Here, the aim is to trace the roots of totalitarianism in cults and review its mechanisms inside and outside cultic relations. In this regard, some factors that pose a challenge for totalitarianism are to be understood theoretically. Lifton refers to dispensing of existence as one of the eight psychological themes that are central to totalistic environments…
Mujahedin-e-Khalq is considered as a religious political cult for they advocate their own version of Shiite Islam mixed with Marxism ideology. Therefore they have invented their own belief system. Besides, they have their deceptive ways to earn money including charity foundations of which some have been outlawed in Europe, so they can be called commercial too since all the members are exploited to work for free. The terrorist cult of MKO/PMOI has long been dominating its members (victims) with an illusion of a political achievement in Iran.
We have documented serious human rights abuses that the MKO was inflicting on its own members in their camp in Iraq,” said Tom Porteous, the London director of Human Rights Watch. “The organisation … has shown that criticism of leadership is certainly not tolerated..When the European Union removed a militant Iranian opposition group from its blacklist of terrorist organisations last month, it drew not only protestations from Iran but also the contempt of a former member who claims the group is little more than a cult.
In the ideological revolution of Mojahedin[PMOI/MKO/MEK], a phase transforming a political group into a cult of personality, many factors exploited by cult leaders to immunize them against challenges are traceable. Cult leaders make an attempt to convince members that they are endowed with a god-like status and unearthly power in foreseeing future events, a window that is totally closed for followers to see through.
(Memoirs of Mrs.Batul Soltani- Part 7)there is a practice within MKO’s internal relations called “nil-nil” (a cult type jargon) wherein everyday the members are supposed to allegedly demoralize themselves because they say that anyone who demoralizes himself and releases his energies will reach higher degrees…There is another internal phenomenon called “Current Operation” (another jargon). This has been practiced in MKO/PMOI cult since 1994…Masud Rajavi made too much noise calling the current operation as “Spiritual Jihad” as and even “higher than martyrdom”. Therefore, the members must confess all the sins they commit and they should expect any reaction from their colleagues
The MKO/PMOI, which seeks to destabilize the government in Tehran, is currently headed by Maryam Rajavi — who considers herself the president-elect of a supposed Iranian government-in-exile. France has offered to take in members of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO/PMOI/MEK) who are being forced to leave Iraq, sources claim. The French government has volunteered to transport MKO members onboard its passenger aircraft to France as soon as possible, Iraqi sources told Tabnak on condition of anonymity.
Political cults include terrorist groups that resort to the killing of innocent citizens to promote their cause. Suicide bombers are often members of these extremist political groups…It is hard to develop a deep understanding of Rajavi’s personality especially for the Western people and his advocates there. They will come to know his real nature only when it is too late and they have to pay a great deal for their false calculations.
Iran has filed a complaint to the UN on the recent EU decision to remove the Mujahedin Khalq Organization[PMOI/MKO from its list of terror groups.”The European Union must realize that a political approach to terrorism, which threatens the lives and security of people around the world, is totally unacceptable for the global public opinion,”Iran’s permanent envoy to the United Nations, Mohammad Khazaei, wrote in a Wednesday letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
For Josy Dubié (Belgian MP), there is not a doubt that PMOI is”a sect”. The Belgian senator draws from his memories international reporter to the RTBF to affirm it. At the end of the Iraq-Iran war, they are the combatants of this organization which Saddam Hussein had sent like”flesh with canon”at the time of the battle of Mehran, in 1989…”I know them from inside”, continues the senator,”and I can say to you that their behavior is to be brought closer to that of the members of Scientologie”. Didn’t they evolve since the Eighties? Josy Dubié does not believe in it at all.”They[PMOI/MKO/MEK] are still as sectarian as before”, he ensures.
Massoud Rajavi, affected by leftist and political cultic relations, grabbed hold of religious considerations to immunize himself against encountered challenges and criticisms and hence, stabilizing his unquestionable leadership in MKO/PMOI/MEK. A significant point to be mentioned is Rajavi’s misusing of religious and ideological factors simultaneously…Rajavi pursued two objectives. On the one hand, he was likely to convince members to carry out organizational tasks submissively and on the other hand, he was after making himself free from any challenge and criticism. As singleton puts into words