on July 19 that the Iraqi government’s patience is "wearing thin" with the MKO members, who are refusing to leave Camp New Iraq — formerly known as Camp Ashraf and situated about 120 kilometers (74 miles) west of the border with Iran.

“Time is running out to find a sustainable solution. The government’s patience is wearing thin,” said Kobler, who heads the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

“Recent weeks have witnessed difficulties in maintaining dialogue between UNAMI and the residents, and between the residents and the government of Iraq, reinforcing a perception that the residents lack a genuine will to move,” he added.

The MKO fled to Iraq in 1986, where it enjoyed the support of Iraq’s executed dictator Saddam Hussein, and set up its camp near the Iranian border.

The group is also known to have cooperated with Saddam in suppressing the 1991 uprisings in southern Iraq and carrying out the massacre of Iraqi Kurds.

The MKO has carried out numerous acts of violence against Iranian civilians and government officials.

July 25, 2012 0 comments

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