The Politics That Led to the MEK's Wrongful Terrorist Designation in the Us

The Iranian Resistance group, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK), was wrongfully on the US’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations  until 2012, but how did it wind up there in the first place?
Let’s take a little look.

The MEK was put on the FTO but evidence suggests it had little to do with the MEK’s actions or beliefs. Instead, the US wanted engagement with the Iranian Regime, which apparently looked to be a permanent fixture in the Middle East by the 1990s, and the simplest way to do that was to label the MEK as a terrorist group. The West didn’t see regime change as an option then.

This was even admitted to by Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in the Clinton Administration, who said: “[There] was White House interest in opening up a dialogue with the Iranian government. Top Administration officials saw cracking down on the [MEK], which the Iranians had made clear they saw as a menace, as one way to do so.”

This is similar to the tactics used in the 1980s during the Iran-Contra scandal. In exchange for the release of American hostages being held in Lebanon by proxies of the Iranian Regime, the US State Department had to issue a statement accusing the MEK of terrorism. The Tower Commission Report cited a letter from Iranian negotiator, Manouchehr Ghorbanifar, to his US counterpart, which listed that as one of nine demands from the Regime.

A decade later, the State Department added the MEK to the FTO to appease Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, wrongly perceived as a moderate by the US.

A senior Clinton administration official even admitted this to the LA Times. They said: “The inclusion of the People’s Mujahedin was intended as a goodwill gesture to Tehran and its newly elected president, Mohammed Khatami.”

The evidence that the West provided to justify the designation was shaky at best. They alleged that:

THE PEOPLE OF IRAN MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN AS THE REGIME'S FIRST VICTIMS

by Jazeh Miller

The nuclear threat and Iran’s belligerence has been the topic of many hot debates in recent weeks and months. Leaders from all across the world are slamming the Iranian regime for its spread of chaos across the Middle East including its support of various militias and proxy groups. It is also being criticised for its nuclear program and its violation of the spirit of the nuclear deal.

However, very little attention is being paid to the Iranian regime’s blatant abuse of human rights at home. The people of Iran have suffered under the clerical regime for many years. What is even more incomprehensible is the Iranian regime’s disregard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that is in place to respect the dignity of everyone and to ensure that all people are treated equally.
Iran is one of the worst offenders of executions and many people are sentenced to death every year. The Iranian regime uses the death penalty to punish minor crimes and to punish political prisoners that are simply expressing their own political beliefs and opposition to a regime that ignores the rights of its own people. It even executes juvenile offenders.
Ethnic and religious minorities are targeted by Iranian authorities and are arrested, jailed and tortured for no good reason. Women are also mistreated in Iran and have to submit to dress codes and are unable to watch sports in stadiums, to give only a few examples.
One of the most notorious human rights abuses of the Iranian regime was the 1988 massacre in which 30,000 political prisoners were executed during one summer alone. It has been classed as one of the most atrocious crimes since World War II. The Supreme Leader at that time, and founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in which he ordered the execution of all political prisoners. This was part of an effort to quash the opposition. Most of the victims were members or supporters of the Mujahedin-e Khalq ) – the main Iranian opposition, and they were killed simply because they wanted democracy for their compatriots. 

https://irannewsupdate.com/news/human-rights/4329-the-people-of-iran-must-not-be-forgotten-as-the-regime-s-first-victims-the-nuclear-threat-and-iran-s-belligerence-has-been-the-topic-of-many-hot-debates-in-recent-weeks-and-months-leaders-from-all-across-the-world-are-slamming-the-iranian-regime-for-its-spread-of-chaos-across-the-middle-east-including-its-support-of-various-militias-and-proxy-groups-it-is-also-being-criticised-for-its-nuclear-prog.html

THE PEOPLE OF IRAN MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN AS THE REGIME'S FIRST VICTIMS

The nuclear threat and Iran’s belligerence has been the topic of many hot debates in recent weeks and months. Leaders from all across the world are slamming the Iranian regime for its spread of chaos across the Middle East including its support of various militias and proxy groups. It is also being criticised for its nuclear program and its violation of the spirit of the nuclear deal.

However, very little attention is being paid to the Iranian regime’s blatant abuse of human rights at home. The people of Iran have suffered under the clerical regime for many years. What is even more incomprehensible is the Iranian regime’s disregard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that is in place to respect the dignity of everyone and to ensure that all people are treated equally.
Iran is one of the worst offenders of executions and many people are sentenced to death every year. The Iranian regime uses the death penalty to punish minor crimes and to punish political prisoners that are simply expressing their own political beliefs and opposition to a regime that ignores the rights of its own people. It even executes juvenile offenders.
Ethnic and religious minorities are targeted by Iranian authorities and are arrested, jailed and tortured for no good reason. Women are also mistreated in Iran and have to submit to dress codes and are unable to watch sports in stadiums, to give only a few examples.
One of the most notorious human rights abuses of the Iranian regime was the 1988 massacre in which 30,000 political prisoners were executed during one summer alone. It has been classed as one of the most atrocious crimes since World War II. The Supreme Leader at that time, and founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in which he ordered the execution of all political prisoners. This was part of an effort to quash the opposition. Most of the victims were members or supporters of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) – the main Iranian opposition, and they were killed simply because they wanted democracy for their compatriots. 

