If you look at cults from the outside, they look attractive, but when exploring them, there will be unseen angles that the cults do not want to be known. Seeking deceptive attraction, cult leaders want obedience, time, and, in a word, the lives of members. Cults use sophisticated mind control and recruitment techniques that have evolved over time.
To get rid of the cult’s appeal, you need to know how they work and what techniques they use. In most cases, the belief system of a religion is used as a tool for the use of techniques. In free societies, people can believe in anything they want, say whatever they think, and dress and wear whatever they want, but this is not the case in cults.
Mandatory Uniform
One of the cults which is known to the Iranian people is the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MeK), a terrorist group that presents itself as a political opposition and in terms of organizing and employing individuals has all features of a cult. Originated in a Shiite country, this terrorist cult uses the cover of Islam and the tools of the Shiite religion to maintain the framework and structure of its organization. An important rule of Islamic sharia is the hijab of women, but the MeK uses this as a technique to control members.
“Rajavi said that your sisters’ headscarf is the border between the Revolutionary Mujahideen and the counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie,” said Ali Shirzad, a former member of the MeK. [1]
MEK women at Camp Ashraf
“The red color of the scarf in the uniform of the Mojahedin Khalq has been borrowed from Marxism. The green overcoats belong to the Castro and Che Guevara wars in Cuba. although covering the Shari’a, the hijab of women in the uniforms, is merely a declaration of allegiance to the religion of the masses. Fewer photos of MEK women have been published in a variety of colors and clothing. Of course, this restriction has not been imposed on non-members who attend MEK gatherings,” said Majid Mohammadi, a current member of MeK. [2]
“Women who entered the cult were told very openly: The headscarf is the official (i.e., mandatory) form of this organization,” said Zahra Sadat Mirbagheri; a dissident member of the MeK. [3]
Character assassination to create a sense of guilt
“In Rajavi’s establishment, all women should wear headscarves. Even if the headscarves were a little behind and a little of the woman’s hair was visible, they initially were warned and then became slandered. Yes, Maryam Rajavi used to spread repression in a new and creepy way, and this oppression is still present in the relations of the Rajavi’s cult,” Zahra Sadat Mirbagheri said. [4]
Hijab; a means of control the women present at the headquarters of this group must wear a certain type of uniform with a certain color.
This is while leaders of this group, who control a so-called political opposition, in their statements about the government in Iran condemn the obligatory hijab in the country.
Maryam Rajavi’s “Ten Point Plan for Future Iran” states: “We believe in complete gender equality in political, social and economic arenas. We are also committed to the equal participation of women in political leadership. Any form of discrimination against women will be abolished. They will enjoy the right to freely choose their clothing. They are free in marriage, divorce, education, and employment.” [5]
Following the MeK’s escape and transfer to France, Iraq (Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty and parallel camps) and finally to Albania (Camp Mans) and setting up organizational camps to maintain and deepen relations, we see that no female member of the organization is allowed to cover or uncover the hijab, even in women’s dormitories and restaurants.
MEK women writing confessions
“Within the cult, hijab is limited to scarves, and women are not allowed to use other types of clothing such as shawls or hats, etc. The only colors that they could choose for their scarves were green, red, and khaki. Women could wear red and khaki scarves only in certain places, and if someone wanted to wear a red or khaki scarf outside the Mojahedin propaganda ceremonies, she would be reprimanded,” said Zahra Sadat Mirbagheri. [6]
All that has been said, along with other cultish tactics, such as fear and intimidation, mind control, information control, long work hours and sleep deprivation, and forced public confessions has turned this organization into a cult with a terrorist approach that is far more dangerous than an ordinary terrorist group.
Sources:
[1] Ali Shirzad, Vatanam Iran Blog, January 8, 2019
[2] Majid Mohammadi, Independent Persian, September 4, 2016
[3], [4 [, [6] Zahra Sadat Mirbagheri, Facebook page, January 3, 2014
[5] Website of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran