The Threat of Cults

Urgent call on all judicial authorities and the international communities and the media

A number of families of the members caught inside the Rajavi cult in Iraq have been picketing for nearly nine months in front of the cult’s base called new Iraq garrison (previously Ashraf) demanding to meet their seized loved ones. Sahar Family Foundation once again warns about a humanitarian catastrophe occurring within the cult and inside Ashraf garrison

After three months of sit-in, given that the cult leaders prevent any sort of contact of the families with their loved ones, they decided to use megaphones to let their relatives learn about their presence outside the garrison.

Despite the fact that the distance between the families outside the main gate of the garrison (Asad Gate) and the members being caught up in sectarian settlements was large, but cult leaders installed hundreds of powerful speakers inside the base and established strong regulations prohibiting domestic traffic at three kilometers from the sidelines of the garrison and other restrictions applied, to prevent families communicate with their loved ones.

After many approaches and repeated requests from the Iraqi government, some of families were allowed to be stationed at the South Gate of the garrison and they could call their loved ones using speakers.

According to the information received from within the garrison by Sahar Family Foundation, the voice of the families has been heard by the trapped members inside the garrison and this has had a great impact on them and they have even questioned the leaders on the lies about the presence and intention of the families.

The information suggests that the cult leaders had even decided to move people to another place inside the garrison to prevent them hear the voice of the families, but in terms of moving settlement was very difficult and it would create more questions among the members they did not do so.

News also indicate that the cult leaders intend to open clashes with Iraqi forces in order to let a number of their members being killed and injured in this way and then Rajavi can temporarily overcome controversial problems inside his cult and stop the internal protests taking place.

Rajavi also has threatened that if he cannot go out of the current impasse, on the end of the term he would create "species of Ashura" for the members. This means that like many cults in the past such as Jim Jones cult in Guyana and the cult of David Koresh in Texas, Rajavi would destroy all members of his cult.

Sahar Family Foundation once again warns about a humanitarian catastrophe occurring within the cult and inside Ashraf garrison and calls on all Iraqis judicial authorities and international conventions as well as all the media to act on this issue to let the families meet with their loved ones before the occurrence of such a human tragedy.

October 17, 2010 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Rajavi, the God of Ashraf

In the Alborz Mountains of northern Iran there is an isolated area known as the Valley of the Assassins. It is here where Hassan Sabbah, a charismatic man who died in 1124, founded a In a strikingly similar fashion to Hassan Sabbah, in the early1980’s Massoud Rajavi, came to realize that notoriously violent radical Islamic sect referred to by historians as the Hashaashiyun (the Druggers). Interestingly, this word, hashaashiyun is the origin of the English word assassin, which means killer. In this valley, Hassan Sabbah created a small and very successful empire of dedicated followers from whom he demanded total devotion. Iranian literature and lore preserve the fascination and opinion that Hassan Sabbah systematically created one of the most effective terrorist groups in history. Sabbah’s magnetic personality and uniquely efficient leadership promoted such intense belief and devotion that members, with the pledge of martyrdom, were able to commit assassinations without hesitation. The zealous follower’s committed ferocious acts of killing, believing that there was a purpose to their heinous acts—and that they would be sent to paradise if they were killed while serving their leader. In effect, martyrdom was an essential element in Hassan Sabbah’s power scheme. Indubitably Hassan Sabbah and his followers in the infamous Valley of the Assassins helped lay the foundation for today’s continued fascination of—and for a few, total acceptance of—suicide .

Hassan Sabbah was an educated, well travelled, intelligent man who spent many years as a missionary. When he chose to gain power and control over the community in the Alborz Mountains, his plan worked because he was able to inspire commitment and action as well as kindle complete obedience from his followers—to the point that followers’ previous sense of right and wrong was phased out of their mindset. Hassan Sabbah knew how to wash a brain—to erase all notions of good and bad—to let fade right and wrong. He replaced followers’ thinking with distorted morals: the notion of “good” became obedience toward the leader, and the notion of “bad” became disobedience towards the leader. With this immense power, Hassan Sabbah’s wishes were the followers’ commands—if it was his wish for a follower to kill, the follower killed. If it was his wish that a follower die, the follower died. Thus became the association of the word killer with the word assassin.

Hassan Sabbah’s group was by today’s definition a cult. He had created a deliberate agenda in order to serve himself for the purpose of creating power for himself. The Hashaashiyun devotees martyred themselves believing that they would attain fulfillment only through servitude. In this way, they gradually earned degrees, which put them closer to their leader who they believed represented God.

The cult created by Hassan Sabbah was successful given that it lasted upward of three decades . Hassan Sabbah’s cult epitomized the idea of suicide killings, and had a significant impact on other subsequent cult leaders particularly the husband and wife team, Maryam and Massoud Rajavi of the Mojahedin-e Khalq, a modern radical religio-political group (based in Paris) who bedevils Iran. Because there is an acceptance of this radical notion from a tiny minority in the Middle East, it is only natural that the MEK would take advantage of it, and then exercise such a “killing device” in their programme de formation. For the naïve MEK members, leaders implementing this contrivance would not be abnormal in the hearts and minds of the the Mujahidin Organization has all the main attributes of a cult truly dedicated; and committing suicide would not be out of the ordinary because culturally the idea is still present, although most Middle Eastern people and certainly most Iranians would not support such an outrageous “opportunity.”

