Mujahedin Khalq Declining

40 MKO terrorists killed in Taliban clashes

Over 40 members of an anti-Iran terrorist group have been killed during deadly fighting with The MKO is notorious for the help it extended to former dictator Saddam Hussein Taliban militants in Afghanistan.

Sixty members of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) had entered Afghanistan with the help of intelligence forces from the United Arab Emirates with the aim of carrying out raids in Iran, Pouya News reported on Sunday.

The group, which was faced with strong resistance from the Iranian troops stationed on the border attempted to withdraw when it came under heavy Taliban fire from the Afghan side.
The deadly battle left over 40 MKO terrorists and an unknown number of Taliban militants dead, Pouya News said.

The MKO was founded in Iran in the 1960s, but its top leadership and members fled the country some twenty years later after carrying out a series of assassinations and bombings inside the country.

The group is especially notorious for the help it extended to former dictator Saddam Hussein during the war Iraq imposed on Iran (1980-1988) and in the massacre of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

July 21, 2009 0 comments

A debate over Camp Ashraf

Iraq: Camp Ashraf

Question

Asked By Lord Eden of Winton

British Parliament, House of Lords – July 01, 2009

Lord Eden of Winton (Conservative)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have recently made representations to the governments of the United States and Iraq concerning the current threats to the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq.

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, the UK ambassador to Baghdad called on the Iraqi Human Rights Minister, Widjan Salim, on 13 April this year to raise the issue of Camp Ashraf, and to remind her of the early assurances made by the Iraqi Government about the humane treatment of its residents. Officials at the British embassy in Baghdad continue to discuss Camp Ashraf with staff at the US embassy; the most recent discussion took place on 10 June 2009.

Lord Eden of Winton (Conservative)
My Lords, I am grateful for that Answer. I recognise that the Government have no wish to intervene in matters that are the concern of other countries, but given that the Government apparently now subscribe to the culture of "responsibility to protect", should we not be doing all that we can to avert a potential humanitarian catastrophe? What precisely were the assurances given by the Iraqi Government? Will it be made clear to Mr Maliki that international opinion will hold him accountable for the safety of the citizens of Ashraf?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, the UK Government remain concerned that the fundamental human rights of all the residents of Camp Ashraf are fully observed. We particularly sought assurances from the Iraqi Government, who have given them—I now give the assurance that the noble Lord seeks—that no Ashraf residents will be forcibly transferred to a country where they have reason to fear persecution or where substantial grounds exist to believe that they would be tortured. We continue, as the noble Lord rightly says, to have no direct interest or control in this camp, but we continue to liaise with our colleagues in the United States, who are monitoring events with the Iraqi Government.

Lord Archer of Sandwell (Labour)
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that the citizens of Ashraf have been accorded protected person status under the fourth Geneva Convention, that the initial protecting power was the United States and that it cannot divest itself of its obligations simply by announcing that it has transferred them to the Iraqi Government? Given that the United Kingdom participated in the original invasion, have we expressed some of these concerns to our American allies?

Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrat)
My Lords, would the noble Lord accept the recent statement made by Mrs Rajavi in Paris calling for free and fair elections supervised by the United Nations? More importantly, is he aware of the intimidation of the inhabitants of Ashraf City? Would it not be right at this time to ensure that the European Union, Britain and America warn Iran that any harm, intimidation or persecution of those inhabitants will result in a reference to the International Criminal Court?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, I have no knowledge of intimidation in the manner that the noble Lord suggests. If he has such evidence, I would be pleased to receive it and pass it to authorities which can take the matter further. It is a clear indication of the Government of Iraq’s position that they have given assurances that no Ashraf residents will be forcibly transferred. That suggests that they are honouring their obligations. Our consular staff in Baghdad have talked to people in the camp and assure us that food and medicines are getting through, so there does not seem to be any lack of supply. However, I will happily take on board any evidence that the noble Lord has.

