Dialogues

Mujahedin Khalq Organization members' families

MKO Members’ Families Meet Red Cross Reps

"Representatives of the International Red Cross met several families of MKO members in the building of Association," The head of Nejat Association in Western Azerbaijan.

Arash Rezayee said to IRNA’s correspondent on Wednesday: "In the meeting, the families talked about their problems and that their loved ones were kept captives in the terrorist cult of Rajavi. They asked for help."

According to Rezayee, they asked the representatives to wire their voice to the officials of Red Cross in Geneva and other related international authorities and asked for the freedom of their loved ones from the cult.

Red Cross representatives expressed regret over inhuman limitations imposed on MKO members by the cult of Rajavi.

They assured the families to use all available options to meet the legal and natural demands of the families. They promised to talk to international officials.

Mr. Rezayee reminded that these families are members of Nejat Association.

IRNA, January 24, 2007

February 1, 2007 0 comment

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

New Document on MKO’s Involvement in Kurds’ Massacre

On Jan. 23, 2007, CNN Arabic reported from Baghdad on the details of the 35th session of Anfal Court, which clearly points to the fact that Ali Hassan Al-Majid ordered MKO members to pursue and target Kurds inside Iran.

The report is as follows:

"35th session of Anfal Court was held in Iraq and it’s the second session without the presence of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, hanged on December 30.

In the previous session, prosecutor provided the court with audio tapes of talks between Saddam and Hassan Al-Majid, in which the orders were issued on using chemical weapons against the Kurds.

In the 35th session, new documents were presented on the accusations and the roles of former Iraqi president’s allies in attacking the Kurds in 1988 were identified.

What follows is part of the details of the session quoted by Iraqi TV:

– Prosecutor provided the court with a new audio tape in which Ali Hassan Al-majid talks about chemical weapons against the Kurds and promises to impose more restrictions on them, including the ban on speaking Kurdish.

– Another audio tape revealed that Hassan Al-Majid was planning a new scenario, including chemical attacks on the Kurds, gathering them in specified locations and then targeting them with chemical weapons.

– Prosecutor states that in a part of the tape, Al-Majid asks for pursuing the Kurds by special teams and also targeting them inside Iran by Mojahedin-e Khalq. The tape was not played.

CNN Arabic, 23 January 2007

February 1, 2007 0 comment

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Presence of Armed Opposition in Iraq Unaccaptable

In a meeting with Deputy Iraqi Interior Minister for Security Affairs"Shirvan Al-Vaeli", Iranian Foreign Minister "Manouchehr Mottaki" said that in the light of good relationships between the two countries, the presence of Iranian opposition groups in Iraq is not acceptable and that Iranian government and people are waiting for the extradition of criminals and the expulsion of enemies from Iraq.

In the meeting, Vaeli stated: "We are satisfied with the good ties between Islamic Republic and Iraq. Iraqi officials are willing to strengthen bilateral relations and Iraqi PM stresses the development of ties with the Islamic Republic."

Referring to the efforts of enemies to intensify unrest in Iraq, he said: "Enemies of Iraqis seek to disrupt the process of establishment of Iraq’s legal institutions. Iraqi government is strongly determined to boost its security plans in order to establish security and stability in the country."

Mehrnews – 2007/01/18

January 22, 2007 0 comment

USA

The BBC television program on the Communist MEK

The BBC’s January 17, 2007 television program on the Iranian Communist MEK (MKO, PMOI, NCRI, Rajavi Cult, Pol Pot of Iran) included an interview with Lawrence Wilkerson, a top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wilkerson revealed that the State Department supported a plan to disband the Iranian communist cult at Camp Ashraf, Iraq. However, Vice President Dick Cheney’s office rejected the plan. The television program included also an interview with Congressman Bob Filner (Democrat-California and son of a Communist Party candidate for Congress) who supports this communist cult.

Hopefully, the American media will follow the lead of the BBC and examine in depth why a Republican Vice President supports a communist ult. Unfortunately, this is not the first time in American history that American political leaders have supported communist monsters. For example, there were members of the American government who supported Pol Pot in Cambodia. America has some responsibility for the killing fields of Cambodia. Some Iranians refer to Masoud Rajavi as the Pol Pot of Iran.

Americans need to continue to vote out of office the neo-conservatives (neo-Trotskyites) in the Democratic and Republican parties who support communist cults.

The following is the Comment of Paul Sheldon Foote on the group

The Iranian Communist MEK (MKO, PMOI, NCRI, Rajavi Cult, Pol Pot of Iran)has a long history of terrorism. In the 1970’s in Iran, the MEK murdered American military officers and Rockwell International employees. During the American hostage crisis, to show that the MEK is more anti-Western than the Islamic leaders, the MEK clamored for the murder of the American hostages at the American Embassy in Tehran. In 1991, these Saddam Hussein-supported terrorists committed major war atrocities against Kurdish and other Iraqi civilians. Around the world, the MEK has committed terrorist acts, even in New York City.

While this BBC segment contained an interview with Congressman Bob Filner (Democrat-California and son of a Communist Party candidate for Congress), viewers need to know that hundreds of members of Congress (including Republicans) have supported the MEK or have accepted political campaign contributions from MEK supporters. While this segment was a good, brief introduction to the MEK, BBC needs to go into more depth in future segments about the real reasons why many neo-conservatives (neo-Trotskyites), the Iran Policy Committee (staffed by a former CIA employee and former American military officers), and so many members of Congress have betrayed America by supporting this evil communist cult.

Viewers can learn more about the MEK by reading Anne Singleton’s book, Saddam’s Private Army, available from Iran Interlink.

January 22, 2007 0 comment

Missions of Nejat Society

MEK in Iran-Iraq Security Talks

In a meeting with Shirvan Al-Vaeli, Iraqi Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs, Gholam Hussein Mohseni Ezhei, Iranian intelligence minister, expresses regret for unrest in Iraq and promised that Iran would help its neighbor in establishing security.

In the Meeting, the issue of Mojahedin-e Khlaq organization, major armed Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, was also discussed.

The details of discussions have not been revealed, but the Iranian government has always asked for the removal of MKO’s camps in Iraq and extradition of its forces to Iran.

MKO, founded before the revolution of 1979, had troubled relations with the new government.

In early 1981, many of its leaders left Iran and settled in Iraq, that was at that time fighting with Iran.

Since that time, this armed group with more than 4000 organized members started border-crossing attacks inside Iran. Also, in the final days of Iran-Iraq war, they initiated the huge operation of "Forough-e Javidan", in which many of the members of the group were killed or captured.

The power and abilities of this group have decreased radically in recent years and they were disarmed after the US invasion against Iraq.

During past two years, after Iran issued public pardon for those MKO members who had not committed specific crimes, several MKO members returned to Iran.

BBC – 2007/01/17

January 18, 2007 0 comment

USA

Iranian People Don’t Want MEK says Thomas Pickering

Iranian People Don’t Want MEK says Thomas Pickering in US Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing

WITNESSES: THOMAS PICKERING, FORMER UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS

FORMER CIA DIRECTOR JAMES WOOLSEY

Extract…

REP. TOM TANCREDO, R-COLO: It is just that, sir, and thank you.

Let me go from the strategic to the tactical in terms of the framework for our discussion here, both because of the time constraints and also because I think so much has been gained by the discussion to this point in time.

We’ve talked about the fact that the people in seem to be interested in regime change themselves. I think you put it, If the mullahs hate us as much as they seem to, then there must be something good about us, is the way many Iraqi people — I mean the Iranians — are looking at the situation today.

So if that is the case, then I hearken back to the situation we have with the MEK. And I wonder about whether or not it would not be in our best interest to take them off of the terrorist watch list, as they are certainly hated by the mullahs. And that is the one thing about which we are sure with regard to the MEK.

There are lots of, you know, gray areas, murky areas in the past, things we’re not positive about in terms of their responsibility for certain actions 30 years ago. But in the last couple of decades, anyway, it seems to me that it is pretty clear that they are, as a political — they are certainly not much of a military force, but a political force — and they may not even be that to any great extent. But to the extent that they are operating as a group of people who are articulating an opposition to the present regime, they understand the culture. They understand the language.

We are protecting them in Camp Ashraf . Here’s a group of people who are, in fact, on the terrorist watch list that we are protecting. Our troops are protecting them.

Wouldn’t it be to our advantage to somehow use these folks in pursuit of our goals? And in order to do that, wouldn’t it require their removal from that list?

LANTOS: Ambassador Pickering?

PICKERING : Yes, certainly. I’d be happy to answer the question. I think that the question is premised on the Middle East fundamental proposition, "The enemy of the enemy is my friend."

My view is that the MEK doesn’t represent the kind of government we would like to see in their past actions — and they’re all documented fairly well — in . To me, it would be a bigger burden.