In a strikingly similar fashion to Hassan Sabbah, in the early1980’s Massoud Rajavi, came to realize that in order to achieve organizational efficiency and maintain his own power, a system must be implemented for the MEK. Professor Ervand Abrahamian—one of the world’s foremost experts on the cult, whose 1989 extensively researched book, The Iranian Mojahedin is still being used to educate professors, politicians and policymakers all over the world—details the cult’s history and evolution. Although it is common knowledge among politically- minded Iranians, Abrahamian affirms that the group officially began in 1963, as a small university student-discussion group. Shortly thereafter, with a revolutionary ideology, they took up arms, and after almost twenty years of growth and some support from Iranians, membership began to dwindle due to the sociological factors which determined their function was not really useful for the Iranian public. Because of this, the group restructured itself into a religio-political sect, and in the mid-1980’s, the Mujahidin, from an outsider’s perspective, had qualified itself as a cult. After renaming itself the “National Council of Resistance of Iran,” the group declared that it was actually founded in 1981. [1]

Abrahamian confirms that “by mid-1987, the Mujahidin Organization has all the main attributes of a cult […] the organization had granted unlimited power to its charismatic leader, [Massoud Rajavi].” He furthers, “Immediately the group had created a rigid hierarchy in which instructions flowed from above and the primary responsibility of the rank and file was to obey without asking too many questions. It has produced its own handbooks, censorship index, world outlook, historical interpretations and, of course distinct ideology—an ideology which, despite the organizations denials, tried to synthesize the religious message of Shiism with the social science of Marxism. It had its own slogans, insignia, icons, relics, ceremonies, rituals and liturgy. It had formulated its own esoteric terminology injecting new meaning into old Islamic words and sometimes coining entirely new terms. It had its own history, martyrs, hagiographies, honored families. It even had its own calendar.

“The organization had adopted its own dress code and physical appearance. It had begun to see the world as divided into two contradictory forces: on one side was the Mojahedin, the vanguard of the select, and those willing to accept its leadership; on the other was Khomeini, the forces of darkness and anyone refusing to accept Mojahedin leadership.
“Essentially the “Mojahedin became increasingly a world unto itself.” [2]

Sadly, in the name of Islam, and in the name of freedom and democracy, after the mid 1980’s, MEK members became increasingly devoted, increasingly isolated—as they were forced to stay on compounds and in camps based in Iraq—the biggest one being Camp Ashraf, where many members are still being housed and are prevented from knowing about the outside world. The MEK leaders, Maryam and Massoud Rajavi remain idols. Members worship them. Today the innocent devotees “volunteer” as suicide bombers or hunger strikers, willing to die for their cause and for their leaders. But the MEK, will never openly admit this practice is required. In January 2009, Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie’s made a statement to the Washington Post declaring that “a member of the organization had turned himself in to Iraqi security forces and told them that group leaders had instructed him to detonate explosives at the headquarters of the Iraqi security forces.” [3]

In July 2003 upon the arrest of MEK leader Maryam Rajavi, MEK members took to Paris’ streets and engaged in self-immolation. [4] [At least ten] members set themselves on fire in cities across Europe. [5]

The MEK suicidalists are the modern parallels of Hassan Sabbah’s “Druggers” in the Valley of the Assassins. MEK defectors describe the group as a cult. [6] Former MEK members told Human Rights Watch that when they protested MEK policies or tried to leave the organization, they were arrested, in some cases violently abused and in other instances imprisoned. Two former recruits told the human-rights group that they were held in solitary confinement for years in a camp operated by MEK in Iraq under the protection of Saddam Hussein. [7]

The MEK is a group of misguided individuals who do evil things to themselves and others—not out of malice, but out of faith and devotion to a pair of twisted leaders.

References:
[1] Abrahamian, Ervand. The Iranian Mojahedin. London, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989. pp.260-1

[2] ibid

[3] Londoño, Ernesto. "Iraq Accuses Iranian Exiles of Plotting Attack". The Washington Post.Wednesday, January 21, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article
/2009/01/20/AR2009012004051.html.

[4] United States Department of State, Naval Post Graduate School. “Mujahedin-e Khalq organization (MEK), Country Reports on Terrorism, 2007”. Dudley Knox Library. April 2008 ‘
<http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides
/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Current/MujahedineKhalq.html>.

[5] BBC News, "Iranian fire protests at Paris arrests". June 18, 2003
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2999652.stm.

[6] Allam, Hannah. "Middle East Diary: MEK in Iraq". McClatchy Newspapers .
August 14, 2009
http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/cairo/2009/08/mek-in-iraq.html.

[7] Isikoff, Michael. "Terror Watch: Consider the Source". Newsweek. May 18, 2005
<http://www.newsweek.com/2005/05/17/
terror-watch-consider-the-source.html>.

