Operation Forough Javidan

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

MEK, from Resolution 598 to Operation Eternal Light

To bolster its support from the Iraqi Ba’ath regime and demoralize Iranian troops, terrorist group Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) consistently painted Iran as a belligerent state obsessed with perpetual war. This narrative was crucial to the terror group’s strategy.
Consequently, the idea of Iran accepting UN Resolution 598 and pursuing peace with Iraq was utterly inconceivable to the MEK leadership. When Iran ultimately agreed to a ceasefire, it shattered the MEK’s core assumptions and drove Massoud Rajavi to make increasingly desperate and misguided decisions, placing immense hardship on the organization’s members and supporters.

Ali Akbar Rastgoo, a former MEK member, vividly describes the shockwaves that reverberated through the group upon Iran’s acceptance of the UN resolution: “The organization had built its army around the Iran-Iraq war. Their central belief was that the Iranian government would collapse without the continuation of war.” (Ali Akbar Rastgoo, The Mujahedin-e Khalq in the Mirror of History, Tehran, Center for Islamic Revolution Documents, 2005, p. 400)

Massoud Rajavi viewed the war as Iran’s lifeblood, holding its disparate elements together. With the war’s end looming, Rajavi predicted the imminent collapse of the Iranian government. He believed that the ceasefire would expose the government’s vulnerabilities and accelerate its downfall. In essence, Rajavi saw the war as Iran’s sole source of cohesion and legitimacy. (Ali Soltani, The End of an Illusion, Iran Newspaper, July 26, 2005)

The Iranian government’s acceptance of UN Resolution 598 brought the MEK’s armed struggle to a crossroads. The organization faced an uncertain future, casting doubt on the viability of its Liberation Army and its militant approach. In response, Rajavi presented a strategic framework to his members. Visualizing a triangle with ‘war,’ ‘peace,’ and a ‘war-peace limbo’ as its points, he argued that the current situation was trapped in the latter. To ensure the MEK’s survival, Rajavi emphasized the need to prevent a shift towards outright peace. Based on his assessment of Iraqi intentions, he proposed that the organization should strive to push the situation back towards war, anticipating a renewed conflict between Iran and Iraq (Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, Arising and the End (1965-2005), Vol. 3, Tehran: Institute of Political Studies and Research, 2006, p. 322).

This strategy, subsequently dubbed “Spark and War”, aimed to ignite conflict between Iran and Iraq. The MEK would provide the spark, while the ensuing war would be the desired outcome. All organizational resources were dedicated to disrupting peace talks and fostering discord. Rajavi believed that Iraqi intelligence and telecommunications apparatuses offered a more conducive environment for his machinations than the Iraqi society itself. Given their critical importance, the MEK activated a specialized unit to maintain close ties with these entities in order to create conditions favorable to the organization’s agenda. Although Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed before the MEK could realize its dream of a second war, the organization exploited the ensuing chaos. Resuming urban warfare and resorting to tactics like mortar attacks and assassinations, the MEK sought to validate its armed approach and reinvigorate its demoralized members.

Rajavi transformed the MEK into an extension of the Iraqi military. Samad Nazari describes this subservient role in his book, The Devil’s Footprint. The Iraqi regime initiated the prelude to the MEK’s operation with a massive assault on western Iran on July 22, 1988. This attack involved extensive aerial bombardment and culminated in a ground invasion. In tandem, the MEK launched Operation Eternal Light on July 25, supported by Iraqi forces. Commencing from the Kermanshah – Gilan-e Gharb road and utilizing airdrops, the MEK advanced towards Kerend-e Gharb.

Benefiting from the Iranian military’s focus on southern fronts, the MEK captured Kerend with minimal resistance. Iraqi artillery provided overwhelming support, resulting in civilian casualties. After occupying Islamabad and perpetrating atrocities, the MEK pushed towards Kermanshah but was halted at the Chahar Zaber Gorge. Fierce Iranian counterattacks inflicted heavy losses on the MEK, and the battle raged through the night.

Ultimately, the arrival of Iranian reinforcements, including army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and air force units, marked the beginning of Operation Mersad on July 27, 1988. This decisive operation inflicted a crushing defeat on the MEK, signaling the catastrophic failure of their strategy.

July 31, 2024 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

The Eternal Illusion

The summer of 1988 witnessed a dramatic clash between Iran and the Mujahedin-e Khalq (aka MEK, MKO, PMOI) terrorist group. In the wake of an eight-year war with Iraq, Iran faced a renewed threat on its western borders. The MEK launched an offensive codenamed Operation Forough-e Javidan (Eternal Light), aiming for a swift overthrow of the Iranian government. Their gamble, however, met with a fierce Iranian response – Operation Mersad, conducted on July 27, 1988.

With Iran’s acceptance of UN Resolution 598, the illusion that had sustained the MEK began to crumble. Threatened by the prospect of an end to the war, they launched a desperate propaganda campaign. Painting Iran’s acceptance of the resolution as a sign of weakness, they plunged headlong into a dangerous fantasy: the invasion of Iran.

On July 25, 1988, fueled by delusion and bolstered by the support of Iraq’s Ba’athist regime, the MEK’s Liberation Army set out from their Iraqi bases. At 4 pm, they crossed the Khosravi border, marking the beginning of Operation Eternal Light. Their plan envisioned reaching Tehran within 48 hours, maintaining a minimum speed of 70 kilometers per hour (1).

In their delusion, they aimed to traverse the cities of Sarpol-e Zahab, Islamabad, Hamadan, and Qazvin in five stages within 33 hours to reach Tehran. The Iraqi government supported them with substantial military aid, including 120 tanks, 400 armored personnel carriers, 90 (80mm) mortars, 30 (122mm) cannons, 150 (400mm) mortars, 1000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 30 (106mm) cannons, and 1000 trucks and vehicles.

As the MEK launched their ground invasion, a coordinated aerial assault unfolded. Iraqi jets and helicopters pounded Iranian airbases like Hamedan’s Shahid Nojeh, Dezful, Havanirooz 1st Combat Base in Kermanshah, and Saqqez 2nd Brigade Base (2).

A number of battalions employing 130-mm Field Artillery lined up west of Sarpol-e Zahab, raining fire down on Iranian positions guarding the Patagh Pass, clearing the way for the MEK’s advance. Iraqi aircraft also took out communication towers in Kerend, further isolating the Iranian forces. Attack helicopters hovered over the MEK’s frontline, spewing fire at Iranian troops and tanks stationed at the pass.

With MEK’s rapid advance, the Gilan-e Gharb border region became a scene of mass killings. In Islamabad, the MEK stormed and destroyed government buildings, unleashing a wave of terror in a grotesque attempt to win over the population (3).

Fierce clashes with civilians

While the MEK encountered minimal resistance on the southern fronts due to a stronger Iranian presence elsewhere, their dreams of a jubilant welcome in Kerend were dashed. Instead of open arms, they were met with fierce defiance. Gendarmerie forces, Revolutionary Guards, and even civilians banded together at the city’s entrance, putting up a valiant fight against them. The clash triggered a mass exodus. Families fled, seeking refuge in Islamabad or the surrounding mountains. By nightfall, Kerend stood eerily empty, a town surrendered to the MEK.