Lord Waddington (Conservative)
My Lords, would the noble Lord agree at least that Britain, being a party to the decision to hand over responsibility for Ashraf City to Iraq, now has some responsibility for recent developments and for the residents’ safety? How on earth can it be right for the Iraqi authorities to blockade Ashraf City, refusing people the right to take in food, and demanding police access to the city while asserting that those living there have no rights whatever as citizens? Surely it is time that the British Government talked again to the Iraqi Government and reminded them of their responsibilities under international law.

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, I can but repeat the invitation I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Dholakia. If the noble Lord, Lord Waddington, has evidence of that nature to put forward, I will happily take it on board and ensure that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can inquire into it.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Crossbench)
My Lords, I am surprised that the Minister is unaware of the fact that Camp Ashraf is in essence being besieged by the Iraq authorities. As someone who had grave reservations about the sacrifice that our soldiers made to achieve democracy in Iraq, I ask how we can allow those in Camp Ashraf, who have the same objective for Iran, to be harassed in the way they are. The Minister asks for evidence; he is in a better position to know the evidence of which the rest of us speak.

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, the answer is already in the noble Lord’s question. Iraq is a democratic and independent sovereign state. The United Kingdom, and even the United States, which handed over control of the camp from 1 January, have to recognise that fact. However, that does not prevent us making representations, hence my invitation for any evidence.

British Parliament, House of Lords

July 4, 2009 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq as an Opposition Group

MKO provoked post-vote unrest

An Iraqi security official says the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) triggered the recent post-election unrests in Iran.

National Security Advisor Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said in an interview with al-Hayat that certain members of the terrorist group had instigated and fomented the recent political unrest in Iran.

"We have intelligence reports available that certain elements of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) infiltrated into the crowd of protestors [after the election results were announced] and sparked the riots."

The announcement of the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election sparked opposition rallies in the capital Tehran with defeated candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi rejecting the result as fraudulent and demanding a re-run.

President Ahmadinejad’s victory caused Mousavi supporters to take to the streets to protest the vote result. The rallies turned violent, resulting in the death of at least 20 people.

Al-Rubaie, however, rejected claims that MKO members had entered the country through neighboring Iraq, claiming that MKO terrorists were ‘either already in Iran or had entered it from another country’.

Iranian security officials had earlier reported that a large number of MKO members who were involved in recent riots had been identified and arrested.

According to security officials, the detained MKO members had confessed to receiving extensive training in Iraq’s camp Ashraf to create post-election mayhem in the country.

The MKO is blacklisted as a terrorist organization by many international entities and countries, including the US.

The group was exiled from Iran after the Islamic Revolution and settled in Iraq in 1986, where it enjoyed the support of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

The MKO is responsible for numerous acts of violence against Iranian civilians and government officials as well as Iraqis during the reign of Saddam.

July 2, 2009 0 comments

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Elements of Mojahedin organization in Tehran Riots

Rubaie told “Al Hayat”: the stability of Iran and Iraq is in the regional interest

LONDON – Raed Jaafar – The national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie said the security and political stability in Iran is in the interest of the region in general and Iraq in particular, and warned that any political or security flaw in Iran would have a negative impact in the region in general and Iraq in particular, explaining that “Our intelligence confirms that during the manifestations of opposition, elements of the Mujahideen infiltrated among the demonstrators, giving rise to riots”.

Rubaie told “Al Hayat” that “the differences between the so-called Reformists and Conservatives in Iran focus on domestic issues more than specific foreign policy”. Referring to “the absence of major differences in the foreign policies of Iran”, he added “Whoever wins in Iran will not change the policy with Iraq since Tehran’s policy toward Iraq will not be much affected by the victory of any of the parties”, explaining that “foreign policy is almost uniform with the same constants”.

Rubaie said that the “Iraqi leaders governing the country now, and since the days of the late opposition to the regime of President Saddam Hussein, have strong historical ties with the ruling power in Iran now, the conservatives, from the top of the pyramid below them”. He continued: “They have been in power for a long time, such as the Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the others, and have close ties with the Iraqis, and that gives Iraq a particular role for the Iranian regime”.