By Mazda Parsi

July 14, 2010 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Self-Immolation by the MKO Must be Re-Examined

Setting Oneself Ablaze—For What? Self-Immolation by the MKO Must be Re-Examined

It has been seven years since the arrest of Maryam Rajavi, the leader and so called president of the Mujahedin–e-Khalq (MKO), a foreign terrorist organization. The arrest took place at the MKO headquarters located in Auver Sur d’Oise, Paris, France on June 17th, 2003. Devoted members faced a shocking challenge as their leader was incarcerated. Some even resorted to a violent extreme political protest over the arrest of Maryam Rajavi when they set themselves ablaze. Two women died as a result. These alarming acts of self-immolation pinpoint a human tragedy in the midst of a cult mentality. The tragedy lies not only in the act itself, but in cult members’ numb emptiness and canopy of devotion for their leader, Maryam Rajavi, who used the Paris headquarters as her private sanctuary.

The 2003 arrest came as part of a raid by French police, whose government felt it was a necessary reaction to the MKO conundrum. Along with the arrest of Maryam Rajavi, the raid ended with about 160 other arrests of members and the confiscation of millions of dollars and technical materials.

After the raid, a judicial source told the la-Croix, a French newspaper, that “The intervention of security forces was conducted as part of a commission issued by the anti-terrorist judge Jean-Louice Bruguiere. It particularly results from a long investigation of financial flows which could fall within the ‘financing of terrorism.’ The raid was led by the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST),” [1]

At the time, the BBC reported that Nicholas Sarkozy, now the French President, and then the Interior Minister, said [during the French Assembly on June 17, 2003] that the MKO”recently wanted to make France its support base, notably after the intervention in Iraq. We cannot accept that.”[2]

Such interest and involvement by authorities was crucial for the French government because the MKO has, in order to further their agenda, conducted and participated in violent political attacks against American, Iranian and Iraqi citizens. For too long, France had been tolerating their presence. In the midst of the crackdown, the head of France’s domestic intelligence service, Pierre de Bousquet de Florian, said the group was”transforming its Val d’Oise centre [near Paris] … into an international terrorist base.”[3] In a bizarre show of devotion, after the arrests took place, it became clear that members continued to be forthright and obliging in their blind commitment towards their leader. Ten members, committed senseless acts of self-immolation in an extreme response to the arrest of the leader—for the sake of the leader—not for the sake of the Iranian people. There was outrage among people who follow European news. A contributor to the French website aufeminie.com who under the name Yelann, posted an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article referred to the stories of self–immolation and found the group’s history shocking—from the immolation to the hunger strikes. She surmised they were posing as martyrs, but speculated, “Are they really doing it for their people? It seems they are extremists and fanatics. And generally these actions do no good.” [4] In 1963, with the self sacrifice of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc, self-immolation became spotlighted and has since become a popular tactic for gaining political attention. But historically, the act goes back thousands of years. Psychologists suggest it is the result of extreme mental distress—particularly those who have had distress from being culturally isolated from the mainstream, and programmed with a distorted ideology, and who view self-immolation as an option. The International Study for the Center of Terrorism is developing The Global Self-Immolation Events Database (GS-IED). The database, a multi-year project, seeks to identify and track the prevalence and spread of self-immolation in the context of political conflict. Preliminary results from this project will be published in late 2010/early 2011. [5] While studies are needed regarding the relationship between self-immolation and terrorism, it is important to closely examine the possibility of a disturbing predilection. Will others in the MKO French headquarters use this type of aggressive “protest” on European soil in the form of a suicide bomb or with other emblematic terrorist-type acts?

In an article titled, “Sad Spectacle” published in Iranian.com shortly after the coverage of the raid on the MKO, Babak Mazarei, who at the time was a fourth year political science major at Carleton University in Canada, and who knew the brother of one of the people who set themselves on fire, wrote an opinion in response to the tragedy. Mazarei comments, “I wrote a brief piece on the unconditional right of the Mujahedin to express themselves. I, however, do not believe that self-immolation is a legitimate means of protest. Therefore, it is only logical to write a piece that explains my reasons for holding this view, in light of the Mujahedin’s extensive use of self-immolation and the resulting death of a young girl who had so much more to live for.

“The quasi-terrorism engaged in by Mujahedin of late is a testament to their ideological bankruptcy and the hypocrisy of their pro-human rights stance. I was very much angered and disheartened when I learned of the news of Neda Hassani’s death, if not for the hypocrisy this act of human degradation sheds, then certainly for the loss of life. What remains are the People’s Mujahedin. The record of this organization is marred by acts of violence both historically, and most recently, the materialization of protest-suicide in the form of self-immolation. In the 1970’s the Mujahedin assassinated US military personnel, supported the nonsensical siege of the American embassy, and in 1990 under the operation name ‘Operation Great Bahman’ in February 2000 attacked Iranian military sites and government buildings. These acts of violence have only detracted from the credibility of the exiled opposition movement. The very simple, but nonetheless true rule of conduct ‘two wrongs do not make a right’ comes to mind.

“Finally, recently the Mujahedin have resorted to self-immolation. What is disturbing about these latest acts of non-sensical violence is the purpose for which they are being committed. It is not in pursuit of freedom for Iranians that Mojaheds are now immolating themselves, but rather in protest at the incarceration of select members of their leadership.
“This reaction only proves that People’s Mujahedin are not a flexible, open organization, but rather a dogmatic entity with little hope for survival, let alone a legitimate political claim in Iran.”[6]

According to a June 25, 2003 report by New York Times correspondent Elaine Sciolino, French Counter Intelligence service prepared a classified report on the group and its activities. Sciolino details that “An Iranian opposition group operating in France that was the target of a large police operation last week had plans to attack Iranian embassies and assassinate former members working with Iranian intelligence services in Europe.” [7] The [Intelligence] report also said the group, known as the Mujahedeen Khalq, or People’s Mujahedin, had discussed having their members commit suicide by setting themselves on fire to draw attention to their cause.” [8]

Sciolino furthered in a later New York Times article that “it was devotion to Mrs. Rajavi, who is about 50 years old, that led several of her supporters throughout Europe to set themselves on fire to protest her arrest. Although Mrs. Rajavi sent a message from jail asking her supporters to stop, former Mujahedin members said that in training camps in Iraq, self-immolation was praised as a fitting response to the possible persecution of the Rajavis.” [9]

On July 13, 2003, Elizabeth Rubin wrote an article titled “The Cult of Rajavi” for the New York Times. In this article Rubin details her encounters with MKO members she met in Camp Ashraf. Rubin concluded that the Rajavis lead a sect hated in their home country and clarified that,”While Mujahedin press releases were pouring out last month, taking undue credit for the nightly demonstrations, many antigovernment Iranians were rejoicing over the arrest of Maryam Rajavi and wondering where Massoud was hiding and why he, too, hadn’t been apprehended. This past winter in Iran, when such a popular outburst among students and others was still just a dream, if you mentioned the Mujahedin, those who knew and remembered the group laughed at the notion of it spearheading a democracy movement. Instead, they said, the Rajavis, given the chance, would have been the Pol Pot of Iran. The Pentagon has seen the fatal flaw of hitching itself to volatile groups like the Islamists who fought the Soviets in Afghanistan and, more recently, the Iraqi exile groups who had no popular base at home.” [10]

As we observe the anniversary of this human tragedy where members of this cult were either ordered or felt compelled to set themselves ablaze in several European cities, let us remember the deaths of two women who created dreadful scenes—a shameful way to publicize and denounce the arrest of an alleged “resistance movement” leader. Before any more senseless deaths occur, the reality of the MKO must be re-examined not only by the French but by all by European government officials.

References:
[1] Guillemoles, Allain and Emmanuelle Rejue,”Opération contre Les Moudjahidines”. la-Croix.com. 13 June 2010 <http://www.lacroix.com/article/
index.jsp?docId=494032&rubId=4076>.

[2] BBC NEWS,”France investigates Iran exiles”. BBC MMX. 2003/06/22 07:03:17 GMT <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3010422.stm >.
[
3] ibid

[4] Agence France Presse,”Yelann”.”Maryam radjavi, personnage emblématique des moudjahidine, emprisonnée”. aufeminin.ca/société .
posté le 22/06/03 à 14:40 http://forum.aufeminin.com/forum/actu1/__f12971_
actu1-Maryam-radjavi-personnage-emblematique-des-moudjahidine-emprisonnee.html.

[5] Horgan, John, Director.”International Center for the Study of Terrorism”.
Penn State University. 11 June 2010 http://www.icst.psu.edu/current_projects.shtml.

[6] Mazarei, Babak.”Sad Spectacle”. Iranian.com. June 30, 2003 <http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2003/June/BM/index.html>.

[7] Sciolino, Elaine.”Iranian Rebel Group Had Attack Plans, French Report Says”.
New York Times. June 25, 2003 <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/25/world/
iranian-rebel-group-had-attack-plans-french-report-says.
html?scp=1&sq=Iranian%20Rebel%20Group%20Had%20Attack%20Plans,%20French%20Report%20Says&st=cse 4](http://www.icst.psu.edu/current_projects.shtml>.

[8] ibid

[9] Sciolino, Elaine.”Iranian Opposition Movement’s Many Faces”. New York Times.
June 30, 2003 <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/30/international/
middleeast/30PROT.html?ex=1057550400&en=0d936b988c92e183&ei=5062&partner=
GOOGLE&pagewanted=2NewYorktimes, ELAINE SCIOLINO, June 25,2003>.

[10] Rubin, Elizabeth.”The Cult of Rajavi”. New York Times. July 13, 2003, 2003 <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/13/magazine/the-cult-of-rajavi.html?scp=1&sq=the+cult+of+rajavi&st=nyt>.