One brigade remained to secure the city, while the others, fixated on the “advance with maximum speed” strategy, pressed onward to Islamabad. Here too, the MEK encountered pockets of resistance. Local forces and government centers engaged in scattered clashes that stretched into the night. Meanwhile, the city’s residents poured towards Kermanshah, clogging the Islamabad-Kermanshah road with panicked families. The Hassan Abad Pass and Chahar Zebar Gorge were sealed shut.

Driven by their delusional belief in “popular support,” several MEK columns sped towards Kermanshah after capturing Islamabad. However, their momentum was halted before reaching Chahar Zebar Gorge by the very “support” they craved – the heavy traffic of fleeing civilians. The illusion shattered, the MEK vanguard faced its first real challenge. Their lead Jeep was ripped apart by an RPG, sparking a battle around the Hassan Abad Pass and Chahar Zebar Gorge. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, nightfall brought no victory. The following day (Day 2) saw renewed clashes, with the MEK commanders ordering desperate attacks. Each attempt, however, proved futile, leaving behind a trail of carnage and dwindling resources.

The MEK’s heavy losses

The MEK’s “advance with maximum speed” strategy unraveled within hours. The geographical conditions of the region, coupled with the effective tactics and deployment of Iranian forces (both the army and Revolutionary Guards), left the MEK floundering. Their offensive stalled, unable to attack, defend, or even maneuver effectively.

This vulnerability became increasingly glaring as time went on. Panic gripped the MEK ranks, particularly those recruited from outside Iran. These individuals, lured by political promises, had never experienced the horrors of war – the deafening roar of weapons, and the rain of bullets. Now, they found themselves thrust into the heart of a brutal conflict. Many were cut down in the opening moments, easy targets due to their lack of training and battlefield awareness. Their unfamiliarity with basic weaponry like the Kalashnikov left them unprepared for close-quarter combat. According to eyewitnesses, they peeked from trenches, offering themselves up as easy targets due to their inexperience.

The MEK leadership’s decision to promote inexperienced female commanders for political gain further compounded these problems. Many of these women lacked battlefield expertise, having served previously in logistical or political roles. Thrust into the role of tactical commanders, their inexperience proved deadly.

Continuous attacks from the Iranian Air Force and helicopters pounded the MEK forces. Helicopter-borne assaults from the surrounding hills inflicted further damage. Any attempt at movement became suicidal. The MEK found themselves desperately clinging to their positions, communication with command centers severed. Casualties mounted rapidly – commanders killed, wounded, or forced to retreat. The once-confident MEK offensive lay in tatters. Senior commanders pleaded with their leader for increased Iraqi air support. Mahboubeh Jamshidi (alias Azar), commander of the vanguard forces, even requested a chemical attack. However, Saddam Hussein’s attention had shifted. The botched Iraqi offensive on Ahvaz demanded his focus, leaving the MEK largely on their own. While Iraqi jets had initially participated in Operation Eternal Light, their presence dwindled by the second day. A lone helicopter, shot down by Iranian anti-aircraft near Kerend, showed this waning support.

By day three, the southern fronts had consumed all Iraqi air resources. No further support materialized, save for a few helicopters used to evacuate casualties. Faced with mounting losses – over 1,500 dead in just three days, according to the MEK’s own records – Rajavi was forced to make a desperate choice. Orders crackled through radios and walkie-talkies: retreat. It was a desperate scramble for survival. The MEK’s casualty list, while claiming only 1,500 dead, hinted at a far more devastating reality. More were wounded or missing. Only a meager 30 managed to escape back to Iraq. According to an MEK intelligence report, the remaining forces were scattered – killed or captured in clashes across the mountainous regions around Kerend, Islamabad, and other nearby cities. Iranian sources, citing available documents, estimated the MEK’s losses to be even higher – exceeding 2,500. Operation Eternal Light, a gamble that backfired spectacularly, marked the end of the MEK’s military ambitions.

References

1- Samad Nazari, The Devil’s Footprint, Nejat Association Publications, Tehran, 2011, p. 152
2- Reza Bastani, The Role of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization in the Iran-Iraq War, Negin Quarterly, No. 3, Winter 2002
3- Sabbar Fallah Al-Lami, Occupation and Medal, translated by Mohammad Nabi Ebrahimi, Tehran: Soroeh Mehr Publications, 2007, p. 22

July 31, 2024 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq; A proxy force

Friend or Foe? Saddam’s Shifting Stance on the MEK

The summer of 1988 marked a critical juncture in the tumultuous history of Iran. In the wake of an eight-year war with Iraq, Iran faced a renewed threat on its western borders. The Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (aka MEK, MKO, PMOI), backed by Saddam Hussein, launched an offensive, codenamed Operation Forough-e Javidan, with the ambitious goal of toppling the Iranian government. However, under immense pressure, Iran countered with Operation Mersad, a swift and decisive response on July 27, 1988 that halted the MEK’s advance. This article examines the events of this pivotal confrontation and explores Saddam’s perspectives to understand the complexities of his relationship with the MEK and how he viewed them as a tool or a liability in his regional ambitions.

According to Iraqi officials, the timing of their 1988 invasion of Iran was a calculated response to a shift in the balance of power. Iran’s recent victories in Operations Valfajr 8 and Karbala 5 had strengthened their hand, prompting Iraq to believe that a revision of the terms of UN Resolution 598, passed at the height of Iran’s success, was necessary. Diplomatic channels proving fruitless, the Iraqi leadership saw a renewed offensive as the only way to regain leverage in negotiations. They launched a two-pronged attack, deploying forces westward and towards the southern cities of Khorramshahr and Ahvaz (1).

However, another analysis suggests Saddam Hussein’s motives were more complex. This view posits that the invasion, undertaken in the war’s waning days, was a gamble – a chance to achieve a decisive victory. Success in this operation would have not only toppled the Iranian government but also installed a loyal government in neighboring Iran, fulfilling a longstanding dream of Saddam. Even defeat, it is argued, held a perverse benefit for Saddam: the elimination of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), an Iranian terrorist group the Iraqi dictator viewed as a threat. This perspective suggests that Saddam, motivated by a combination of ambition and paranoia, authorized the invasion despite the war’s near-conclusion and the implementation of Resolution 598 (2). In other words, despite doubts about the operation’s success, Saddam saw the MEK as expendable. In peacetime, they would be a burden – a burned-out and cumbersome pawn. In fact, by greenlighting Operation Eternal Light, Saddam aimed to achieve two objectives: eliminate the MEK, and project goodwill by handing them over to Iran with their own consent. Even if the operation failed, he reasoned, Iran would benefit from the removal of the MEK.

Additionally, some analysts point to Saddam’s own personality as a key factor. They argue that, perceiving Iran as weakened, he sought to deliver a knockout blow or, at the very least, strengthen his bargaining position in ceasefire negotiations. This strategy, they claim, aimed to solidify Iraqi military superiority by capturing Iranian territory and seizing prisoners.