ARE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES GETTING CLOSER TO THE JUSTICE AFTER STIPULATION OF THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR?

By Khosro Bahar

After 28 years of the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran's prisons, and after years of unceasing follow-up efforts by families of these victims, recently we are witnessing the global responses to the campaign for seeking justice, In particular, the issue was raised for the first time by the Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Mr. Antonio Guterres, And also the recent report by UN Special Rapporteur on human rights issues in Iran, Ms. Asima Jahangir, who in her latest report called for an independent and impartial inquiry About the massacre of more than thirty thousand political prisoners in 1988, and in her report, insisted on the right of the executed families to know about the details and truth of what had gone on to their loved ones and called on for more investigation.

Amnesty International also issued a report on the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988 by Khomeini's decree, describing the massacre of the political prisoners who were supporter of the Mujahedeen-e-khalq(MEK/PMOI) who were buried in mass graves, as well as the actions of Khomeini, then leader of the Iranian regime, to hide the massacre from the eyes of the world, so that  there is no accurate information from the total number of that extrajudicial executions and the burial site of the  victims.

Senior US Senators Meet Iran Opposition Leader In Albania

NCRI

Tirana, Albania, August 12, 2017 - Mrs. Maryam Rajavi (left), the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran meeting a senior delegation from the United States Senate. The two sides discussed the situation of members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq in Albania and the recent developments in Iran and the Middle East.

The NCRI is a political coalition calling for regime change in Iran and considered the main threat to Tehran’s mullahs. The MEK is the main member of this coalition of a variety of Iranian dissident groups and individuals.

“Led by Senator Blunt, the delegation congratulated the safe and secure relocation of all Camp Liberty residents outside of Iraq and wished them success in their struggle for democracy and human rights in Iran,” according to an NCRI statement.

Rajavi expressed her gratitude for the tireless efforts of the U.S. Senate, particularly Senator Blunt, regarding the protection of thousands of MEK members in Iraq, and their safe relocation to Albania.

Senator Blunt was among several American dignitaries, including senior former officials, who at a July 2014 Senate briefing strongly condemned Iran’s highly destructive role in Iraq. While describing Tehran as part of the problem plaguing Baghdad and the entire country, Senator Blunt joined the initiative in demanding the urgent transfer of PMOI/MEK members stationed in a former US military base known as Camp Liberty near the Iraqi capital.

Senator Blunt and his colleagues John McCain (R-AZ) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and former Senator Carl Levin had urged former Secretary of State John Kerry to “press for the protection of Camp Liberty and to expedite the resettlement of the Camp Residents to countries outside Iraq, including the United States.”

The Reasons Behind Demonization of the PMOI/MEk by Iran Regime's Apologists

By Jubin Katiraie

The signing into law of the new sanctions on Russia, North Korea and Iran and the impact of this legislation is already being felt, even before the commencement of practical measures which are on the way.

The officials of Iranian regime, in particular, are already afraid of the consequences of the new sanctions. In addition to economic implications of the sanctions, what worries them the most is the actions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Designating and imposing sanctions on the IRGC was long overdue. Khamenei’s military arm serves as the guarantee to preserve the entirety of the mullahs’ regime and is the main entity responsible for domestic suppression, the export of terrorism and extremism, and obtaining weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The new bill has added to the already shaky regime’s fears. Janati, the head of the Guardian Council, announced on Thursday that the main issue preoccupying the Supreme leader is his concern over regime change. The actions of the regime in recent years is proof that change from within will not be successful, as the regime is geared to its own preservation and not the best interests of its people, including their international rights and freedoms.

Regime change was the main topic of the July 1, 2017 annual gathering of Iranian resistance (The -e-Khalq or MEK) under the umbrella of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Paris. Many speakers talked about the regime change and their support for the NCRI, as a viable democratic alternative to the current regime.

“I’m happiest to be here because I can say, can probably say this with a good deal of authority, that the government of the United States supports you,” said Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, referring to MEK supporters in the gathering.

“We’re behind you, we agree with your values. The government of the United States understands the danger of Iran. The government of the United States will not allow Iran to become an empire in the Middle East,” added Giuliani.

“I have come to bring you a simple message. Iran must be free. The only practical goal is to support a movement that could free Iran, and that's you,” said former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, when addressing MEK supporters in the gathering. “The presence of 3000 MEK in Albania is a decisive defeat for dictatorship in Tehran. The name of your president will stand the same as George Washington and Lafayette in the United States.”

The bipartisan effort in this legislation showed that the threat posed by the current Iranian regime has created a united front from the United States.

YEARS INTO NUCLEAR DEAL, US POLICY ON IRAN NEEDS MAJOR MAKEOVER

byAli safavi __July marks the second anniversary of the nuclear agreement between the Iranian regime and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany. Former U.S. President Barack Obama envisioned the agreement — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)— as a potential starting point for a broader rapprochement between the ruling theocracy and the West.

