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

The cult of Rajavi

MKO leaders are afraid of the truths that detainees found out

Behind the bars of a mind control cult, like Rajavi’s destructive cult, the leaders never want the internal affairs of the cult to be revealed. They are well aware that if their manipulative practices are externalized, the cult existence will be endangered since the human rights bodies and the international community never ignores such abusive acts. That’s why Rajavi is terrified by the testimonies of former members who externalize the internal affairs of the cult and always tries to label them as the agents of Islamic Republic’s intelligence ministry. Behind the bars of a mind control cult, like Rajavi’s destructive cult, the leaders never want the internal affairs of the cult to be revealed

On the other hand, the isolated members of the cult who are brainwashed through complex manipulation sessions and other cult jargons are not able to have any access to outside world. They are never informed of the true events taking place outside Camp Ashraf. All news and incidents are filtered and censured by cult leaders and then published for cult’s captured members. In fact, the Rajavis are also terrified by the truths that might be internalized by external elements.

As it was published in the media, the 36 Ashraf residents who were arrested by Iraqi police after the raid on Camp Ashraf in July 28th,were released on Wednesday October 7th , the detainees who were on hunger strike (that was ordered by cult leaders) while they were in Iraqi prison were taken to hospital due to their crucial health problem according to MKO’s spokesperson and now they are in a kind of medical quarantine ! After about 5 days since their release there have been no special news or interviews on MKO’s websites although its propaganda system has always been ready to hunt an opportunity for a big show-off. Even the cult’s TV channel, Simaye Azadi, which is its non-stop working propaganda machine has not published further news or interviews with liberated members.

As usual the cult should have taken the most use of the so-called atrocities against its detained members but in fact it prefers to keep silent.

One might suppose that these 36 individuals, who were far from the cult’s indoctrinations for more than 70 days, could find an occasion to be alone by themselves. They could face their individuality without the controlling regulations of the cult which had dominated all aspects of their life and their soul.

They might have had enough time to contemplate or meet other people with different ideas. They might have found new facts about the outside world which may oppose to what the cult had made them believe. In such a condition, the old terrifying case might have happened: the external facts have been internalized in the members’ minds.

Therefore, the leaders have to keep them in a mental quarantine too because their mind should be reorganized according to cult’ indoctrinations. But how late could the cult leaders stop the truth coming to the camp? This is an unavoidable fact.

By Mazda Parsi

October 25, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Cultic backlash against a legal intervention

The survival of cults, and the political-terrorist groups like MKO in particular, depends mainly on their organizational as well as a dominant iron discipline that are the cause of numerous human tragedies and cultic practices that that risks the lives of the cult victims. The main factors resulting in total obedience and submission to cult leaders are convincing systems and brainwashing techniques as well as some other levers including intimidation and coercion of the members.

Therefore, the main consideration in dealing with cults and averting their danger is organizational split of cults through separating the leaders from the rank and files in order to break down the inter-twined and steel-like discipline exerted on the latter.

However, this issue has been ignored by the US forces while taking the control of camp Ashraf, the cultic bastion of the notorious terrorist cult of Mojahedin. Surprisingly enough, the Americans’ negligence in this regard not only led to the stability of organizational relations of Mojahedin but also resulted in a number of negative consequences like illegal resistance of Ashraf residents against the legal demands of Iraqi government.

The statements made after the process of transitions in Iraq resulting in Iraqi forces’ taking control of camp Ashraf imply that the American forces have behaved passively toward Mojahedin taking no preventive measure against them. In fact, since the fall of Saddam up to the deployment of Iraqi police in camp Ashraf, no effort has been made for the organizational dissolution of Mojahedin. Seemingly, this is the reason why Mojahedin disagreed to let the Iraqi police in.

Considerable evidences indicate that the coalition forces and the Americans were so indifferent and passive toward Mojahedin that they never cared about the authoritarian approaches of MKO’s leaders exerted on MKO Ashraf residents and also failed to prevent the exit of opposition forces from Ashraf based on some hidden agreements made between Ashraf leaders and the US commanders.

In fact, there was no control and surveillance on the internal and external relations of Mojahedin. There are many reports that verify the active cooperation between the US commanders and Ashraf leaders. There are numerous evidences indicating that American forces were obliged to classify organizational and military forces of Mojahedin based on their rank and control them separately but they refrained to do so and in some points it seemed that Mojahedin had the upper hand compared to the invading forces.