By Mazda Parsi

June 17, 2010 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization

A book on MEK”Misled Martyrs”

A book on Mujahedin-e- khalq; from fighters of resistance movement to "Misled Martyrs".
The writer starts the book by the above mentioned statement where she describes the heart-rending scene of an MEK sympathizer committing self-immolation to protest the arrest of Maryam Rajavi in Paris. The suicide lost her life. The reader now keeps on reading because questions do not leave his curious mind. What motivation; what kind of hatred makes Neda commit such an act of protest? Why doesn’t Mujahedin khalq Organization prohibit such acts? How come that a Canadian educated woman turns into such a "misled martyr"?
There are a few books published on this very topic: Mujahedin Khalq. Ms. Jurith Nourink as an expert on middle East who is correspondent of a famous Dutch newspaper "Trouw", explores MEK’s cult-like attitudes in her book ,"Misled Martyrs".

The author follows the experiences of a defector of MEK named "Yaser Ezzati", describing his bitter life, she goes over the forty-year history of Mujahedin as an armed organization that blends its revolutionary version of Shiites with parts of Marxism ideology such as classless society. Ms. Nourink believes that the organization has gradually turned into a cult since Massoud and Maryam Rajavi got married. The influential leader of the cult, Massoud Rajavi seeks absolute power which, according to British historian Dalberg Acton, is the origin of absolute corruption. Any mean to achieve power, finds a saint nature which justifies MEK’s collaboration with the enemy of Iran’s national interests and territory, Saddam Hussein, and suppression of Kurdish uprising against Saddam during the Gulf War 1991. The quotes made by former members of MEK, confirms the fact that members of the cult obey Massoud Rajavi so blindly and worship him as an idol. Haydiger says:"asking question is the sign of piety of thought" but in MEK, questioning and criticizing are considered as taboos.

Nourink explains that thinking and asking is exclusive concession for a few high ranking members of the organization. Following the ideological revolution in the organization, the members were forced to divorce their spouses and then they were unwillingly separated from their children since Rajavi does not tolerate any obstacle between himself and his devotees. The only central idea and joining point in the group is their animosity towards Iranian regime and their sense of revenge.

The book describes the feeling of those who once thought they were fighting for the benefit of a free cultivated Iran but when they faced the cult-like tendencies of the organization, its close relations with Saddam Hussein and torture and imprisonment in the camps, they felt suppressed and disappointed so they left the group. Nourink portrays the grieves and pains of their suffering sole. These misled individuals thought that criticizing their leader signifies their disloyalty toward "saint ideals" of the organization, although they were quarrelling with their conscience and knew that their part was fake or destructive, they kept silent for years. They paid a high price for those years of being manipulated, isolated, extremist and depressed slaves of Rajavi.

A defector of the cult says:" they injected hatred and rancor in our sole all the time. We were not able to make a decision." Another defector sees himself so misled that calls "Eternal Light" operation as "Eternal Lie". The organization might have been damaged mostly by the side of these very people rather than Islamic Republic.

The author of the book refers to various books on psychological pathology and the origins of the cults. She finds all fundamental elements of a cult in MKO. Rajavi had all the time been studying psychological books in order to spread his absolute rule on the members’ minds, according to one of her sources. If Rajavi did not succeed to master a member’s mind, then he/she would be labeled as the regime’s spy who would consequently go under threat, torture, pressure and imprisonment.

Nourink uses her artistic talent to develop the characters of her book, describing their true emotions so tactfully, although she is not always neutral as a journalist should be.

Sometimes she looks like a human rights activist but sometimes she doesn’t offer a persuasive analysis. For instance, she believes that in 1991 when Saddam was threatened by Kurdish uprisings, MKO guaranteed his survival otherwise he would have fallen on the same year.

Nourink assumes the memoirs and experiences of defectors as historical facts, she is not able to take an impartial position of a journalist. She does not enter the organization to talk with MKO’s central committee and its present loyal members so that her sources would not be restricted to a few defectors.

Nourink might have authored one of the most comprehensive books on MKO, after Irvand Abrahamian’s book " The Iranian Mojahedin ". At the end of the book she wonders why American neo-cons who are aware of MKO’s hostility towards America and know that MKO assassinated several American military forces and citizens at Shah’s era and had a supportive part in hostage taking of American embassy in Tehran and also it is labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by DOS, do not try to remove the group from Iraqi territory. Why do they still view MKO as an option to pressure or to overthrow the Iranian regime? Can really such a terrorist cultist organization be the messenger of democracy or the defendant of human rights in Iran?

By: Payam Rahaee , Translated by Nejat Society

May 9, 2010 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

The significance of regular inquisition within MKO cult – Part 2

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December 29, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

The significance of regular inquisition within MKO cult – Part1

Generally programmed to be fervent adherents of a cult’s ideology and its defender against the outsiders, the members of a cult are under constant supervision and regular instructions and also to discover any change that might endanger the integrity of the community. Even a temporal detachment from the group can possibly deprogram them effectively and open their minds and eyes to a real world totally devoid of the lies and propagandas that had been methodically instilled into them through the brainwashing techniques.

A constant, regular monitoring technique within the cult of Mojahedin to have the mind and behavioral changes of the insiders under control is weekly confessions sessions (Jari sessions), better to call inquisition, through which members have to confess before others of their thoughts and intentions and are in fact forced to pledge allegiance to the leadership. Following critical situations and sensitive cases, it is before the leader himself rather than other subordinates that certain members have to prove their allegiance. Although people living in free, democratic world may laugh at such seemingly droll things in the modern world it is strictly practiced in most of cult particularly in the cult of Mojahedin.

Soon after the freedom of 36 MKO on the part of the Iraqi government and their settlement in camp Ashraf, the so-called Jari sessions were held for them via a telephone conference under the responsibility of Masoud Rajavi, a program aired by Mojahedin TV. There are some significant points to be noted in this regard. The behavior of the organization regarding these members was against humanity to force them take part in long sessions and interrogations despite their adverse physical conditions and the fact that some were under interrogation while lying in bed receiving medical treatment.

The fact is that bearing the conditions of these sessions is impossible even for the healthy members let alone those being one step far from death; as Maryam Rajavi said they would have died in 12 hours if they had not been released. Her claim may imply that the basic and fundamental pillars of the ideological-political survival of the organization are their organizational bastion, camp Ashraf, as well as inquisition sessions in particular to the point that they are not to be stopped under any conditions. Even those under treatment have to explain where they were, what they did, and how sincere they had been to operating Jari sessions by firm proof and evidence in the first hours of their arrival to the organization.

According to the statements made by Mrs. Soltani on suicide attacks, even two-manned teams entering Iran for accomplishing terrorist activities had to hold regular Jari sessions. In confirming her statements, it has to be pointed out that these 36 members insisted that they would hold Jari sessions among themseles under any conditions all through the course of their detention.

In no better way could the organization warn the adversaries. The airing of these inquisition sessions by Mojahedin’s TV may be considered a threat and warning particularly against the Iraqi government and officials. The organization is vigilant to observe the reaction of Iraqi officials to these programs to organize its future actions and policies. Iraqi officials are to pursue these sessions watchfully and analyze them carefully to find out the true cultic identity of Mojahedin.

Beside the paradoxical statements of these 36 individuals regarding the conditions of their imprisonment and the behavior of Iraqi government, what is apparent is the full influence of organization on these individuals. The only solution for queering this influence is separation of high rankings from the rank and files without which neither can the freedom of captive members be materialized nor can Mojahedin be expelled from Iraqi soil.

The shared point of the statements of all these 36 persons is pleasing the person in charge of Jari sessions, Masoud Rajavi. These statements focus on some points like confessing to their full dependence upon Masoud to whom they feel indebted under any conditions. The other point is their insistence on proving their loyalty to the leader and organization that guarantees their survival.

Externalizing these relations in one of the most critical periods of the organization when it is trying to attract the attention of the West has paradoxical dimensions. Although those familiar with the nature of the organization have fathomed its cultic and terrorist threat, there are still those who need to observe these aired footages and think of a way for minimizing or eliminating the threat of the organization as an unknown cult. The internal structure of the organization may imply its policy in dealing with the outside world too. It has out-and-out focus on submission and obedience toward one person as the leader at any price. The fact that all these 36 members and the audience state clearly that they are ready to die, kill, and bear hunger and thirst since their leader carries the main burden of the adverse conditions and pains may have many lessons for the outside world.

The publication of Rajavi’s own presence in the management of these sessions is of very significance and may raise some speculations. It may mean the termination of his organizational-cultic hide-out to stop the disintegration of the organization, a warning for the outsiders, or his presence in camp Ashraf and justifying the attempts of MKO members in defending Camp Ashraf and resisting to leave it. If it is so, a great part of the incidents happening inside and outside camp Ashraf may be attributed to his presence in camp Ashraf. According to RAND report, the Americans have evaded to inspect many Mojahedin facilities and it is very likely that Masoud Rajavi is settled somewhere inside Camp Ashraf.

December 28, 2009 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Letter to Directorate of Anti-Cult Association in France(UNADFI)

Honorable Directorate of Anti-Cult Association in France(UNADFI)

As you know well that Rajavi’s Cult has taken advantage of the Democracy and Freedom Honorable Directorate of Anti-Cult Association in France(UNADFI) dominating upon European countries and in France in particular for years to propagandize in favor of its cultish objectives and ends under cover of false democracy and freedom loving claims to fortify and reinforce its headquarter in France, which is very dangerous for French government’s interests as well as the French people because of its full-scale cultish – Terrorist structure .

The French people and your honorable association have witnessed and observed closely a part of this cult’s inhumane deeds which occurred in Paris in 2003 .In this catastrophic incident , with the direct order of the cult’s leader and its leadership council , some of the cult’s members set themselves on fire .

The French people should know that this cult became Saddam Hussein’s full-scale mercenary and puppet just to preserve its cultic interests in Iraq and they began their cooperation with Saddam’s suppressive forces to overcome the Iraqi people’s fair and square uprising. They perpetrated lots of crimes against the interests of Iraqi people just to preserve their cultish objectives and interests, so that the Iraqi army-generals were totally fascinated and gratified of pmoi’s full-scale cooperation and collaboration to suppress the Iraqi people’s protests and uprisings in 1990-1991.

We come to this conclusion that such cult which for preservation of its own runty-interests change its course and has the power to do any crime whom it wants, is very dangerous and no-one should be deceived by their leaders’ alluring appearance and hollow slogans devoid of any real content .