And if the Iranian people knew what MEK had been doing in terms of its own activities and the way it behaved, particularly towards its own people, I think they, too, would see that as a negative rather than a positive.

LANTOS: Ambassador Woolsey?

WOOLSEY: I agree with Tom. Everybody is using Churchill quotes today, one of my favorite is, "If Hitler invaded hell, I should find a kind word to say for the devil."

(LAUGHTER)

And there’s a side of me that is tempted to cast about for anybody when can cause trouble for the Iranian regime. But I do think their being on the terrorist watch list at this point is a bar. And if somebody wants to look into the facts of all that and the history of it and exactly what they did and so on, it might be a useful review for someone to do. But I never have done it and I don’t know how it would come out. –HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HEARING ON THE NEXT STEPS IN THE CRISIS

January 18, 2007 0 comment

Paulo Casaca

Paulo Casaca visits Camp Ashraf and the MEK of Iran

This week Mr. Paulo Casaca (Member of the European Parliament for Portugal’s Socialist Party) and André Brie (member of Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left of Germany) both members of the European Parliament paid a 4 day “good will” tour of Camp Ashraf in the outskirts of Baghdad.

Camp Ashraf is operated by the terrorist organization of Mojahedin-e Khalq of Iran.

Mojahedin-e Khalq of Iran, also known as MKO, is listed on the terrorism list of many countries such as U.S.A, UK, Canada as well as the European Union.

MKO described the visit of Mr. Casaca and Brie to Camp Ashraf as a visit by an “Official” delegation from EU parliament, with the approval of EU union. However false these claims are this still puts into doubt the intentions and respect that the EU Parliament holds when they let members of their own organization visit a known terrorist group in their home base.

The presence of Paulo Casaca and André Brie in Camp Ashraf goes against the listing of MKO in EU parliament list of Terrorist Organizations.

During the current chaotic and violent conditions in Iraq, the MKO have been dealing and continuing their close relationship with Baathist party members in contributing to destabilize and undermine the Iraqi government.

The MKO uses the hundreds of millions of dollars that the former Iraqi regime delegated from Iraqi Oil-for-Food program, to fund and support former Baath party members in setting up numerous Newspapers, TV stations and Radio Channels in order to fight against an extradition from Iraq.

The Mojahedin also share their diplomatic and international connections with the groups that they fund in order to get more publicity and support.

By backing up these groups who in the past used to be part of the Iraqi regime, they now seek to gain mainstream support by the Iraqi people.

During the visit to Camp Ashraf by Paulo Casaca and André Brie, the Mojahedin gathered more then 4000 poor and hungry Iraqis to a lavishly set up dinner and food buffet where their presence provided the seemingly public support among ordinary Iraqis.

Back when Taliban controlled and ruled over Afghanistan, you could hire a soldier for no more then 3 Dollars a day and unfortunately the same applies in today’s Iraq where because of dire conditions and extreme poverty among Iraqi people, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to buy yourself the support from the hungry masses.

The close connection of Mr. Paulo Casaca with the terrorist organization of Mojahedin raises suspicion towards the credibility of his goals of a free and democratic Iran, and also the credibility of the European Parliament who until now have chosen to look the other way in regards to Mr. Casaca.

We’re asking the EU parliament anti-Terror department and delegation to make a statement in regards to Mr. Casacas visit to Camp Ashraf.

Please do not ignore this shameful act by Mr. Paulo Casaca.

Last but not least we are adding a short clip of Mr. Paulo Casacas visit to Camp Ashraf where he dined and danced with members of MKO.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPQ0zlJyu98

12 Jan 2007 – By Karim Haghi – iranpeyvand.com

January 15, 2007 0 comment

Germany

Report of Germany’s Security Service on MKO

Preliminary 2006 report of "Protection of Constitution of Germany’s office" (Verfassungsschutz) on the MKO After it was determined that Iranian soccer team would take part in Germany’s 2006 world cup, there were reports on the possibility of NCRI’s sabotages during Iran’s matches in Nuremberg, Frankfurt and Leipzig. In this regard, Awaa Association in Köln, comprising of former MKO members who have admittedly quit the organization fully, warned in its website about possible terrorist attacks including self-immolations during world cup by MKO supporters. In response, Justice Association tied to NCRI in Köln claimed that the Iranian regime is bringing suicide volunteers to Germany by the assistance of Awaa association. The sensitivity of the accusations by two sides rose when it was announced that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would come to Germany to watch the games. In this regard, NCRI representatives in Germany declared that they would hold street demonstrations to protest to the issue. Now, it has been determined that NCRI’s planned demonstrations were not held in and out of stadiums due to the early departure of Iranian team, the system of selling tickets, absence of Ahmadinejad and particularly the vigilance of security systems of Germany. Only 30 to 70 took part in small demonstrations in Köln. These demonstrations were focused on Iranian nuclear issue and human rights violations. These demonstrations are determined to be of low influence. Iran Ghalam – 2007/01/11

