European Union

EU officials: Keep MKO blacklisted

Some European Union members have warned against removing the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from the bloc’s list of terrorist groups.

MKO should be black listed again A number of EU parliamentarians, in a letter have slammed a British court decision to remove the MKO from the British terror list.

The letter adds, the MKO claims to be a democratic Iranian opposition, while it is instead a terrorist group with totalitarian ideals.

The MKO is behind a slew of assassinations and bombings inside Iran, it said, adding that the group has no public support within Iran because of their role in helping Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq war.

According to Human Rights Watch report, the outlawed group puts deserters under torture and jail terms.

The MKO, whose main stronghold is in Iraq, is blacklisted by much of the international community, including the United States.

Press TV, Aug 04, 2008

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=65572&sectionid=351020101

August 5, 2008 0 comment

European Union

EU keeps MKO on banned list

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union said on Wednesday it was keeping an Iranian opposition group on its list of banned terrorist movements, days before it leads major power talks with Iran over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

The People’s Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI) had called on the 27-member EU to remove it from the blacklist after the British Parliament last month upheld a court ruling that its inclusion on a list of banned groups in Britain was wrong.

The EU, in a decision slipped out without fanfare, said it saw no grounds for amending the list of 48 groups subject to asset freezes and other sanctions in Europe.

"Consequently, the Council has decided to maintain those persons, groups and entities on the list," the decision published in its Official Journal said.

The decision to keep the PMOI on the list was rubber-stamped by EU agriculture ministers who met in Brussels on Tuesday.

A French source said Paris — a key player in Iranian diplomacy and holder of the bloc’s rotating presidency — came forward with grounds for it to be maintained on the list.

The PMOI began as a leftist-Islamist opposition to the late shah of Iran but fell out with Shi’ite clerics who took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Western analysts say it has little support inside Iran because it joined Iraqi forces during the 1980-88 war between the two neighbors. The group, which exposed Iran’s covert nuclear program in 2002, is also banned by the United States.

Its political wing, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has some support in Europe. A petition expressing support for the NCRI won the backing of 290 members of the French Parliament, a majority in the 577-strong lower house, one of its sponsors said on Wednesday.

Left-wing MP Jean-Pierre Brard told a news conference in Paris one of the motivations of the petition was to seek the removal of the PMOI from lists of banned groups in Europe.

NOT RELATED

EU officials said the timing of the decision was not related to efforts to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment which the West suspects is aimed at acquiring the atom bomb.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will meet Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva on Saturday to discuss Iran’s response to an international offer of incentives if its halts enrichment. Iran insists its program is peaceful.

In a shift in U.S. policy which European officials see as a sign of support for the process, the United States is due to send a senior envoy to the one-day Geneva talks. Solana said on Friday he hoped for a "constructive response" from Iran.

A spokesman for the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political arm of the PMOI, denounced the EU decision to keep the group on its terrorism list.

"The Iranian resistance views the futile attempt of the agriculture ministers to appease the religious fascism ruling Iran and defying the ruling of competent European courts devoid of any legal standing and in outright violation of the rule of law," Shahin Gobadi said.

"This attempt by European appeasers on the eve of the meeting of Solana with representatives of the clerical regime on the nuclear file, is nothing but an attempt to get mileage from a discredited list."

The NCRI has been active in mobilizing parliamentary support in many European countries for removing the PMOI from the terrorism list and denouncing Iran’s human rights and nuclear policies.

(Additional reporting by Francois Murphy in Paris; editing by Paul Taylor)

By David Brunnstrom and Mark John, Reuters, July 16, 2008

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1673796320080716

July 21, 2008 0 comment

European Union

MKO miantains its position on EU blacklist

The European Union has declared that it will keep the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MEK) on the list of outlawed terrorist groups.

The EU officials have declared that the decision to keep the MEK on the list of the terrorist groups is not related to the Western efforts to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program, Reuters reported.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will meet Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva on Saturday to discuss Tehran’s response to an incentives package proposed by world powers to Tehran.

The British Parliament last month upheld a court ruling that the inclusion of the MEK on a list of banned groups in Britain was wrong.

The group then called on the 27-member EU to remove it from the blacklist.

The EU has declared that it sees no grounds to amend the list of terrorist organization which includes 48 groups subject to asset freeze and sanctions in the EU.

“Consequently, the Council has decided to maintain those persons, groups and entities on the list,” the EU Official Journal said.

The MEK or MKO has so far claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks inside Iran.

It is also accused of helping former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in massacre of civilians.