An alternative perspective emerges when examining Saddam’s public statements. On June 29, 1988, he made official pronouncements about peace while condemning Iran’s continued resistance. These pronouncements portrayed him as victorious, bolstered by his perceived support from the United States and its allies. Interestingly, he also included a statement regarding the MEK:

“The Iranian people yearn for peace, and I am confident they will compel their government to pursue it. The heroism of the Mujahedin-e Khalq at Mehran is a testament to this resolve. A day will come when outside intervention is no longer necessary. The MEK will then infiltrate the heart of Iran, and the Iranian people will surely join their cause” (3).

The reality of Operation Eternal Light itself sheds further light on the situation. The plan consisted of three phases: the first two involved large-scale Iraqi offensives, while the third was reserved for the MEK. The Iraqi attacks aimed to breach Iranian defenses in the west and south, while the MEK would then capitalize on the breakthrough for a rapid push towards Tehran.

The prelude to Operation Eternal Light unfolded on July 22, 1988, with a brutal Iraqi offensive. Airstrikes pounded Iranian airbases in the west, followed by aerial and artillery bombardments of Iranian border towns. Simultaneously, a large-scale ground invasion commenced in the south, a clear attempt to distract Iranian forces from the true objective: the MEK’s attack in the west.

The brutality of the offensive extended beyond conventional warfare. Iraqi artillery pounded the strategic Patagh Pass, and chemical weapons were deployed north of the Rijab Pass, inflicting heavy casualties on nearby villages. Propaganda leaflets rained down on Iranian border towns, including Kerend-e Gharb. These leaflets, dropped by Iraqi aircraft, declared a large-scale operation and urged Iranian troops to surrender. In addition, civilians were instructed to evacuate the area (4). This complex operation suggests Saddam may have held some hope for its success, despite doubts about the MEK’s role.

References
1- Source: Journal of Iran-Iraq War Studies, Center for War Studies and Research of the IRGC, No. 17
2- Ali Akbar Rastgoo, The Mujahedin-e Khalq in the Mirror of History, Tehran, Center for Islamic Revolution Documents, 2005, p. 402
3- IRNA Bulletin, June 29, 1988
4- Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, Arising and the End (1965-2005), Vol. 3, Tehran: Institute of Political Studies and Research, 2006, p. 322

July 30, 2024 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

What Should MeK’s Supporters Know about Operation Forough-e Javidan?

Operation Forough-e Javidan (meaning Eternal Light)* is an event that left deep and long-term effects in the developments related to the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MeK), not only because it took place after acceptance of the UN security council’s ceasefire resolution by Iran, but due to the very nature of this event.

There are some main indicators in the Operation Forough-e Javidan and its aftermath that turned it into a black spot instead of an “eternal light” in history of the MeK.

First, this group has been a violent militant organization that should not be misunderstood as a political group opposing the ruling government in Iran. Which “opposition group” has conducted a massive military attack against its enemy using more than 7,000 troops and hundreds of tanks and personnel carriers? One should not forget suppression of Iraqi ethnic minorities in 1991 by the MeK in northern Iraq with heavy military equipment.

The second point is the MeK’s association with the fascist regime of Saddam Hussein and its notorious security-military establishment. Actually, Forough-e Javidan was not the starting point for the MeK’s cooperation with Saddam Hussein’s regime. During the long war between Iran and Iraq, the group gave telecommunications, intelligence and espionage services to the Iraqi dictator’s regime. However, it was during that operation that Saddam provided the MeK with massive weapons and heavy equipment so that this group turned into “Saddam’s private army”, an alliance that continued until the MeK’s forced disarmament following the fall of Saddam in April 2003.

The next indicator is related to the historical betrayal of this opportunist group to the Iranian people, an issue that has doubled the hatred of Iranian citizens towards them and has even led to tension between the political groups opposing the Islamic Republic and the MeK. The group’s act in moving to Iraq as a country that was engaged in a war with Iran and siding with the invader is an unforgivable betrayal in the eyes of all Iranian people regardless of their political tendencies and apart from their approach to the Islamic Republic. Just think that if there was such a group in a Western country which was sheltering in a hostile country in the time of war and engaged in aiding the enemy, then what would be the reaction of that country towards this group?

The MeK launched a military aggression against Iran based on their leaders’ completely wrong understanding of both the Iranian people and their desires and the MeK’s weight and capability.

There were two issues that Iranians had not forgotten in that period of time, which Rajavi was completely unaware of. The first was the group’s large-scale assassinations of Iranian citizens and officials in the 1980s which created an atmosphere of absolute terror in different cities of Iran, and the second was the hatred of the Iranian people for Saddam, the Iraqi dictator who waged a war with devastating losses against Iran. Now, this group had sided with the aggressor and very naively expected to be welcomed by the Iranians upon arrival in Iran after Operation Forough-e Javidan.

Eternal Light Operation

Perhaps, the massacre of citizens and patients in Imam Khomeini Hospital by the military units of the MEK in Operation Forough-e Javidan and burning them alive in the hospital yard was Rajavi’s reaction to this unrealistic expectation and a form of revenge against the people whom he mistakenly thought would support him.

The fourth was the beginning of a new set of restrictions and violations of human rights within the MEK group. After Forough-e Javidan, the changes within the group progressed towards intensification of cult-like behaviors of the MEK’s leader. The failure in Forough-e Javidan made Rajavi think that he should build a higher fence around his group and its members. In no fewer than three months after this humiliating defeat, he ordered all couples to get divorced. All children were separated from their families. Singles were required to be celibate and this rule is still in place! Since then, everyone must be at the service of the leadership and their goals. Out of that violent military organization, a new cult was being formed whose cultic rituals were updated day by day to control the members’ activities and thoughts.

The defeat in Forough-e Javidan led to the creation of severe restrictions by the leadership against members which remain to continue even in their camp in Albania fueling Iranian people’s hatred for them more and more. Having suffered a devastating defeat in 1988 despite having several thousand military forces and benefiting from heavy equipment provided by Iraqi dictator Saddam, after 34 years with decrepit soldiers and broken families, the MEK evokes for Iranian people a bitter memory of betrayal as mercenaries for one of the most bloodthirsty dictators of the 20th century.

Now, the presence of this group in Albania, the Balkans and Europe poses a potential security threat for the residents of these regions. The records of the repressive acts of this cult against Iranian and Iraqi citizens and hundreds of defectors reported in international documents clearly indicate that a militant cult is impossible to change. The MEK are opportunists and are willing to side with any corrupt dictator or politician to achieve their goals. They are a threat to the security of all nations and communities.

*This operation which is the MeK’s largest military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, was responded massively by the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in an operation called Mersad, forcing the MeK fighters to retreat towards the Iraqi border after suffering heavy losses.

July 27, 2022 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Eternal Light; MEK operation against Iranian civilians

Shortly after the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq, in July 1988, Mujahedin-e Khalq terrorist group armed and equipped by executed Iraqi dictator gathered all its members across Europe in Iraq and conducted a military offensive on the Western Iranian borders.

Masood Rajavi left France on a private plane for Iraq on June 7th, 1986. An Iraqi delegation headed by “Taha Yasin Ramadan” the vice prime minister welcomed Rajavi at the airport on behalf of the Iraqi president. Mujahedin-e Khalq believed in this move as follow: in a situation where different imperialism conspiracies are taking place against the armed resistance of the people of Iran, and fears of the shaken and dying regime of Iran is reaching its climax of Masood Rajavi and his new revolution, moving from France to the borders of Iran which is the last step for Rajavi to take before entering the country, is congratulated to all his followers. A day before his flight, Rajavi stated on a videotape:

If I don’t go tomorrow, the day after tomorrow might be too late. Not only for myself but for the people resistance, people in the chain and incarcerated in the country.

After settling where he was supposed to be staying, he started meeting Iraqi officials. 8 days later on June 15, 1986, he met Saddam Hussein. At this time terrorist activities of MKO continued in border cities of Iran.

Photo: Massoud Rajavi, left, meets with and the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Iraq in June 1986.

The Liberation Army

On July 8th, 1987, Rajavi met the Iraqi dictator again; at this meeting, Saddam congratulated Rajavi on the foundation of the national liberation army. Reciprocally Rajavi congratulated Sadaam on the National Day of Iraq and celebrations of the July 30th day.

At this time once a while we heard a meeting taking place between Rajavi and Saddam.

The liberation army was founded on June 20th, 1987 after receiving huge support either in form of cash or military assistants from the Iraqi government. In a short time, the alleged army started attacking Iranian border cities on large scale.

On Monday, July 18th, 1988 at 2 p.m. the radio of the Islamic Republic of Iran broadcasted news as follows:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has officially accepted resolution # 598 in a message delivered to the general secretary of the United Nations in order to establish peace and security in the region.

Two days after this news, Imam Khomeini (peace be upon him) in a detailed statement on the anniversary day of the massacre of the Iranian pilgrims in Mecca appreciated all those who fought to defend this country. He continued his remarks by saying that at this time, I see accepting the resolution in the interest of the revolution and the country.

Accepting the resolution, had widespread reactions, domestically and internationally. Some countries, like Iraq, regarded this event as a new tactic. When the cease-fire was accepted by Iran, a very serious situation was created for MKO. They had a very good understanding of Saddam, they knew that Saddam might make a deal on them any moment and turn them into the government of Iran; in another hand, MKO had planned all their politic and their existence upon the continuation of the war, and they never anticipated a cease-fire.

Therefore they did not see any other way except to intensify the war or at least keep the war going on. After our Islamic country was attacked by the Iraqis and the temporary withdrawal of our fighters, MKOs thought that accepting the U.N resolution was due to the separation of the government and people. They were trying to take advantage of the situation to achieve their ugly goals.

By gathering some people from the counter-revolutionary groups in different parts of Europe, and by all military equipment that they received a gift from Saddam, the MKO put a force of 15000 people together. They started their attacks from the strait of Patagh in the west of the country against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Members of this group, who up to now had a comfortable life in the west, were drawn into the war because of the MKO propaganda and excessive financial aids from the U.S. and Iraqi government and in the hope of conquering Tehran in 3 days. Saddam ordered the Iraqi army to provide the most modern military equipment which was recently purchased, at their disposal. Therefore, they attacked Iran by using new and the most modern equipment.

The Iraqi air force, by providing preliminary supports encouraged them to enter deep into Iran and ultimately conquer Tehran. By this doom alliance, a wide section of our Islamic country was attacked.

MKO was able to conquer the city of Kerend in the early stages of its advancement. So happy with this victory, they tried to reach the city of Islam Abad, they faced little resistance and finally conquered Islam Abad as well. 4 days after accepting the United Resolution # 598 by Iran, on Friday, July 23rd, 1988, Iraqis started widespread attacks against Iranian positions in the south and advanced to a point, 30 km away from Khoramshahr. Their intention was to capture more territory and prisoners from Iran so they could use them as a bargaining tool with Iran in the future.

Khoramshahr was about to fall again because in light of accepting the U.N resolution, all forces were evacuated and the city was in fact defenseless. At this time Imam Khomeini (PBU) sent a message to all military commanders, asking them to prevent the enemy from taking over the city at any price.

Following the broadcast of the message, a huge number of volunteer militias, who were dismayed by accepting the Resolution, made themselves available at Khoramshahr and forced the enemy to withdraw back to the borderlines.

On July 25th, 1988 at 2:30 pm, few members of the MKO who had fled to Iraq and with the supports that they received from Saddam and heavy & light equipment that they received from the United States started invading Kermanshah in the west. This happened when the army was busy in the south and neglected the west. In a short time, they passed the strait of Patagh and entered into Iranian territory. They conquered the cities of “Sare Pole Zahab” and west Kerend. They stayed in Islam Shahr for the first night and killed a lot of inhabitants of that city. They even killed people who were injured in hospitals, it is interesting to know that they killed even their own relatives, Masood Rajavi, while riding in a Bullett Proof car, accompanied the group which consisted of 15000 men, women and children.

MKO commanders believed that Iran’s military is disintegrated and is very vulnerable, and only one shock will topple the Islamic Republic. MKO prepared their military plan in 24 hours, unveiled their plan in a meeting on July 22nd, 1988, and called their operation “Forough-e Javidan” which means an immortal light. Masood Rajavi concluded in that meeting that the internal situation of the country was very fragile and will have his next meeting in the Azadi square in Tehran.

MKO was very happy with their preliminary victories and in a hurried decision, they decided to move toward Kermanshah In form of a column from Islamshahr. They thought that people would join them on the way towards Tehran. They thought that they could form new regiments of people and each of their members could lead the regiment. They thought that they could prepare the foundation for the regime to topple. Radio MKO started sending messages to the people of Kermanshah, asking them to join them and prepare the city for their arrival.

In the morning of July 27th, 1988, the Iranian army started the operation of Mersad with the code name “Ya Ali – Ebne – Abitaleb” (AS).

MKO, who were happy of not facing any resistance on their way, suddenly faced themselves in an Inferno of bombs which were falling on them from air and land. It did not take a long time to see the Kermanshah – Islamabad road piled up by burned equipment which was given to the MKO by the west as a gift. Few people who succeeded to save their lives escaped to the villages nearby, some other decided to take their lives by taking cyanide tablets. When the operation ended, both sides of the road were piled up with bodies of thousands of men and women whose hands were stained with the blood of their own countrymen.

The Islamic fighters suddenly closed the road 34 km away from Islam Abad. Heavy fighting took place on that artery.

The anti-tank division of the military in an outrageous action destroyed many tanks of the MKO. The Islam Abad, Kermanshah artery was filled with many burned equipment at early stages.

The actions of the Islamic fighters shattered all dreams of MKOs. MKO’s had no choice but to withdraw and pull back to Islamshahr. The city was surrounded by following the enemy.

MKO had no choice but to escape the city in order to save their lives. The Islamic fighters, by using air force and helicopter, blocked the roads on MKOs on Karand and strait of Pathgh and cut their communications. On July 28th, 1988 the Islamic fighters advanced towards predetermined targets. The air force sharp flyers and heavy bombardment left no opportunity for the Iraqi air force to get engaged… As the result, in the same afternoon, the city of Islam Abad was cleared of the MKO.

One of the particular characteristics of this operation was that, not only the Iranian people didn’t welcome MKO but also resisted their invasion as well. In addition, all political parties, groups, figures who are in opposition to the government of Iran and are based outside Iran, condemned the action of Masood Rajavi and other leaders of MKO in sending thousands of people to be killed in Forough Javidan Operation.

London Kayhan, an opposition Newspaper in London in an article from a reader wrote;

I watched the BBC news, I am so angry, my message is this that we should not keep quiet in dealing with traitors like MKOs, and MKO in collaboration with Iraqis invaded our country. We are sitting and watching.

Summary of the Operation

What was destroyed by the enemy?

Over 120 tanks

400 transporters

90 cannons 80 mm

150 cannons 60 mm

30 cannons 106 mm

Regiments of the Enemy

Over 20 units of joint cooperation of Iraqis and MKO

Spoils of War

1000 RPG

700 Kalashnikov

Tens of Tanks and Transporter

Tens of Automobile

Advanced communication equipment

Electronic Equipment and Internal documents

MKO listed 1274 people killed in the Forough Javidan Operation. Among them were 5 members of the executive group who each led one military regiment, and 11 members of the executive group of the organization.

According to these findings, 1100, MKO got injured in the operation as well.

The damage sustained by the MKO based on their own assertion was as follow:

72 tanks

612 different types of vehicles

21 cannons 122 mm

51 rifles 106 mm

52 U.S. senators, few days before this operation, wrote a letter to the U.S. secretary of state, at the time, George Schultz, telling him that the United States must support MKO who are based in Iraq and use them at maximum to overthrow the government in Tehran.

Dead MEK fighters in Iran, after the failed Operation Mersad (Wikipedia)

Senator Mervin Daimly who strongly insisted on overthrowing the Islamic Republic government took part in MKO meetings and took a very heated position in favor of them on June 27th, 1988, senator Daimly took part in the MKO demonstration in Washington D.C. as well.

He told the audience that “We should not give up, we will be marching from Mehran to Tehran very soon if we try a little harder”

In this operation, Rajavi ordered to kill Ali Zarkash one of the persons in charge of the organization who recently had disobeyed his orders.

He was killed from behind by one of the officers of Rajavi. It was portrayed as he was killed by the government army. They even arranged special seven-day traditional mourning services for him.

MKO lost quite a few of those good members in that operation. Among people who got killed in the MKO side, were few foreign nationals – mostly because they married Iranians and accompanied their spouse in the operation.

After Imam Khomeini (PBU), passed away, Rajavi performed few combat maneuvers in Iraq. He tried to keep his members busy. He wanted to get permission from Saddam to attack Tehran.

Few Iraqi generals, who were always present during those military maneuvers, said that those maneuvers did not have enough military values to topple the government of Iran. Some fake scenes of those shows made them laugh.

July 26, 2021 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

The MEK forced me to take up arms against my own countrymen

Honorable UN Representative in Tehran
Your Excellency,

According to the Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of the POWs
I am Torab Ali Ne’mati. I was arrested during Iran-Iraq war by the Mujahedin-e Khalq forces who were fighting on the side of Saddam Hussein. I was imprisoned in the group prisoners for about 8 months. Then they forced me to participate in their operation against Iran called Eternal Light and so as to take up arms against my own countrymen.

After long years I managed to free myself from the group. I have complaint against the cult leaders as they violated the 3rd Geneva convention relative to the treatment of the POWs. They did this to me and other POWs. They should be prosecuted as I injured physically and mentally.

Sincerely,
Torab Ali Ne’mati
Zanjan Province, Iran

June 9, 2021 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Mohtaram was among the young girls chosen by Rajavi to commit suicide

Mohtaram Babaei is another woman whose fate was tied up with the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO, MEK, PMOI, Cult of Rajavi) at her early age. She eventually became a victim of the cult. While she was only 17, she was seduced by the group’s propaganda. She was led to join the group in Camp Ashraf, Iraq.

Mohtaram was among the young girls chosen by Rajavi to commit suicide in the disastrous cross border operation against Iran “Eternal Light”, but she survived the battle and returned to Camp Ashraf while she was severely wounded in the face.

She had married to one of her comrades before the so-called “ideological revolution”. After the ideological revolution, she raised against Massoud Rajavi’s order and refused to divorce her husband, Karim Haqi. The same issue made her one of the problematic members for the group leaders.

Moreover, she had another crime based on the organizational rulings, and that was having a baby. While she was pregnant, she was jailed for resisting the ideological demands of the organization in the ideological revolution. According to the testimonies of certain defectors of the group, including Mitra Yusefi and Karim Haqi, Mohtaram was under severe psychological pressure in the prison to accept the ideological revolution and divorce her husband.

Meanwhile, her husband, Karim, was also held in jail at Camp Ashraf until the baby was born. The birth of her child in the MEK jail was supposed to bring a new spirit to Mohtaram Babaei’s life, but the leaders of the organization used the child to oppress her parents so that they would embrace the ideological revolution.
Avoiding to feed milk powder to the baby and restricting the baby’s diet went so far that other inmates at the time said the baby had become so thin and slim.

The daughter of Karim and Mohtaram was named “Maral” and was only 27 days old when she was flown to her father’s cell to break the Karim’s resistance, which again was futile.

She spent a year and a half in Rajavi’s prison and raised her child with suffer until her release. Then, she spent some time in MEK’s team houses in Baghdad and later she was sent to Europe. It took her a long time to get rid of the group.

Mohtaram Babaei eventually succeeded to leave the MEK cult-like structure but the traumatic experiences of living in the MEK led her to commit suicide in Netherlands while she was only 28 years old.

May 6, 2021 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Anniversary of Iranian Mersad Operation, an Operation that Became the Nightmare of MEK Terrorists

After Iran agreed to the terms of UN Resolution 598[1], Saddam Hussein confessed at a closed-meeting that he fully intended to renege on the terms of the ceasefire to strike Iran when it the least expected.

Wafiq al-Samarraee, then the head of the Iraqi army intelligence agency and director of military intelligence for Iran noted: “President Saddam, at a special secret meeting at the Ministry of Defense told us: ‘if we succeed in overthrowing the Iranian government, Kuwait will join Iraq, so there is a historic opportunity for a massive attack to overthrow the Iranian regime and changing it with a new government which we will elect [2].”

also read: A portrait of “Eternal Light” drawn by an Eye – witness

According to the Iraqi intelligence official, the MEK assured Saddam that should its members come to rule, Iran would forever be a friend of Iraq and thus support its policies.

The MEK / MKO was so bent on seizing power that its leadership willingly plotted a war against their own, putting millions of innocents in harm’s way. Most striking remains the group’s divorce from reality as its leaders continue, even to this day, to believe they have some form of popular legitimacy.

Captain Sattar Sa’ ad of the 3rd Army Corps of the Iraqi Army was there during Operation Forough Javidan; he wrote in his diary: “Massoud Rajavi repeatedly said that in those areas we were going to operate in the people would support us. But Rajavi and his men deceived us. I quickly realized that all Iranians we came across in fact hated Massoud Rajavi and his wife. I saw with my own eyes how they tore Massoud Rajavi’s pictures and his wife and how strongly they resisted.[3]”

also read: Ali Einakian;Joining and leaving Mujahedin

The captain also commented on the crimes and moral deprivation MEK militants so eagerly committed. How for example the group’s female militants gave away sexual favours to prove their loyalty to Iraq and its military. He also described the cruelty of all MEK militants when confronted with Iranian civilians, how they tore at the flesh of women and executed the innocent.

Mersad Operation the Counter Attack of Iran Military Forces
After Iran accepted the UN resolution 598 and declared a ceasefire with Iraq, Saddam used the terrorist MKO group encamped in Iraq to gain as much of Iranian territory as possible.

The MKO was calculating on civil unrest against the regime and public support for their cause. An army of about 15,000 Anti-Iranian forces equipped with weapons and logistics supplied by Iraq and other enemies of Iran started their invasion from west. This proved again that MKO and their European allies did not have a clue about Iranian psychology as Iranians quickly entered the battle position and started the Mersad Operation on July, 28, 1988 with the code:Ya Ali.

Happy with their initial success, the Anti-Iranian army moved towards Kermanshah with dreams of capturing Tehran. They were unaware that this was a tactical move to get them all inside a trap. 34 km west of Bakhtaran, a rain of fire descended upon the enemy destroying most of their armored vehicles including 120 tanks. In this operation 4800 of enemy mercenaries were killed while others fled towards Iraq.
The operation of Forough Javidan became a fiasco for MEK and considered as the worst military operation of the world based on the tactics that many MEK members were killed or arrested. After the operation, Massoud Rajavi shamelessly denied all responsibilities, preferring instead to blame his members’ lack of commitment.

The Iranian Mersad Operation was an extraordinary operation that most of the world military experts claim it as a great operation that showed the quick counter attack of Iranian military forces and one of the examples of military tactics around the world.

Sources:
[1] Security Council Resolution 598 is one of the resolutions issued on July 29, 1988 to end the Iran-Iraq war.
[2] Quoted from the memoir of Captain Sattar al-Sa’ad, responsible for the development of operational activities in the Iraqi Third Corps. Book “Memoire of Captain Sattar al-Sa’ad”
[3] The same source

Alireza Niknam, geopolitica.ru

July 28, 2020 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

When I was in a dark room…

According to the Iranian Oral History website, the 304th ‘Night of Memorials of Holy Defense’ was held on Thursday evening, July 25, 2019 at the Sureh Hall of the Hozeh Honari.

In this meeting, Bakhshali Alizadeh, Ibrahim Khodabandeh and Mohammad Mosaheb, related some of their memories of Mujahidin Khalq Organization and Mersad Operation. In the first part of this report you read the memoirs of Bakhshali Alizadeh.

Ibrahim Khodabandeh was the second narrator. ‘I was born in Tehran in 1943,’ he said, ‘I went to England to continue my education in 1971, after graduating in mathematics from Alborz High School. I was a member of Islamic Associations until Revolution. In 1978, I was active in Neauphle-le-Château. I was involved in the MKO in England since 1980 and worked mainly in the international affairs of the organization until 2003, which is for 23 years. I traveled to over 20 countries and did missions in that regard.

I was in charge of the organization’s activities in Dubai when operation of Forough Javidan (against Mersad Operation) was done. We had an organization there and in some of the for-profit companies, I did political and financial works. I was told to send all forces to Iraq. They were in a hurry. We quickly stopped working and shut down the companies. There were some supporters whom we released all. We had people in Dubai as police. We said that their relationship is suspended for now to see what will happen in the future. I sent all members to Iraq, and as a last person, I traveled to Kuwait, Jordan and then Baghdad.

I had worn a suit and carried a Samsonite bag when arrived airport and was taken to Ashraf Camp. They gave me an olive green uniform which was well ironed but was two size bigger. They drove us to a camp in Khanaqin. We were briefed that the operation had begun, the troops had gone, and were now withdrawing.

Somewhere a member asked me if I have ever touched a gun. I said no. He asked if I have ever fired. I said no. Within minutes he brought a Kalashnikov and trained me and I shot. He said it was over. You’re trained right now! When the firing was over, I grabbed the barrel of gun, and as it was very hot, my hand burned badly and blistered.

He said: ‘You’re so much inexperienced that don’t know after firing, the barrel gun is hot and can’t be touched.’ Later I found out that many people were in this situation, that is, they had quickly gathered people from outside.

In Khaneqin, since there were not enough stretchers, I was put in charge to carry the wounded and to take them inside a hospital-like place. It was unclear which one of those injured was alive and which one was dead. The injured were brought by a truck and we evacuated it. All my clothes and my face were bloody. One of members noticed me and said, ‘lie down fast, it seems you’ve injured! I said, I have never been harmed. This’s not my blood. The operation ended. As Mr. Alizadeh pointed out, this failure was more than just a military blow, it was a psychological blow to everyone, because all of them thought that they would easily go to Tehran.

As a brief history I should say when we worked abroad, were sometimes sent to the Iraq for meetings. Sometimes we were in Iraq for one or two months until it came to our turn. We had a meeting with Massoud Rajavi. He briefed us for political affairs and then we returned. On one of these trips I was asked to participate in one of military tactics courses. Ahmad Waqif, whose real name was Mehdi Baraei and was one of the commanders of the organization, trained us a type of blitz invasion. He said that this kind of invasion was first carried out by Hitler and the Germans called it ‘blitzkrieg’. Using this type of invasion, Hitler could cross all the fortifications of France for six days and occupy the country. The way it works is very simple and fast. ‘Forough Javidan’ operation was also based on this tactic, which was done all on the road, in fast, and even the armored was very light and wheeled and the tanks were Brazilian Cascavel. Iraq was at unequally war against Iran. It was unequal because Iraq could buy Mirage Fighter from France, Sukhoi aircraft from Soviet and Scania vehicle from Sweden, but Iran could not buy even barbed wire because of sanction. The war went on. I studied later. The type of hypocrites’ invasion to Iran is very similar to the ISIL attack and conquering the Mosul. That is to say, it happened the same way. The Iranian artillery and armored lines were passed in short time. It was supposed to be prepared in several operations and then reached the final operations and conquered Tehran. First Khorshid Operations for conquering Fakkeh and then Chelcheragh Operations for conquering Mehran. It was supposed another operation was done to conquer West Islamabad and then they moved toward Kermanshah. What happened and surprised the MEK was Iran’s acceptance of Resolution 598. It caused all their plans broke down. Massoud Rajavi immediately visited Saddam Hussein after that. The first step in accepting the resolution was acceptance of ceasefire. Rajavi urged Saddam not to accept the ceasefire and promised him that he would win the war, because their planning was perfect. Saddam’s answer was that he had accepted the resolution earlier, plus that he could no longer continue the war. Rajavi was the only one who could convinced Saddam to leave the ceasefire over for few days and did not respond until the operation to be done; therefore, the organization’s plan changed and the occupation of west Islamabad was turned to move to Tehran.