January 15, 2007 0 comment

USA

High Court Denies MKO’s Appeal

The Supreme Court refused Monday to block the trial of seven Los Angeles residents charged with raising money for an Iranian opposition group that was designated a "foreign terrorist organization" by the U.S. government.

Lawyers for the seven had argued the charges were unconstitutional because they had a free-speech right to raise money for a political group. That claim was rejected by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which noted the Iranian opposition group ” Mujahedin Khalq, also known as the MEK ” had a record of supporting assassinations and bombings.

"Sometimes money serves as a proxy for speech, and sometimes it buys goods and services that are not speech. Guns and bombs are not speech," said Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld for the appeals court.

In their appeal, the lawyers said the accused deserved the right to challenge the group’s designation as a "foreign terrorist organization" as part of their defense.

Although the justices turned down the appeal without comment, they could take up the issue later if the seven are convicted of the charges.

"We are very disappointed the court decided not to hear this case. We believe the decision poses a threat to the civil liberties of any person who wants to contribute to a political organization in this country," said Stacey M. Leyton, a lawyer in San Francisco.

She said the law was written so broadly that organizations such as Greenpeace or the African National Congress in South Africa could be deemed foreign terrorist organizations. And once the group is on the government’s list, "the individual doesn’t have a right to challenge it," she said.

In the Antiterrorism Act of 1996, Congress gave the secretary of State the authority to designate foreign groups that "engage in terrorist activity" that threatens the security of Americans. Once a group makes this list, it is a crime for anyone to "knowingly" provide "material support" to it.

The MEK was founded as an Iranian Marxist group in the 1960s with a mission of overthrowing Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi and establishing a Marxist regime. But after the shah’s fall in 1979, the new Iranian regime was dominated not by Marxists but by Muslim clerics.

Later, the MEK participated in terrorist activities that targeted Americans, the government said. In a federal court in Washington, the group also admitted it supported assassinations of Iranian officials and mortar attacks on Iranian facilities.

The group first made the list of "foreign terrorist organizations" in 1997. Over the next four years, the seven defendants were charged with soliciting contributions at Los Angeles International Airport and wiring at least several hundred thousand dollars to an MEK bank account in Turkey.

LATimes, January 09, 2007

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scotus9jan09,1,3883070.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

January 12, 2007 0 comment

USA

US court declines to review anti-terrorism law

WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) – The Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear an appeal by seven people charged with raising money for an Iranian opposition group dubbed a "foreign terrorist organization" by the U.S. government.

Without comment, the justices denied the appeal by the Los Angeles area residents accused of soliciting money for the Mujahedin-e Khalq, which has carried the designation since 1977.

Only the groups themselves may seek judicial review in challenging such a designation, according to the 1996 anti-terrorism law.

Lawyers for the defendants had argued the government may not prosecute them while prohibiting them from showing that the group had been improperly designated and that the solicitations were protected by the First Amendment.

They argued the Iranian opposition group was not a terrorist organization and they had First Amendment rights to contribute to it.

The group was formed in the 1960s to overthrow the Iranian government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It was involved in taking U.S. Embassy staff in Tehran hostage in 1979, but later its members, dissatisfied with the clerical government that had taken power after the shah was toppled earlier in 1979, fled Iran and resettled in Iraq.

The defendants were accused of providing "material support" to the group from 1997 to 2001 by soliciting contributions at the Los Angeles International Airport and sending at least several hundred thousand dollars to the group in Turkey.

A federal judge initially struck down the law as unconstitutional because it did not allow individuals to challenge the terrorism designation.

But a U.S. appeals court disagreed and upheld the law.

The U.S. Justice Department said the Supreme Court should not consider the case now. If the defendants are convicted, they can reassert their current challenge to the law, along with any other claims, the department said.

Reuters, January 08, 2007

January 12, 2007 0 comment

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