He added: “But we do not know many Reformists, and we had no relations with them in Iraq despite their 8 years under Khatami. We were not in power (in the first two years after the occupation of Iraq) and there is no strong relationship with the Reformists, without that meaning any diminution of them”. He added that “the Conservatives understand Iraq more than the Reformists, as they have a clear record in support of the Iraqi opposition (during Saddam’s rule), and support for the political process after the fall [of Saddam]”.

Rubaie confirmed “we do not interfere in the internal affairs of Iran in any way, in a trend to prefer any party, but limit ourselves to respect the choices of and support the Iranian people and respect the existing system of the Constitution and laws, institutions and others in Iran”.

He added: “But from our point of view from outside and our knowledge of Iranian affairs, and our long experience, we believe that the vast majority of Reformers are part of the very essence of the Islamic system».

He added that “Our intelligence confirms the presence of very small groups, few in number, including elements of the Mojahedin organization in opposition to the regime, which infiltrated demonstrations in protest against the results of the presidential election, which escalated the protests and demonstrations into riots”.

Rubaie denied the possibility of infiltration of the «Mujahideen» from Camp Ashraf in Diyala province, into Iran to participate in the protests or the riots there, explaining that the Iraqi authorities overseeing the camp do not allow its members to get out, and added that “elements of the Mujahideen entered from several countries into Iran, not from Iraq, some of whom were already present, too, to stir up trouble”. He warned that the “high probability of migration is the opposite for these elements, therefore, we have enhanced our intelligence level of preparedness and readiness on the border with Iran, for fear of infiltration of the elements of the Mujahideen Khalq, and crossing the border into Iraq and their attempt to enter the Camp Ashraf”.

In addition, some criticized the Arab media, dealing with the repercussions of the Iranian presidential elections, as “short-sighted, as I believe that support for the Reformists can win the Reformists and weaken Iran”. This was seen as a “kind of revenge or wishful thinking”, stressing that “any instability in Iran, meaning the lack of stability in the region, especially the Gulf States and Iraq”. He said that “some of this is media-driven, non-political, professional”, referring to the “ethnic and racial factors which play a role in this area, such as Arabs and Shi’ites, and this demonstrates the short-sightedness of the media … considering that the stability of a large country like Iran in the region is a stabilizing factor for the entire region”.

Al Hayat (Arabic), London,

July 1, 2009 0 comments

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Judge Underlines Iraq’s Resolution to Expel MKO

Head of Iraq’s Court of Appeal judge Munir Haddad said that Iraq’s people and government are resolved to expel the anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from the country.

“The great powers, the US in particular, are seeking to reach many of their goals through terrorists, specially the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization,”Haddad said in a meeting with Secretary-General of Habilian Association Seyed Javad Hasheminejad.

Habilian Association is an Iranian non-governmental entity formed of the bereaved families of terror victims.

Haddad further condemned the US support for terrorists in Iraq, and underlined that the MKO has played an active role in sowing discord and violating peace in the country.
“Wherever the US sought to create sabotage and terror, the MKO has played an active role,”Habilian website quoted Haddad as saying.
Haddad further pointed out that the MKO has long sought to stir political feud between Iranian and Iraqi brothers, but its efforts have backfired and caused closer ties between the two Muslim neighboring nations.

Hasheminejad, for his part, noted that the presence of the MKO in Iraq is a violation of the international law, reiterating that the hues and cries by a limited number of pro-MKO media and supporters in Europe can in no way sway the law in this regard.
He further expressed hope that terrorism in Iraq would disappear in the near future.

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

Numerous articles and letters posted on the Internet by family members of MKO recruits confirm reports of the horrific abuse that the group inflicts on its own members and the alluring recruitment methods it uses.

The most shocking of such stories includes accounts given by former British MKO member Ann Singleton and Mustafa Mohammadi – the father of an Iranian-Canadian girl who was drawn into the group during an MKO recruitment campaign in Canada.
Mohammadi recounts his desperate efforts to contact his daughter, who disappeared several years ago – a result of what the MKO called a”two-month tour”of Camp Ashraf for teenagers.