Obama had insisted that with Hassan Rouhani as the regime’s “moderate” president, Tehran would begin to exhibit a more positive behavior. Now, in his second term in office, the promise of moderation under Rouhani’s leadership has proven empty. That is because Rouhani neither wants nor is capable of reform. After all, it is not the president but the supreme leader who defines the contours of the regime’s short-term and long-term strategic direction.

That the possibility of moderation in the Iranian theocracy is a total delusion was reflected in Secretary of Defense James Mattis's recent interview with Washington state’s Mercer Island High School newspaper.

Secretary Mattis dismissed the May 19 Iranian presidential election as “not really an election” and highlighted the stark differences between the ideology of the Iranian regime and the character of the Iranian people.

Still more significant, Mattis endorsed the message that had been presented to the House Foreign Affairs Committee last month by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. At a hearing, Tillerson suggested that American foreign policy should be focused first upon confronting the regime over its regional destabilization and then ultimately upon facilitating transition to a democratic system of government, driven by existing voices of opposition. The Defense secretary, too, reiterated that the Iranian regime is the most destabilizing force in the entire region. 

After 38 years of the clerical rule in Iran, the world is beginning to understand that stability in the Middle East requires the removal of the Iranian regime, known for being the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism and the only full-fledged theocracy in the modern world.

While the U.S. administration has imposed new sanctions on individuals and organizations with ties to the Iranian ballistic missile program, it is now mulling the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization.  

By highlighting elections in Iran as a sham and also the fundamental divide between the regime and the Iranian people, Secretary Mattis did undercut much of the previous administration’s rationale for futile rapprochement with the Iranian regime.

Since the regime is both unwilling and incapable of reforming itself, democratic change at the hands of the Iranian people and their organized opposition should be recognized as the only viable option to deal with Tehran’s multi-faceted nefarious conduct. Until this situation changes, nothing else about Iran will change, not even its commitment to developing a nuclear weapon as part of its bid for regional hegemony and global influence.

This is the message that was delivered to a cheering crowd of tens of thousands of Iranians at the “Free Iran” rally in Paris on July 1 by the Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi and by other international supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Rajavi used the opportunity to urge the U.S. and its allies to formally recognize the right of the Iranian people and their organized opposition to oust the dictatorship. A democratic Iran, she added, is an imperative and is within reach. An alternative that can affect change exists.

The Free Iran rally went a long way toward showcasing the depth of Iranian people’s animosity toward the regime. Media outlets reported that the event was attended by some 100,000 people, mostly Iranian expatriates, and it featured messages from domestic dissidents and accounts of the more than 10,000 known acts of protest against the regime over the past year.

It also highlighted a flurry of activities by supporters of the NCRI and its key component, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), inside Iran who are campaigning for democracy.

Two years after the nuclear deal, it is time for a serious and comprehensive Iran policy makeover based on realities on the ground. This means designating the IRGC as a terrorist entity, expelling the Iranian regime and its proxies from the region, taking effective initiatives to permanently block the Iranian regime’s path to a nuclear bomb, and recognizing the Iranian people’s right to topple the regime and establish a democratic and peace-seeking representative government that would be the source of stability and peace in the region. 

originally published in the hill

The National Council of Resistance of Iran With Its MEK Members, Goes on Offensive at Weekend Events

By Jubin Katiraie

This weekend in a cavernous convention hall outside of Paris, over 100,000 flag waving, foot-stomping, cheering supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran ( consisted of MEK/PMOI and other groups and personalities) gathered for their annual meeting.

Part pep rally and part television programming for a global audience, the annual event has for years been focused on galvanizing support for the MEK and drawing attention to the plight of dissident refugees sheltering in squalid camps inside Iraq and subject to frequent attacks from Iranian-backed forces resulting in score of deaths.

What was different this year was that all of MEK members —nearly 3,000 of them—were safely evacuated to a welcoming Albania as part of long-delayed resettlement program and escaped the clutches of an Iranian regime that seemed hell-bent on eradicating any sign of an indigenous Iranian resistance movement.

In a dramatic cinematic touch, a satellite feed from Tirana, Albania of the 3,000 resettled MEK members was beamed into the main Paris rally to the delight of the participants and vice-versa in what could be considered the world’s largest video conference call.

Newt Gingrich: Trump Will Work with Democrats to Shut Down Iran’s ‘State Terrorism’

Newt Gingrich: Trump Will Work with Democrats to Shut Down Iran’s ‘State Terrorism’

PARIS, France, Breitbart, 6 Jul 2017 – Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich says he sees “a new round of resistance” on the horizon for Iran during Donald Trump’s presidency

 

PARIS, France, Breitbart, 6 Jul 2017 – Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich says he sees “a new round of resistance” on the horizon for Iran during Donald Trump’s presidency.
“I think that what’s happening is the [Iranian] regime is getting weaker,” Gingrich told Breitbart News at the annual “Free Iran” rally, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) near Paris on Saturday.

“I think it’s getting more desperate, I think it’s alienating more and more young people, and I would not at all be surprised to see a new round of resistance in the next three to four years.”