The operations went on to the west Islamabad as previously planned and then they began moving toward Kermanshah. Again, the organization was faced with another surprise from Iran, which was that Iran did not advance with the classical army, unlike the organization. Shahid Sayyad Shirazi changed completely the tactics of the war. The tactic was that only volunteers were recruited and were armed with Kalashnikov and RPGs, and heliboarding was provided in the highlands around the operational area. Because cannon, tanks, aircraft and bombing didn’t work on that plan of organization. As you saw, Mosul fell immediately and the classical army could not resist. It was the same in Aleppo, and the classical army could not do anything against ISIL. It was different in Iran. Iranian forces were immediately helicoptered in the hills around the Mujahedin’s path and waited in ambush, especially in the Chaharzebar Strait. For this reason, the operation was called Mersad (which means ‘ambush’ in Arabic language); because the main thing was stopping Mujahedin in Hassanabad plain and Mahidashtt, in Siahkhor and especially in Chaharzebar Strait. The Mujahedin forces were stopped near Kermanshah and dispersed. Later, when I spoke with some members, they declare that were fired with Kalashnikov on every side, as if they were near them. So, they had to withdraw and to suffer casualties. This way which was later used by ISIL, has several features. One is that the invaders try to hide quickly among people. As result, the opposing force cannot use air bombardment or heavy weapons. When the Mujahidin moved on the roads where ordinary people traversed, when they entered the cities, even the Iranian aircrafts could not bomb the roads because ordinary people were at aim too. The second is that they showed brutality, just as ISIL did. They did not even show mercy to the animals during Mersad Operation. The fields and houses were set on fire. They struck terror into people’s heart. Some people who were in Mersad Operation told that they were asked not to capture, but must kill whoever appeared, even if surrendered themselves! Even the patients of Islamabad hospital were brought out in the yard and were executed by shooting! The news spread. They had enter into war in this manner that were forced to retreat from Chaharzebar Strait on Mersad Operation. Many Americans, who were members of the organization, came immediately from the United States for the operation. The proof is those burnt American passports displayed at the newly opened Museum of the Chaharzebar Strait. The plan of organization was not too irrational. Later, the plan which was implemented by ISIL in Syria and Iraq, was the one the organization wished to do in the west of Iran. Later on, Massoud Rajavi had a great grudge against Shahid Sayyad Shirazi, because he did not foresee this outcome at all.

Once an assassination attempt was made on Saddam’s son. Rajavi told Saddam that Shahid Sayyad Shirazi has done it, in order Saddam helped him in the assassination attempt.

Mujahidin, like ISIL, made the most use of Islam for controlling its members’ mind. That is, the members really thought they were fighting for Islam. I thought about Massoud Rajavi’s words. Once, when he had to retreated after Mersad Operation, said that our front against Iran is first Syria, then Iraq and after that Iran! I did not understand what he meant. How he wants to go to Syria first, then to Iraq and after that to Iran? What type of tactic it is?! Actually it was a code which was later decoded in action. Another similarity of the organization with ISIL was that the troops were brought to Turkey from Europe and the United States and then entered Iraq from Turkey. That is, all the forces of the Organization entered in this way, even those who were in Iran, went to Turkey and then to Iraq. ISIL has also deployed its forces in this way.’
Maryam Rajabi – Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian – Oral History,

August 14, 2019 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

My Memories with Mujahidin Khalq Organisation

Bakhshali Alizadeh : FROM CAPTIVITY TO BITTER DAY

According to the Iranian Oral History website, the 304th ‘Night of Memorials of Holy Defense’ event was held on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at the Sureh Hall of the Hozeh Honari. In this meeting, Bakhshali Alizadeh, Ibrahim Khodabandeh and Mohammad Mosaheb, related some of their memories of Mujahidin Khalq Organization and Mersad Operation. Bakhshali Alizadeh was the first narrator. ‘I was captured by the Ba’athist forces in the Musian zone at the front of the Iraq war against Iran in the March of 1986.’ he said, ‘For about three and a half years, I was in Ramadi Camp No. 10, an Iranian prison camp in Iraq. That camp consisted of four divisions, and I was in the third one. I was seriously ill and had many injuries, but there was no enough treatment. I saw that I am at the end stage of my lifetime, so I decided to spend the rest of my captivity in the Mujahidin or Rajavi sect. They came to the camp and propagate widely. They wanted to recruit. I had weighed my condition and said myself that I will be with them for a maximum of two years and then return to Iran when the prisoners were swapped.

Iraq was the headquarters of the organization. I was able to reach there and to join them. They were strong in terms of social relationships; they quickly discovered the weaknesses and strengths of individuals and used them. To what extent are people involved in the organization sensitive and what are their religious beliefs? To what extent are their political, social, and economic beliefs; they took all these into account and came up with the same “brainwashing” term. The organization had religious foundations. They used their beliefs, if some members had strong religious beliefs; from the early days of Islam to the time of Imam Zaman and afterwards. On the other hand, about those who claimed to be laic and had little to do with religious matters, social class issues and individual and social freedoms were discussed. I was neither religious nor laic, but was very sensitive to things in society, such as class distinction and the rich and poor. I could not accept that some people lived at ease and comfort and some people in poverty and misery. They quickly recognized this and began working on it. They said that the cause of these misery is the Islamic Republic! They could not fulfill their promises had given at the beginning of the revolution, so they must be eliminated!

I was one of those who had gone to defend my country, but after a while I realized that I had become one of the elements working against my country. The time I had gone, was coincided with Mersad Operation, which was called ‘Forough Javidan’ in the organization. The organization had broken after this operation. There were many casualties of nearly 1500 people. For an organization with about four thousand member at that time, a number of 1500 people was not few. On the other hand, there were many injured who had filled Iraqi hospitals. Few were able to survive, who were the forces behind the front line. At that time, Maryam Rajavi did not still shoulder heavy burden. The main task was done by Massoud Rajavi. The subject of all his speeches was to consolidate this despairing and depressing atmosphere in the organization. It was not a small blow. They aimed to attack to occupy Tehran. Rajavi’s headquarters had been prepared in Tehran. They had come up with this idea and had failed to fulfill it. It was a mental, physical, ideological, and a political blow. All of these blows hit the whole body of the organization. Massoud Rajavi wished to manage the organization and as an alternative to the Islamic Republic, to be able to reinforce its forces and to embark on against the regime. What was evident at all the meetings was that they brought in some commanders to know what the main cause of the defeat was. The result was that the main cause was the forces themselves. Four to five thousand people has come to fight against a country with at least one million troops. They did not considered the opposing forces, and blamed the forces of the organization and said that you were the cause we could not reach to Tehran. Based on some information, they asked why they couldn’t cross the Chaharzebar Strait. On the route to Kermanshah, there was a road in the center of a strategic region which was called Chaharzebar Strait. The forces of the organization could not passed it. The forces of the Islamic Republic were on the other side of Strait and Rajavi’s forces were on this side. They stopped there and Iranian fighters and airmen fired heavily. Therefore, as all the Rajavi’s forces had gathered on the road, were defeated and quickly withdrew.