July 21, 2008 0 comment

European Union

EU postpones decision on Mujahedin Khalq

EU diplomats say the bloc has postponed a decision on whether to remove the Mujahedin Khalq Organization from its list of terrorist groups.

A diplomat said on Wednesday that European Union foreign ministers had been EU Postpones deceision on MKO expected to review the list of terrorist organizations at a meeting in Luxembourg next Monday.

The issue, however, has been dropped from the meeting’s agenda pending a decision by the British Parliament on taking the terrorist group off the UK’s blacklist, the diplomat added.

The MKO, which is blacklisted by many countries as a terrorist organization, has so far claimed responsibility for many terror attacks inside Iran.

It is also accused of assisting former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the massacre of thousands of Iraqi civilians.

June 19, 2008 0 comment

European Union

EU faces test of its stance on terrorism

The MKO is lobbying Western politicians to lure the European Union into removing the group from the list of terrorist organizations.

The Euronews reported on Saturday that an EU review of the list of terrorist organizations next month could give the Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) carte blanche to operate inside the bloc. The MKO is blacklisted by many countries including EU member states as a terrorist organization.

The group has so far claimed responsibility for several terror attacks inside Iran and some reports and Iraqi figures say it had been involved in the massacre of Iraqis under Saddam’s regime.

On May 7, a British court of appeal ruled that outlawing the group in 2002 was wrong. The group has so far lobbied some politicians to convince them to push for the removal of the MKO form the EU blacklist.

Besides its involvement in terrorist activities, many believe that the organization’s leaders have set up a cult of personality ‘which brainwashes its supporters’.

In 2003 French officials arrested dozens of MKO members over their involvement in financing and planning terrorist attack.

The group then encouraged its supporters to torch themselves in the streets of Paris to force the French authorities into reversing their decision.

Presstv – May 31, 2008

May 31, 2008 0 comment

European Union

Mojahedin Khalq action opens floodgate for other terrorist groups

13 months ago in December 2006, the European Court of First Instance annulled an EU move to keep Iranian Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO) on its terror blacklist, ruling it had not given the group a fair hearing or adequate reasons. However, the EU disputed the ruling and kept the organization on a new version of its list. On December 22, 2007 the European Union published its official Journal in which it updated the Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism and repeated Common Position 2007/448/CFSP.

But the move by MKO to challenge the EU and lodge an appeal against the EUâ€™s decision seems to have encouraged other blacklisted persons to make a try. Reported by the International Herald Tribune, Yasin al-Qadi, head of the Saudi-based Muwafaq Foundation, is trying to appeal the freezing of his assets by the 27-nation bloc under a U.N. order filed after the Sept. 11. The US Treasury officials allege al-Qadi’s organization is an al-Qaida front used to funnel millions of dollars (euros) to the global terror organization. Al-Qadi was one of four plaintiffs whose case was dismissed by the EU court in 2005 after they were added to the EU’s terror blacklist.

It is said that the EU’s high court has also recently overturned a decision to freeze the assets of an exiled Philippine rebel leader and the Netherlands-based Al-Aqsa foundation because they were not informed why their assets were frozen.

Mojahedin.ws, January 18, 2008,

January 22, 2008 0 comment

European Union

Al- Qaeda front appeals to unfreeze assets

But the move by MKO to challenge the EU and lodge an appeal against the EU’s decision seems to have encouraged other blacklisted persons to make a try. Reported by the International Herald Tribune, Yasin al-Qadi, head of the Saudi-based Muwafaq Foundation, is trying to appeal the freezing of his assets by the 27-nation bloc under a U.N. order filed after the Sept. 11. The US Treasury officials allege al-Qadi’s organization is an al-Qaida front used to funnel millions of dollars (euros) to the global terror organization. Al-Qadi was one of four plaintiffs whose case was dismissed by the EU court in 2005 after they were added to the EU’s terror blacklist.

Mojahedin.ws,January 18, 2008

January 20, 2008 0 comment

European Union

Iranian students union thanks EU for keeping MKO on terror list

TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (MNA) — In a letter released on Saturday, Iran’s Union of Islamic Students Association (UISA) in Europe has thanked the European Union for its decision to keep the terrorist Mojahedin Kalq Organization (MKO) on the blacklist of terrorist organizations.

The letter, a copy of which provided to Mehr News Agency, is addressed to Francisco Javier Solana Madariaga, the European Union foreign policy chief, EU countries, and members of the European Parliament.

The following is the text of the letter:

“We would like to convey our seasonal greetings on the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, a messenger much revered by both Christians and Muslims who is a propagator of peace and unity for both our Abrahamic religions. Furthermore we wish you all a great start to 2008 and a blessed year to come. We hope that 2008 bears witness to substantial strides towards strengthening worldwide peace via measures taken by influential international bodies.