What is of great importance is that Mojahedin have been aware that the presence of Iraqi police in camp Ashraf will not be limited a physical presence. The reason of the violent reactions of Mojahedin and victimizing Ashraf residents in the course of June events is in this regard.

According to the statements of Iraqi officials, the palisades inside camp Ashraf are mainly used for controlling Ashraf residents, their movements, and relations and imply the complexity and organizational hierarchy of MKO. While the control of camp Ashraf was in the hands of the US forces, Mojahedin felt safe; however, the presence of Iraqi police in Ashraf as well as removing the palisades poses a threat to MKO leaders loosing the control of their bastion. In fact, the measures had to be implemented on Mojahedin seven years ago are just on the agenda of Iraqi officials. These are the primary steps for setting MKO rank and files free from cultic relations of Mojahedin.

Footages of the human shield of MKO members in complaint to the removal of palisades by Iraqi police shown in Mojahedin TV indicate the importance of these fences as a symbol of the internal and closed relations of Mojahedin. This action as well as separating MKO leaders from the rank and files may pave the way for dissidents to leave camp Ashraf and find the chance to govern their own destiny free from the cultic bonds of the organization. The demolishing of the strategic and ideological container of Mojahedin, camp Ashraf, should have been accomplished right after the invasion of coalition and American forces. Now, the presence of Iraqi forces in camp Ashraf is a step forward to fulfill the objective; the harsh backlash of Mojahedin leaders was not unexpected since it challenged its cultic sovereignty.

October 18, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Requisite interaction between Iraq and quitters of MKO

The recent events in camp Ashraf shows that the Iraqi government has to use parallel levers beside the legal ones in order to control Mojahedin and set its members free from the cultic relations of a closed group.

The reason maybe the cultic nature of this group and its unpredictable aspects like unconventional suicide operations carried out by the members who have been persuaded through convincing procedures and brainwashing techniques that entirely neutralize external influences.

The interviews with MKO former members and their eyewitnesses have convinced Iraqi officials that MKO like other cultic groups welcomes any violent reaction as a strategic issue. The question of violence is a broad one to be elaborated on from different aspects. There are numerous articles and studies in this regard but it has to be investigated more extensively.

Almost all cult experts are unanimous that coming to a clear understanding of cults, their motivations and nature is inevitable for averting their potential dangers. There are some levers for achieving this objective like covering communicative activities, studying historical models, and continuous interaction with former cult members to arrive at a realistic relation with them. In this regard, Singer writes:

My warmest thanks and deepest appreciation go to the more than three thousand cult victims who shared their stories, their pain, and their healing with me, helping me to learn about cults and the harm they have brought upon so many. 1

She also refers to the necessity of using clinical consultants beside cult ex-members and writes:

Exit counselors typically charge between $500 and $1,000 a day, plus expenses-a fee schedule similar to that of many other consultants. Exit counselors have to study and keep abreast of the ever, changing cult scene and collect data, films, and documents from and about the various groups. Many exit counselors do not charge for the extensive phone time that is involved. Most offer free clinics for ex-members and donate hundreds of free hours lecturing to schools, churches, and other organizations. 2

Although making use of consultants seems impossible regarding Mojahedin, it seems that MKO’s quitters, many of whom are active in different organs and NGOs, can achieve this objective. They may offer some information on camp Ashraf, classification of members, and their mental inclinations. Even these limited pieces of information may pave the way for minimizing the costs imposed on Iraq.

The Iraqi officials have to notice that MKO quitters are from different organizational layers based on which they can offer solutions for the current challenges from different aspects. For instance, those quitters from the Leadership Council have valuable information on the aspects of human tragedy focused on by Masoud Rajavi.

The information provided by these separated members helps Iraqi officials to recognize the objectives pursued by MKO leaders at the time being. The fact is that they are not aware of the true nature of MKO and its potential dangers for Iraq in this phase.

Despite camp Ashraf is a part of Iraqi soil, Iraqi officials are unaware of the transitions and changes made there and also its facilities. Even some MKO members are unfamiliar with the structure of this camp where they have lived for years. Undoubtedly, the lack of information may present Iraqi officials with serious problems. It seems that the only option before Iraqi officials is turning to MKO’s separated members for advice to get acquainted with camp Ashraf and its structure. In this regard, Iraqi officials can interact with MKO former members on following issues:

1. General information on the headquarters, buildings, media and telecommunication facilities, possible hideouts and prisons in camp Ashraf.
2. Advice on developing relation with Ashraf residents.