He also explains how the group forces the families of its recruits to take part in pro-MKO demonstrations in Western countries by threatening to kill their loved ones.
Lacking a foothold in Iran, the terrorist group recruits ill-informed teens from Iranian immigrant communities in western states and blocks their departure afterwards.
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.

Leaders of the group have been fighting to shed its terrorist tag after a series of bloody anti-western attacks in the 1970s, and nearly 30 years of violent struggle against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The group started assassination of 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 the neo-conservatives in the United States, who argue for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list.

June 25, 2009 0 comments

Iraq

US combat help not needed after June 30

The last US army personnel protecting Rajavi in Camp Ashraf to leave

This pull-out includes the 25 US soldiers based at Camp Ashraf for the protection of Massoud Rajavi. The MKO is staging a carnival-rally in Paris on June 20 as a last ditch attempt to force American support for the cult. It is unlikely that PM al-Maliki will change his position based on such a rally (Iran Interlink).

Iraq PM says government would only request American logistical assistance after US pullout.
BAGHDAD – Iraq will not call on US forces to take part in combat operations after they pull out from urban centres in two weeks, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in remarks published on Tuesday.

Maliki told French daily Le Monde that his government would only request American logistical assistance, a day after the top US commander in Iraq said the American pullout was on schedule.

“We will not ask them to intervene in combat operations or in operations related to maintaining public order,”the Iraqi premier said.”It is finished.”

Maliki said Baghdad would only call on US forces”for transporting our troops when we need them because we don’t have any planes. That is why we are purchasing helicopters from France and the United States.”

He did not expect”an explosion in violence after June 30,”the date by which US troops must leave Iraq’s cities, towns and villages as part of a landmark security accord between Washington and Baghdad that will see American forces leave Iraq by the end of 2011.

“Regardless, reports from the Americans themselves say our forces are ready to take over,”Maliki added.”There will be no turning back, there is no question of reviewing the agreement on the American withdrawal.”

On Monday, US General Ray Odierno, the top US commander in Iraq, told reporters that the majority of his troops had already left Iraqi cities ahead of the June 30 pullout, and added that the withdrawal was on schedule.

June 17, 2009 0 comments

Iraq

MKO main supporter in Iraq fled the country

According to Habilian Association quoting from Buratha news, Well-informed sources told that Dulaimi had fled to Jordan to settle in another country Adnan al-Dulaimi who is a notorious terrorist and leader of Iraqi Accord Front (leading Sunni fraction in Iraqi parliament), had fled out of Iraq after becoming disappointed in possibility of being ignored from detention after the lifting of his immunity.

Sources close to his daughter Asma al-Dulaimi who is also a member of parliament told her that her father had pulled many strings in order to escape from being imprisoned after his immunity had been lifted; but his struggle were doomed to fail and he was left behind the closed doors, so he decided to run away from Iraq.

Dulaimi was also told by Ayad al-Samaraei, the Iraqi parliament speaker who is also a member of Iraqi Accord Front that he would not impede the application of legal proceedings after the lifting of Dulaimi’s immunity and nobody could support him.

The sources said that Dulaimi had fled to Jordan to settle in another country after two of his children who had been charged with felony and alliance with terrorists, were pushed to prison.
Shiites killings, sectarian displacement and abduction of American journalist Jill Carroll and killing of her translator in addition to attacking the Iraqi security forces are among the many crimes al-Dulaimi is accused of.

Dulaimi is one of the most prominent defenders of the MKO terrorist cult and has defended it several times in his press and media.

In 2007 the People’s Mojahedin Organization arranged a meeting between Adnan al-Dulaimi, and a number of members of the Accord Front with the Israeli officials in Brussels.

June 13, 2009 0 comments

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Terrorism breeds terrorism

In a telephone interview with the database of Habilian Association (terror victims’ family) president of Iraq’s press Association expressed Iraqi people’s unanimity for the annihilation of all terrorist groups, Mojahedin-e Khalq in particular, in their country.

In this interview Ammar Mon’em al-Sudani said: the Iraqi constitution would never tolerate the presence of terrorist groups in Iraq; the fact which is constantly emphasized by all Iraqi high ranking officials.

Al-Sudani went on and said: We call for an actual solution to stop MKO from continuing their terrorist activities; then we would be able to wipe out all aspects of terrorism remained from the former regime in Iraq.

Pointing to the intelligence cooperation of MKO and Jundollah recently confirmed by Jundollah gang leader, the Iraqi press activist also said: of course terrorism breeds terrorism and bad work begets bad work and the existence of one terrorist group would result in the formation and promotion of other terrorist groups.

Then he underlined Iraqi people’s desire for the undying establishment of peace and tranquility in their country and clarified: we demand the dissolution of terrorism roots. We demand the eradication of terrorist groups like MKO and al Qaeda and the beginning of a new chapter away from the former terrorist regime’s chauvinism. I believe that if we fail to put an end to such groups, terrorism would spread its roots and would impact the region and like a virus would weaken the role of government in Iraq.

Al-Sudani added: The Iraqi government has a firm position against MKO and is determined to expel MKO from Iraq.

In response to a question about the barriers which impede the implementation of the decision to expel MKO from Iraq, al-Sudani said: The main reason why MKO has not been yet expelled from Iraq is America’s support for them and after that lack of consensus in the parliament who defend this terrorist group for their own interests.

He notified at the end that MKO collaboration with al Qaeda and Jundollah would be of no use for them and they are doomed to leave the soil of our country.

June 13, 2009 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Iraqi police entered Camp Ashraf

Iraqi police entered Mujahedin-e-Kahlq terrorist base Camp Ashraf on Thursday 28th,2009.

Camp Ashraf has acted as the MKO’s headquarters and training base in Iraq’s Diyala Province for the past two decades. After the U.S.-led invasion, the U.S. troops disarmed the organization fighters and since then, the camp became under the U.S. military police protection for five years.

After the finalization of a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, Iraq took control over the Camp Ashraf on January 1, 2009.

The Iraqi government has vowed to expel the members of the terrorist group from the country, maintaining that their presence ‘in Iraq is not an option’.

Iraqi PM, Noori Al Maliki in London Concerning the Mojahedin Khalq presence in Iraq said: “Under no circumstances would their presence in Iraq be acceptable. Irrespective of some speculation that this may be due to pressure from Iranians or non Iranians, I should emphasize clearly that even if Iran asks us to keep them in Iraq, we will not allow this. This is a terrorist organisation present in various lists of terrorist entities across the globe which of course concerns many, including Iran, the United Nations and other countries.”

MKO took part with Saddam Hussein Presidential Guard and other Iraqi security forces in crushing the Iraqi people’s uprising. The MKO harmed the Iraqi people when the Iraqi army refused to carry out the killings that Saddam Hussein required. Families of the victims in Iraq cannot forget this.

The PMOI is considered a terrorist organization by several nations, including the United States.

June 1, 2009 0 comments

France

French judges tough with terrorist MKO

Reported by Ayandenews , a new round of French courts’ investigating MKO leading cadres, including Maryam Rajavi and Mehdi Abrishamchi, for the terrorist charges has dropped the rankings just in the middle of a mare’s nest. The ranking leaders under the investigations are facing charges of terrorist plots in Iraq, Iran and Turkey as well as illegal activities of laundering and the like.

The leaders had already circulated among the cadres that they had arrived at a compromise with the European countries on many issues and that they could possibly face no problem therein.

The move by the French judges has made it really hard for the leaders to justify what is going on. It may intensify the challenges the organization is already facing as well as causing the members to lose their trust in what the leaders implant in them.

Despite having good lobbies in European parliaments, Maryam Rajavi’s base in Auvers-sur-Oise was unexpectedly raided on June 2003 and she was arrested along with a number of ranking members. It was only after the widespread self-immolation of members that Maryam Rajavi was set free. The organization is not acquitted of the terrorist charges and the French counter-terrorist forces closely monitor any move that may threaten the security of the country.

May 26, 2009 0 comments

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