When I joined the organization, witnessed that they had no such spirit they showed on television. They had a television program called ‘the face of resistance’, which aired on channel one of Iraqi television for about two hours daily, around 19:00 to 21:00 pm. It was advertising, several scenes of Mujahid men’s and women’s fighting. I joined them and saw none of them. Everyone was blue and sadness was evident on their faces. Because I didn’t know much about the condition, it took me a while to realize that this atmosphere was due to the heavy military blow that the Islamic Republic had inflicted on the organization. After that, the story of Kuwait, the ceasefire, and then the exchange of captives. So, I decided to stay in the organization. I saw that their slogans were consistent with some of my beliefs. In fact, the utopia that existed in my mind was reflected in their aspirations. Therefore, I decided to stay with them when prisoners were exchanged.

You could not understand how Mujahedin organization acts, if you did not have relationship with them. Some people asked me how I could stand in the organization for 30 years. The same motivations and beliefs. We thought that we were fighting for the people of Iran and for God’s sake. We did not know that the leader of the organization was abusing the forces. What Massoud Rajavi was looking for was gaining power and ruling, and this was very prominent in his speeches. He claimed that the sovereignty of Iran was stolen during the revolution. From who it was stolen? He meant it was stolen from him! He said that he should have become president, he should have been leader! This is very evident in his speeches. Now that it is also evident in his messages.

Iraq invaded and captured Kuwait. We had to move from Ashraf Camp to the mountains and camouflage there to escape the bombardment of coalition fighters. Until the Morvareed Operation began. We called it ‘Morvareed’ and I don’t know what it was called in Iran. Rajavi decided to send a group of troops to the Iranian border during that confusion had been occurred in Iraq. I was among those forces who were sent to Khanaqin. Some clashes happened which were settled down. It took about a week and then we returned to Ashraf Camp, where was in commotion. It was a war and there was no quiet day. Now, in the anniversary of Mersad Operation, and as someone who has been there for many years and witnessed those days, I say that those fatal blows of the Islamic Republic on the body of the Mujahedin Organization are still seen. They started then to spread a story called ‘the ideological revolution’. They said you stayed behind the Chaharzebar Strait because your thoughts turned to your wife and children; a man whose thought will turned to his wife and children could not sacrifice himself and commit suiciding! You must divorce your wife and abandon your children! After a while, the member’s children were sent to European countries in various ways to be kept in families that were sympathizer of the organization. Anyone who did not divorce his wife, were expelled. Since the forces were mainly ideological ones, many tendencies began to emerge in the early 1981. Several wings were shaped. The sympathizers joined the organization mostly because of Rajavi’s personality. What he showed outside was different from what it was in his inside. Apparently we saw a sacrificing leader who has spent all his life for the liberation and freedom of the Iranian people. We have realized over time, when looking at the leadership of the cults, that their appearance differs from their terrible animal inward. We had been deceived by his look and it took a long time to find out. Since 2003 when the US invaded and Saddam Hussein fell and Rajavi hid away, it crossed to minds of many of us that if you are a leader, if you are a martyr, if you are following Imam Hussein’s way, if Imam Zaman’s goals are your goals too and you want to make Iran a monotheistic society without any class, where have you hidden now?! Come out! We were under Iraqi’s fire every day, we had lots of casualties every day; if martyring is good then appear and die a martyr; and if you are not, another person undertake the leadership of the organization instead of you. From then on, many forces became contradictory. If you look, you can see that decreasing in forces has been much greater since 2003. Many members fled, many declared separation. The story continues the same way. The war is still going on. That front and this front each has their own activities. But, legitimacy is with the one that dominates the nation and if it were not legitimate, could not rule for forty years.

I returned to Iran after 33 or 34 years. What I saw was unbelievable. I had gone in the early 1981s. The Iran I saw didn’t match the Iran which was shown by the organization. The first time I came to the streets of Tehran, was surprised to see the highways, tunnels and buildings. What is propagandized in the organization is completely different. In the organization it was always propagandized that the atmosphere in Iran is that the nation is dying of starvation and the corpses have fallen in the streets! After abandoning the organization, I moved to European countries for about three years and then returned to Iran from Germany. When we were in the organization, thought that all people around the world lived in the paradise but Iranian nation. I went to Europe and saw that they also dealt with unemployment, poverty and corruption. I saw the contradiction with my own eyes. What they said us in the organization, and now that we left it, how we see them? When I came to Iran, the story was completely different. Everything had changed. My family was in much passion. More than three decades had passed and unfortunately many people had passed away. Children had grown up and gotten married. Life went on completely; but we brainwashed into a completely false environment and deceived ourselves. They held ideological meetings. At these meetings, participants were impressed. They spoke of ‘hero masses’, but there was no ‘hero masses’. You look and see, those who have left the organization are of the same ‘hero masses’. They have sacrificed for years for the organization’s leader, but all of them are now living in the worst situation in Albania. They have sacrificed themselves for him many years, and now the humanity requires that at least he financially supported them. People have been abandoned in a stage society without identity, without knowing the language of others. They don’t have even ID cards. The Albanian government has given them a paper with the holder’s photo in order not to be arrested by the police. These papers are renewed monthly or every two or three months. The organization not only takes the responsibility for them, but if they speak, will be labeled as intelligence agents. How does such an organization want to take responsibility for an eighty million community?! I understand this contradiction, as someone who has seen both sides. I say to myself that if he takes responsibility for Iran, will not only be able to control the situation, but also makes it worse. There is a lot of propaganda against the Islamic Republic there, and as someone who sees the scene, I have to see the reality. I say without exaggeration that whatever exist there, is lie and bluffs.’

Seyed Davood Salehi, the host of ‘Night of Memorials of Holy Defense’, said: tell us a memory from Ashraf Camp.’ Alizadeh said: ‘the most important memory I have is about the time when families came to visit their children. In 2003, some families could travel Iraq to see their children. A few years later, the connection was cut. In 2009, when the families came, the organization closed the doors, claiming that they were not families, but were intelligence agents. We were not allowed to visit our families. My father had also come. Influenced by the organization’s advertising, though I loved to see him, but unfortunately I didn’t go. I still haven’t forgiven myself for doing that. My father was 70 years old at the time. He had come with that difficulty and on that age to see me. I did not forget that story and later became ashamed of it. I kissed his hands and feet and asked him to forgive me. But that day is one of those days that I remember with bitterness.’

Iranian Oral History, Maryam Rajabi, Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

August 11, 2019 0 comments

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