If Iraqi officials manage to take full control of MKO relations, they can use information of separated members and classify Ashraf residents accordingly. Undoubtedly, there are many MKO members in camp Ashraf that are willing to leave the organization and MKO former members can help Iraqi officials in identifying these individuals. It may lead to the interaction of Iraq with MKO members according to their characteristics and organizational order.

3. The possibility of giving information to Ashraf residents by separated members.

The relation of separated members with Ashraf residents at least leads to the weakening of mental and political bounds imposed on Ashraf residents. The quitters can draw a clear and real picture of the present and future conditions for the remnant Ashraf residents. The role of face to face dialogue is of utmost importance in this regard.

4. The possibility of identifying leaders and key members of organization for separating them from rank and files. Although Iraqi officials have managed so far to identify some MKO leaders, but due to the organizational complexity of MKO it is believed that there are many more unknown leaders and no one but MKO members can identify them. The separated members can help Iraqi officials in revealing the identity of MKO’s leaders to be isolated from the rank and files.

5. Receiving primary information on the degree of human tragedy and violent reactions of Mojahedin.

The issue of human tragedy is now the most serious threat posed by Masoud Rajavi and the presence of some key members like Mrs. Batool Soltani of the Leadership Council may help Iraqi officials to get information on the quality and quality of this threat. There are also some other aspects in which MKO former members can help Iraqi official to attain a better understanding of the true nature of Mojahedin.

References
1. Singer, M. Thaler, Cults in Our Midst, JOSSEY-BASS ,A Wiley Imprint, 2003, XV.
2. ibid, 289

September 28, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Temporal Marriage, Rajavi’s Latest Scandal

After the appearance of the first round of interviews of Sahar site with Mrs. Batool Soltani, a female member of council of leadership of MKO that has recently managed to escape Camp Ashraf, many noted the necessity of the continuation of these interviews. Now there are more than 20 episodes of these statements in Sahar site that confirms their accuracy and truthfulness. The surprising nature of her statements was anticipated yet the great extent to which they have caused surprise in readers was unexpected. She implies the fact that the extent of disclosure against the organizational activities of MKO depends on the extent of direct contact and interaction of members with the top layers of the organization. In other words, the closer the detached members to the top layers, the more shocking would be the exposé of the internal relations of the organization. The significance of her statements lies in the fact that she is the first female detached member of the organization from the highest echelon of MKO and one of the closest to the leadership. Therefore, she is an eyewitness and her statements are not but the description of her own observations in the organization.

It is evident that her statements on some aspects like the relation of Rajavi with the members of leadership cadre are so shocking for other detached members since as she asserts, even the ranks below the level of leadership cadre have not been aware of these affairs and Rajavi has insisted on secreting these information in the council of leadership. Consequently, members of a high organizational status that have been unaware of these relations appear terribly surprised. The statements of other detached members like Mr. Shahsavandi confirm the hierarchical order of MKO and its intra organizational censorship. Control of information is the common practice of Rajavi in all organizational issues. For example, what Mr. Shahsavandi knew about the trial of Ali Zarkesh as well as his own discussions with Rajavi in this regard was buried away up to his separation from the organization. This is another cultic profile of MKO reveled by many detached members like Mr. Shahsavandi and Mrs. Soltani.

Likewise, the issue of Rajavi’s temporary marriage with the female members of council of leadership has to be investigated from a cultic point of view as it is a common practice almost in all cults in which the leader has relation with female members. This is the latest news on the scandals of MKO leadership leading to numerous negative consequences. Before, many detached members as well as dissident opposition groups to MKO condemned the marriage of Masoud Rajavi with Maryam Azdanlu and considered it the result of love affair between the two while Rajavi tried to prevent its internal and external feedbacks by calling it an ideological marriage. Despite all the accusations made by MKO dissidents against Rajavi in this regard, we held out hope that this marriage was merely a solution for ending the political and ideological cul-de-sac of the organization rather than a love affair. Unfortunately, the statements of Mrs. Soltani raise our doubts in this regard.

A brief look at the past and the time when Mrs. Soltani escaped MKO and the intentional silence of Mojahedin on her first interviews refraining from confirming the news of her escape indicates that there was a rationale behind the silence of the organization. It is the common practice of the organization to take a hostile position toward any detached member (even of the lowest organizational status) and publicize a writing of the member implying that all his/her future statements against the organization would be baseless as it was practiced for Marzieh Qorsi and many more after their separation. Surprisingly enough, Mojahedin have refrained to take any position against Mrs. Soltani or accuse her abusively, why? Some reasons on this silence were elaborated on before. However, the statements of Mrs. Soltani give us a better understanding of the issue.

The silence of the organization as well as making contacts with Ms. Soltani on the part of the organization promising to prepare the ground for her to live wherever she likes with her children has its roots in the fact that the organization is well aware of the negative consequences of her escape and revelations so is making its utmost efforts to convince or tempt her to maintain silence on the secrets of the council of leadership. Undoubtedly, her statements on the temporal marriage of Rajavi with the female members of council of leadership would raise many complaints, doubts and questions like that of the marriage of Maryam and Masoud. Likewise, it is likely that Rajavi’s justifications for these marriages would be similar to that of his marriage with Maryam.

The only persons to answer the questions on this issue are Ms. Soltani and those aware of it yet taking silence due to some reasons. Therefore, Sahar site would act as a bridge between Ms. Soltani and the readers in this regard. Also, those researchers studying on cults and MKO in particular are supposed to devote a part of their efforts to this subject and publicize the results of their studies. Evidently, this was an introduction to the issue that will be followed by more specialized and detailed articles in this regard.

August 18, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Life from a cultic perspective

Cultic relations depend highly on some exclusive and specific factors like disregarding social life as well as social, ideological, religious and ethical values of members. Cult leaders aiming at transmuting recruits in cultic relations, resort to a number of techniques and mechanisms to draw a boundary between within and without and to pave the way for the achievement of their objective. Almost all cultic features act systematically and interactively, however, those mentioned above may be considered the most determining ones common in most cults. They are of a more distinctive nature in political cults and ideological groups in particular due to their mechanism and have managed to take a persuasive and meretricious role.

Cultic relations in nature are opposed to social norms and values due to the anti-democratic structure of cults as well as the opposition of cults to individual and social freedom. In other words, cultic relation is an antithesis to social relations that provides for the evolution of man. Social relations have a determining role in the manifestation of human evolution; in contrast, cultic leaders are opposed to it and make their efforts to instill cultic principles into members by means of brainwashing and thought-reform techniques to replace the dominant faith in members with the heretically innovated cultic ones. Many believe that the promise of enlightenment is one of the main levers at the hands of cult leaders in inculcating recruits with a set of anti-social beliefs:

A total commitment is required to reach some state such as "enlightenment." The form of that commitment will vary from group to group: more courses, more meditation, more quotas, more cult-related activities, more donations. Cults are known to dictate what members wear and eat and when and where they work, sleep, and bathe as well as what they should believe, think, and say. 1

These demands are based on the point that cult leaders divide the world outside and inside into black and white poles and promote the belief that cultic relations end in the evolution and salvation of man and the relations of outside world result in his fatality and deviation. This viewpoint leads to the negation and violation of all social norms and values and ultimately to monopolism and dogmatism. This is a common feature of almost all cults and as Singer puts into words:
On most matters, cults promote what we usually call black-and-white thinking, an all-or-nothing point of view. 2

It is evident that isolation of recruits is necessary for promoting cultic doctrines. Cult leaders have to make members isolated far from any relationship with the outside world before negating social values. One of the basic rights that cult members are banned from is their separation from family, friends, and occupational relations. These constraints are justified under the pretext of the necessity of making a big change in life style:

Cults tend to require members to undergo a major disruption or change in lifestyle. Many cults put great pressure on new members to leave their families, mends, and jobs to become immersed in the group’s major purpose. This isolation tactic is one of the cults’ most common mechanisms of control and enforced dependency. 3
In fact, cult leaders make wide gaps between cultic values and social values like education, progress, success, hope in a better future and natural desires to the point that they consider any inclination to natural desires as an unforgivable sin. From the viewpoint of cult leaders, factors like education, learning, marriage, emotional relations to family members and friends, commitment to outsiders, etc are defined as red lines and taboos. Surprisingly enough, most cults refer to their anti-social approach as a step toward developing a utopian society. According to Singer:

Modern-day cults and thought-reform groups tend to offer apparent utopias, places where all humankind’s ills will be cured. The cults’ lure is, if you just come along, all will be fine, and everyone will live happily ever after. 4

It is evident that members have to ignore all their emotional, ideological, and social attachments to outside world and accept a new set of values and norms that is opposed to the fundamentals of values outside cults; this is a trend spreading in other forms of social movements as well as cult-like groups.
References:

1. Thaler Singer, Margaret, Cults in Our Midst, 1995, p.10.
2. ibid.
3. ibid.
4. ibid, xxv.

June 24, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Rajavis’ Cult on the net

For those MKO members who are captured by MKO in Camp Ashraf Iraq or Camp Maryam France, surfing the Internet includes a difficult process due to the severe information control dominating the cult. The members would work on the Internet only in groups of at least two people including a superior and a minor member. The limited number of websites filtered for them, are just those of the organization that advocate the cults’ cause.

A free access to the Internet can be the first step for a person who is involved in a cult such as MKO destructive cult. The leaders of Rajavi’s cult hate the net because it allows their members access to Information they deem subversive or evil.

Many ex-members of MKO are now running their own websites posting their sometimes untold stories of their involvement in the cult of Rajavi.

”Be especially eager to surf the net if your leaders have told you not to “according to Cult Watch website. A quick search on common search engines by the keywords related to MKO (MEK, Rajavi’s Cult, Mujahedin Khalq, etc.)provides you thousands of pages and most of them contain the same patterns which are familiar to all those characteristics mentioned in previous parts of these articles.

According to Cult Watch “Old publications by the group are key tools to recognize a cult: often older cults have predicted the end of the world or changed their beliefs significantly, hence their old publications become a danger to them.” A look at Mujahed Journals issued in the 1980’s or 1990’s or before the Islamic Revolution shows numerous instances of changes in MKO beliefs which often contradict one another. The very significant example is the change in their approach toward Israel and America’s so-called Imperialism. During the early years of NKO foundation, militants of the group assassinated American military personnel and civilians or they received military trainings by PLO in Palestinian military camps of Yaser Arafat. Now the big change: they are flattering their Western godfathers to receive a safe haven after the fall of their ex-landlord Saddam Hussein. Among former members of MKO Cult, some have written books, articles, memoirs on the rise and fall of these changes.
By Mazda Parsi

May 20, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Time Control within Rajavi’s Cult

Mind Control cults keep their members so busy with meetings and activities that they become too tired to think about their involvement.

“They have systematically arranged hard busy work schedule for members. So that they have no opportunity to think about anything else.” Writes Mohamamd Hussein Sobhani in his memoirs ; Dark Days of Baghdad, “even our eating time was planned, for example we had a snack time at 10 pm, it was called “The 10 O’clock break”. It was time to have a cup of tea and cookies according to a long-term tradition in the history of the organization”

Never-ending compulsory meetings and tasks is a sign of a cult

Defining a time table in MKO cult helped the leaders of the cult to control every moment of members’ lives. They assigned them when to get up, when to work, when to relax, when to watch TV …

According to HowCultsWork”, Time control also helps the cult keep their members immersed in the manufactured cult environment.

A look at MKO you tubes on the internet shows this aspect of cult-like practices in the destructive cult of Rajavi very clearly. For instance you can see a female member cleaning a tank so many times or you see them gardening or planting in Ashraf Camp. They are always made busy doing something even something of no use.

Besides, a time control helps keep cult members away from friends and family. They are never free to think of their family. As Batoul Soltani describes in her memoirs the only place she could look at her daughter’s photo (which she had hidden in her pocket) was in the bathroom.

CultWatch gives a key point to recognize a cult:

Never-ending compulsory meetings and tasks is a sign of a cult

Reference: How Cults Work

By Mazda Parsi

May 5, 2009 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

The walls have ears

In Camp Ashraf and camp Maryam all the walls have ears. As a member of MKO cult one can never talk to a colleague. Every working group includes a superior member and a minor one because the latter should be supervised by the former .”They even force the most high-ranking members to move jointly. They say that there shouldn’t be any exclusions.” according to Ms. Batoul Soltani former member of MKO leadership Council. She escaped from the cult after she found out a report of false allegations about herself on the computer. The report was written by her colleagues and was supposed to be sent to Maryam Rajavi.

In the destructive cult of Rajavi like any other mind control cult, the members should watch each other. They should report everything they learn about their colleagues to increase their own credit near the leaders. The mind Control system makes them think that a perfect cult member is the one who shows more loyalty for the leaders.

In a mind control cult like in Nazi Germany or Communist Russia you must be careful of what you say and do;”The walls have ears”. Everyone is encouraged to watch out for”struggling”brothers and sisters and report what they see to leadership. Often information given in deepest confidence is automatically reported to leadership. Cult leaders will then use this information to convince their members that they have a supernatural link, the trusting member does not suspect the very natural mechanism behind the supernatural revelations they are given.

People in a mind control cult will also hide their true thoughts and feelings, and instead wear a mask which presents them as a perfect cult member. This mask is a defense against being reported to leadership and being punished for not measuring up (cult members never feel like they measure up to the cult’s ideals, and yet often believe the other members around them do, when in reality the others feel the same as them). Hence cult members are trained not only to deceive outsiders, but also to deceive their fellow cult members. Rarely can close friendships form in cults, and if they do the cult’s leaders may see them as a threat and move those people away from each other. Nothing is allowed that can be more powerful than the cult members’ allegiance to the group and its leaders.

Is Information you expected to be kept confidential reported to leadership? If so then it’s a cult

There are various cult jargons in MKO destructive cult. They serve the main objective of the cult. Some of them are called “Current Operation”, “cleansing meetings” and “nil-nil” meetings. These jargons include different forms of reporting system. As you read in memoirs of Batoul Soltani,” Masud Rajavi calls the current operation as “spiritual Jihad” and even “higher than Martyrdom.”, so he convinces the members to confess their own thoughts or to report their comrades’ affaires. The reporting system makes the members more dependent on the group’s leader.

By Mazda Parsi

Reference: HowCultsWork

Information Control within MKO Cult

To control cult members, cult leadership has to control the atmosphere surrounding the members. The primary step to control their environment is to monitor and control the information they get because if the members’ mind could get any new information, the world the cult leaders have created for them should be damaged. According to cult leaders the truth is only what the cult leaders say.

CultWatch website gives a very clear picture of the way the cults control the information.

Those who control the information control the person. In a mind control cult any information from outside the cult is considered evil, especially if it is opposing the cult. Members are told not to read it or believe it. Only information supplied by the cult is true. One cult labels any information against it as”persecution”or”spiritual pornography”, another cult calls it”apostate literature”and will expel you from the group if you are caught with it. Cults train their members to instantly destroy any critical information given to them, and to not even entertain the thought that the information could be true.

If you are instructed by a group not to read information critical of the group,then that is a sign of a cult.

As a mind control cult, Mujahedin Khalq has a long history of information control over its members, according to the testimonies of most former members of MKO Cult.

Ms. Batoul Soltani, former member of MKO leadership Council describes the information system in her memoirs:

“After you entered the organization you couldn’t even have a pocket radio because it links you to the outside world. You cannot use any mass media except that of MKO. They never let the news of the other Media broadcast in the hall. Sometimes they even record, edit and censure the news and then show them, just to claim that they broadcast the news of CNN or Al Jazeera. They are very careful about the relationships between the members and people of the outside world such as Iraqis who come to the Camp.”

The way MKO leadership filters and censures the information demonizing the Iranian Regime, makes the MKO members think along with the objectives of the cult. So the information that supports the cult’s line is used to keep the members in.

Common sense tells us that a person who does not consider all information may make an unbalanced decision. Filtering the information available or trying to discredit it not on the basis of how true it is, but rather on the basis of how it supports the party line, is a common control method used throughout history.

Legitimate groups have nothing to fear from their members reading critical information about them.

In the cult of Rajavi, criticizing the organization’s ideology, its decisions and approaches will end the members with mental and physical torture, solitary confinement, and imprisonment, most former members like, Masud Khodabande, Mohamamd Hussein Sobhani tolerated years of imprisonment just because they criticized the organization’s policies.

For the Rajavis any critical information equals with the loss of many members. Therefore, the principal method to control the members’ mind is to control the information they learn.

Mazda Parsi

Reference: Howcultswork