Every other Tuesday since last December has marked a significant event for the Iranian people: the court sessions addressing the charges against 104 members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, commonly known as the MEK, as well as the legal status of this organization.
Tuesday, July 9, 2024, saw the fifteenth session of this court. Although the primary aim of these proceedings is to address the charges against over 100 MEK members and the organization’s status as a terrorist entity, each session has become a deep dive into the pages of its violent history.
In the first two rows of red seats on the right side of the hall, new faces could be seen, unmistakably indicating that they, too, were families, survivors, or disabled victims of terrorism.
As Judge Dehghani declared the official commencement of the 15th session, the hall continued to fill with people.
Judge’s Remarks on Anti-Terrorism Conventions
The session began with a recitation of the Quran, followed by Judge Dehghani’s formal opening. He spoke for about an hour on various topics, emphasizing the absence of a permanent international criminal court with the jurisdiction to handle terrorist incidents, and stating that such cases fall under the purview of national governments.
He highlighted the existence of anti-terrorism conventions and the obligation of signatory countries to adhere to their provisions. Judge Dehqani Nia stated, “Since the commencement of this court, no member country of the anti-terrorism convention has the right to harbor terrorists; they must either prosecute the accused themselves or extradite them to Iran for trial.”
Judge Dehqani Nia referenced 13 global conventions and 3 regional ones, highlighting the international community’s efforts to combat the global threat of terrorism. He stressed the importance of host countries and MEK supporters adhering to their obligations under these conventions, urging them to pave the way for the prosecution of these terrorists. He called upon the prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take the necessary steps for the extradition of these criminals back to Iran.
trial of MEK members
Crimes from Ground to Sky
Terrorists recognize no boundaries in their actions, and the MEK’s crimes are a testament to this harsh reality. Their range of terrorist activities is extensive, impacting every segment of society and age group. The MEK’s attacks have targeted schools, universities, markets, and residential complexes, turning religious and political events into bloodbaths. Their atrocities extend from the ground to the skies.
During the fifteenth session of the court, Judge Dehqani Nia highlighted the MEK’s hijackings as part of their extensive list of crimes. The MEK’s embrace of terrorism is so profound that they seize every opportunity to commit acts of terror. As Moradi, the plaintiffs’ attorney, noted in his defense, the MEK disrupted Iranians abroad who intended to participate in elections by organizing gatherings to create obstacles.
Moradi also represented the plaintiffs in filing complaints against those Iranians abroad who, knowingly or unknowingly, supported the MEK by being present at locations associated with the Islamic Republic. He requested the court to address these complaints according to the law. The judge confirmed that the court would handle these complaints upon their receipt.
Monitors Narrating the Crimes
The latest court session focused on the oral testimonies regarding the MEK’s brutal attack on the office of the Islamic Republic Party. In previous sessions, the courtroom monitors have served as a stark window into the worst aspects of the MEK’s crimes, violence, and inhumane actions, providing a precise view of the related evidence. The brutality of some videos was so intense that viewers were forewarned before their display.
Request for Seizure of MEK Assets in Iran
At the fifteenth session, Moradi, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, called for the identification and seizure of MEK assets within Iran. Initially, the judge agreed to the criminal provision request in line with the criminal procedure code to secure the plaintiffs’ financial claims. However, following an objection from one of the defense attorneys regarding insufficient evidence for asset seizure, the judge stated that the court would make a decision after further review.
Recognizing Everyone’s Rights
The trial of the MEK’s crimes once again underscored that in Iran’s judicial system, the right to a fair trial is non-negotiable. This right extends even to members of a group responsible for the bloodshed of thousands of Iranians. This was evident during the fifteenth session through the defense attorneys’ objections to the statements made by experts and other lawyers.
Hostility Towards the Society
The MEK’s terrorist act of bombing the office of the Islamic Republic Party was the focal point of the fifteenth session. Mohammad Taghi Zardoust, an eyewitness, took the stand to recount his experience of the incident. He discussed the identity of the perpetrator responsible for the explosion and the investigations that connected him to the MEK. The attack on the office of the Islamic Republic Party highlights their undeniable enmity towards all people. Subsequently, the children of the martyrs of the office bombing provided their accounts of the crime.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Office Bombing
The puzzle of the office bombing’s perpetrator was pieced together with testimonies from other witnesses and the plaintiffs’ lawyer. Mohammad Reza Kolahi Samadi, who orchestrated the bombing, fled to Iraq after the attack and began working at Radio Mojahed. Masoud Rajavi, the then-leader of the MEK, introduced Kolahi to the group members as Engineer Mohammad Reza Kolahi Samadi.
Kolahi later went into hiding for a period, but his criminal activities did not cease after fleeing to another country, indicating that the bombing in Iran was not the end of his story. In the early 1980s, under an assumed name, he obtained asylum in the Netherlands. Kolahi’s efforts to remain hidden were so meticulous that even his wife was unaware of his true identity for many years. Dutch media reported that in December 2015, Kolahi was targeted and killed in Almere. According to reports, Kolahi, who had turned to drug and arms trafficking in the Netherlands, became the head of one of the largest drug cartels in the country. Ultimately, a dispute with his partners led to his demise.
No Safe Haven for Terrorists
The judge’s declaration, “There should be no safe haven for terrorists,” reflects the impassioned pleas of families, survivors, and disabled victims of terrorism. This sentiment lies at the heart of their appeal. Mohammad Javad Eslami, son of martyr Eslami from the Islamic Republic Party, articulated that his demands from the court exceed conventional expectations and echo the judge’s stance. He stressed the imperative for prosecuting the MEK’s international supporters to eradicate any safe haven facilitating their malevolent endeavors.
Conclusion of 15th Session: Former MEK Member Testimony
The fifteenth court session concluded with testimony from Ebrahim Khodabandeh, a former head of the MEK’s International Relations Department who had defected from the organization. During his testimony, Khodabandeh exposed the MEK’s contradictory and unclear positions. Initially, he recalled how the organization prominently featured “Death to America” slogans in its publications and espoused anti-imperialist rhetoric in the charter of the “National Council of Resistance.” However, just a year later, in 1983, they removed the “Death to America” slogan and revised their charter. Masoud Rajavi and other members convened meetings where they declared that their main adversary was the Shah, who was backed by the U.S. Given that the Islamic Republic, one of the few independent nations globally, was in direct opposition to the U.S., they concluded there was no longer a reason to oppose America and instead considered themselves aligned.
Khodabandeh’s testimony marked the conclusion of the fifteenth court session. The next session, scheduled for two weeks later on a Tuesday, will delve into another chapter of the MEK’s terrorist activities.