The cult leaders who implemented and carried out suppression , physical and psychological tortures and even homicide in their inter-organizational relations against their own members, now they intend to reinforce their cultic base and fortress located in Paris by imposture and demagoguery and again perpetrate more scoundrel-crimes to preserve their cultish interests .
The cult which is claimant of freedom and democracy ,but it does not tolerate and bear any criticism against itself and uses mayhem and disdain and accusation against the critics which the sensible instance of that was the peaceful and totally legal rally and demonstration of the critics and former members of pmoi in the city of Cergy in France , on 28th of November 2009 which the pmoi’s proxies and henchmen who were gathered from European countries and France , attacked the participants who were revealing the cultish – Terrorist structure of Rajavi’s cult for French people , unfortunately as a result of their attack , some of the participants got injured . Mr. Mohammad Karami Political and human rights Activist with more than 25 years of political activity and struggle in the age of 50, was assaulted by a number of pmoi’s henchmen and got injured .

We the former veteran members of this cult who are the victims of suppression and systematic torture in Rajavi’s cult , according to humanitarian commitments , we have obligation to warn all French politicians to be vigilant about the presence of this inhumane cult in their country, and according to the bitter experiences of the presence and crimes of this cult in Iraq and its inhumane actions(self-burning and self-immolation) in 2003 in Paris , their activities in France should be limited and confined or stopped.

Victims of Rajavi’s cult
Ancient Iran, Glorious Future Association, Paris

December 12, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Become acquainted with a sect called MKO

An Iranian opposition group called People’s Mujahedin (MKO). It had a base in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, and cooperated closely with the dictator. Now it must leave the country. And sets up in Oslo.

Ebrahim Khadabandeh Ebrahim Khadabandeh. He has spent decades of his life as a member. Now he warns others against the organization.
Ebrahim Khadabandeh has bitter experiences in it. He has spent decades of his life as a member of MKO. Now he warns others against the organization.

He was a member of MKO’s international affairs. He resided in London and his main responsibility was to care contacts with British parliamentarians. The organization gives priority to such works. Ebrahim knew well how important it was in the organization’s propaganda, when the organization’s leader, Maryam Rajavi, was recently received in the Norwegian Sorting.

We owe the reader to announce that Ebrahim is on loan from Evin prison, accused of having link to an opposition organization. He was arrested on the border with Syria, with two millions of dollars in cash, which the organization wanted to ensure that it was no longer safe in Iraq. First, he detained in Syrian prison – where was the "absolutely bad", he says, before he arrived in Evin prison – as "not so bad". There, he read books among other things, about the cults and sects. He says MKO is a sect.

MKO as a sect
"You know," he says, "that at higher levels in the organization only women can be leaders. the reason externally provided is that women have been oppressed. And you want to ‘make up’ for this. But the actual reason is that Massoud Rajavi, the leader, and husband of Maryam Rajavi, fears male rivals. Women will not challenge him. "

So he has deprived male authority competition and has given women authority over men. Foremost among the women is Maryam Rajavi, his wife. Massoud calls it "an ideological revolution".

Maryam was the first woman to become another MKO leader. She was the ex- wife of the second person[Mehdi Abrishamchi] of the organization. Mehdi Abrishamchi was then obliged ‘to express his great joy’ to be able to contribute to ‘the ideological association’ between his wife and Massoud Rajavi.

Ebrahim believes it is the sign of a cult , the leader marries the wife of another leader in this way.

"Another aspect of the MKO as a sect is that you always have to follow the leader," he says. "The leader is all that matters, and everyone must follow his wishes. Maryam Rajavi says it in this way: ‘One may doubt God. But we cannot doubt Massoud. " No organization is allowed to doubt him. "

"Leader and the cause are superior to everything," said Ebrahim. "Family and children lead you away from these. Therefore, Massoud decided that the children of MKO members should be sent to other countries, to be adopted or raised there. The members did not have contact with them. Slogan was ‘All for the head!’ "

– "What happened to the children?" We ask.
– "Some will not talk about it. Others have mental problems. While others have returned to Iraq and joined the MKO. Totally, we are talking about around 1,000 people. "
He does one say may well be the rule in Iran. He does not own either. But he considers himself enticed by the MKO.

"MKO bears all the signs of a cult," he says. "It has a self-appointed leader. The organization has a totalitarian structure. The leader has complete control over all members’ lives. The organization uses manipulation techniques to influence people. "
Remains a cult

– "But how could the organization be survived as a cult for many years?”

– "The organization requires hard working by the members," he says. "The members are tired. They do not currently go. They can only read the organization’s publications. They live within cults boundaries. Psychologically, they are locked up. Most are also physically isolated. "

– "But why are you worried about the MKO as a cult?"

– "A cult is like a landmine," he says. "It can explode, and is dangerous. Landmines must be dug up. "
He said: "We have a picture of Iran, in the form of a story. It is about a scorpion and a frog. "And then he gives us the story:

"Scorpion was over a river. But it could not swim and then asked a frog to sit on its back. ‘But you’re a scorpion,’ said the frog. ‘Out on the river, you can stab me. “‘Then I drown myself,’ said the scorpion. So the frog let it sit on.