“The recent decision by the EU to preserve the MKO on its terrorist organization blacklist, which demonstrates the intellectual and humane standards of this Union, is a move fully appreciated by the UISA, the most reputable Iranian student body within Europe.

"The 28 year old history of the Islamic revolution in Iran is tainted by the violent victimization of a sovereign nation via organized terrorist factions aiming to inflict an immobilizing blow to the dignity and morale of the Iranian people. Through a doctrine of fear and assassination such terror attacks have claimed the lives of some of the greatest and most admirable people of this nation, from religious scholars to university lecturers and from distinguished public servants elected by the people to ordinary members of society pursuing their daily lives. The use of highly sophisticated weapons including chemical armaments in assaulting the peaceful people of Iran is so horrifying in nature that the bitter memory of these losses will forever be engrained in the minds of every Iranian.

“One must ask why a unique democratic movement such as the Iranian revolution has been the target of a continuous wave of organized terrorist attacks for the past 28 years. Hitherto the query of how these terrorist groups are supported both speculatively and financially for their inhumane conduct still remains unanswered for the Iranian nation.

“We believe that, in concordance with section 3 of resolution 1483 issued by the United Nations (approved in the 4761 UN general session, on May 22, 2003), it is time for the leaders of MKO — which is an inherently criminal group — to be prosecuted in international courts for cooperating with the Ba’thist regime and performing criminal acts against the two oppressed nations of Iran and Iraq. Furthermore, we express our gratitude towards the EU for their appropriate stance on the enforcement of this ruling across all the European countries so that none of the members of this terrorist group are authorized to seek refuge anywhere within Europe and exert their inhumane terrorist acts.

“Considering the aforesaid group is known as one of the most abhorrent terrorist groups by the Iranian nation, undoubtedly any strides from the respected union to prevent their terrorist activities can be alleged as an evident support of conforming the human rights, human dignity, and admiration at the threshold of honoring the sixtieth anniversary of the issuance of the worlds human right manifesto which with no doubt resides in peoples minds as a worthwhile memento.

“Since a court in the United Kingdom has recently eradicated this criminal terrorist group from the terrorist blacklist, it has offended the Iranians public opinion as the rights of hundreds of innocent people who were martyred by this group is neglected.”

The statement says that the union is expected to make arrangements to have the British government respecting the decision made by the EU in order to include and preserve the MKO on its terrorist organization blacklist.

“Ultimately we would like to once more express our greetings for the arrival of the New Year and inform you that as Iranian students abroad we appreciate your prudent and judicious decisions and will reflect your positive conducts to the Iranian nation. We hope that the collective efforts of politicians, parliamentary representatives, and intellectuals amount to the obliteration of terrorism in all shapes and forms resulting in a state of harmony and global security. Surely even the smallest stride towards this humanitarian goal is in itself a significant achievement and shall leave behind a distinguished mark on the pathway to international safekeeping.”

January 13, 2008 0 comment

European Union

The EU keeps MKO on its terror list

On Thursday, December20nd, the European Union updated the Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism and repeated Common Position 2007/448/CFSP.

The document published the official Journal of the European Union on Dec 22nd included the list of persons, groups and entities referred to in Article 1 of the document.

On page 113 of Legislation 340, you can consider Muajhedin-e-Khalq listed as a proscribed Organization by the EU. However on Dec.18th Maryam Rajavi addressed the European Parliament urging on the removal of her terror cult from the EU terror list. The EU listed MKO as a terrorist entity once more.

January 1, 2008 0 comment

European Union

EU stresses need for maintaining Mojahedin Khalq Organisation (MKO) among terror organizations

EU human rights and civil foundations despite Zionist lobby’s efforts aimed at removal of MKO’s name from international terror organs, stress need for maintaining grouplet’s name in that list. Political and media circles within the European Union reflected those foundations’ demand during the Tuesday session of the European Parliament at that body’s EU-IRI Parliamentary Relations Commission. Among the other issues addressed at the session, there were discussions on a recent visit by an EU parliamentary delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the session which was held in the presence of the members of Iran-EU Parliamentary Relations Commission, EC representatives, EP members, and the head of the MKO, one more time the terrorist nature of that anti-Iranian organization was stressed. The head of MKO had attended the session on an invitation sent to her by a pro-Zionist EP member, but was seriously humiliated due to the heavy anti-MKO atmosphere of the meeting.

December 24, 2007 0 comment

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