In mid-river, the scorpion stings him, dooming the two of them. ‘Why did you do that? “ Asked the frog. The other said: ‘I am when I sting! Because I am a scorpion.’ “
Ebrahim says its cool logic, unpredictable and dangerous.

Cult changing faces
He said MKO has several faces. And show the face based on whom they are talking to. When they speak to people in the West, take up the democratic and secular. But their face is "Islamic" and militants, when they see the benefit from it.

"Massoud does not believe in a fixed opinion or ideology," he says. "Massoud is out of power. He is obsessed with the idea of becoming leader of Iran. "

– "Will he be there?"

– "MKO has no support in Iran, and will not be able to take power alone. They are dependent on help from others. Now they addressed themselves to the United States, and ask the U.S. to use them. They want the U.S. to give money and support, as Saddam Hussein did before. But the United States hesitates, for they know that the MKO is a cult. "

MKO or Rajavi group as it is called is now looking for an office in Oslo. They invite you to seminars and meetings. We will certainly hear more from them.

By Trond Ali Linstad 05/06/2008 – Tranalsted by Nejat Society

December 9, 2009 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

French citizens demonstrate against PMOI

On Saturday, November 28th, 2009, a large number of citizens of Cergy, France gathered to protest the presence of the terrorist cult of Rajavi in their country soil.

The rally began at 14:00 when the citizens gathered together in downtown. The gathering started with a performance made by Iran-France music band that played fascinating pieces. A panel was also held for a book show that included 5000 editions of journals, books and revealing catalogues on MKO.

a large number of citizens of Cergy, France gathered to protest the presence of the terrorist cult of Rajavi in their country soil

There were also huge posters, distributed among protestors to reveal the cult-like nature of Mujahedin-Khalq Organization.

During the rally a play was performed by a group of former members to present a symbolic show on torture, imprisonment, suicide operations committed by Rajavi’s cult. The participants were moved by the performance.

Hundreds of Iranian-French citizens sang the famous Iranian song “Ey Iran” standing in organized lines and then walked through streets of Cergy under the rain.

They ended their rally after they issued a resolution at 18:30.

The move was executed by cooperation of some NGOs and foundations formed by former members of MKO.

At the ending phases of the demonstration, a few suppressive henchmen of Rajavi’s cult attacked the demonstrators and hit them on face and eyes. The attackers were sent from Auver Sur Oise to break down the peaceful rally. Three French citizens and an Iranian were injured by MKO agents who were consequently arrested by French police.

Aria Iran – Translated by Nejat Society

December 2, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

36 detainees attend cleansing meeting after their release

The process of manipulation in cults is a never ending and non-stop methodology which guarantees existence of the cult and maintenance of members in the isolated atmosphere of the cult.

The 36 Ashraf residents, who had been detained by Iraqi Police after the raid on the camp, attended their cleansing meeting under the supervision of Massoud Rajavi, following their release from Iraqi prison. The video of the meeting was aired on MKO’s TV channel and published on their website a few days ago but only for a short time. The video showed some of the released members attending the meeting on their hospital bed. They attended the meeting just a few hours after their release. This shows how vital indoctrination meetings are for cult leaders. The immediately held cleansing meeting where some of the participants weren’t feeling well due to the hunger strike they had gone in the prison, according to their indoctrinations.

The participants confessed that they held their self – criticism meetings even in Iraqi prison! They told to their God-like leader, Massoud Rajavi, that they held the meetings even in groups of two under any circumstances. As MKO’s TV channel showed, Current Operation (cult jargon) is so influential that the 36 released members noted that their only objective is satisfying their leader, Massoud Rajavi.

During the meeting Massoud Rajavi spoke to the audience via telephone. The presence of Rajavi himself in the meeting indicated the importance of meeting to the organization that held the cleansing meeting under the supervision of the highest authority of the group.

The video showed the audience including the 36 released members clearly declared that they are always ready for absolute obedience to leaders’ orders. This film represents one of the few times that MKO’s internal relation is revealed to outside world and maybe that’s why they kept it on their website only for more a few days and then they removed it. The true nature of Rajavi’s cult was announced on its website in the best way.

Today MKO’s propaganda champagne launches too much effort to gain the West’s support but the film of the cult’s manipulation session sill bring about contradictions around the group which has always claimed to be democratic, to seek freedom and liberation of thought and speech for people. The show asserts the undemocratic cult-like nature of the group that will definitely make the West feel the threat of such a destructive cult.

The West is absolutely concerned about the threat of cults such as Al Qaida or MKO because the danger caused by such cults today is risking the lives of a lot of people in the world including Iraq or Afghanistan.

The devoted members of the cult always promise that they are prepared to commit suicide operation for the cause the leader says.

As the participants of Rajavi’s cleansing session said, they welcome pain, hunger and death just for their leader who, according to them, is the only one who suffers the most. The confessions of Ashraf residents would be a great lesson for the West since the potential danger of such a cult will not be limited to the cult itself but to the world community as what happened in June 2003 after the arrest of Maryam Rajavi by French Police.

By Mazda Parsi

November 10, 2009 0 comments

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