Massoud Rajavi leader of the Mujahedin-e Khalq group (R) and Mussa Khiabani with Ayatollah Khomeini in the months after the Iranian revolution.
On 29th July 1981 Rajavi and Bani Sadr escape to Paris. They [in disguise] were driven to a Tehran military base and got on board of a hijacked Iranian air force 707 jet tanker around 10 at night. Rajavi and Banisadr together established the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The NCRI had 12 members including the Mojahedin. However Rajavi claimed to be the head of National Council or Resistance and not the representative of Mojahedin. Rajavi appointed another representative for Mojahedin.
[Iran Interlink has translated part of the testimonial article of Mr. Reza Sadeghi Jabali, ex-high ranking member of the Mojahedin Khalq Organisation as one example of many about the close relation between the Mojahedin Khalq and Saudi Arabia and terrorist acts.]
The horrifying murderous attack on innocent people on September 11, 2001 shocked people across the globe. Ordinary people were quick to show their solidarity with the victims and their families. Unfortunately, I know of 
two individuals who were not only not unhappy about this tragedy but went as far as calling this barbaric act a “Sacred Operation” and who ordered their cult members to start preparing for celebration and distributing sweets and candies. These individuals were Massoud and Maryam Rajavi.
In 2001, the day before 9/11, all members of the Mojahedin Khlaq (MEK, MKO, PMOI, Rajavi cult…) were brought to a military base in the west of Baghdad called Bagherzadeh. Long sessions of cultic indoctrination were being carried out, engaging people in what can only be described as forced brainwashing under the military rule of Saddam Hussein. On September 11, in the middle of one of these sessions, Rajavi announced a few minutes’ break and uncharacteristically left the stage. He returned after a while and announced that the session was postponed and that now was the time for celebration and enjoyment.
After this, the scenes of the airplanes smashing into the towers began to be broadcast on the widescreens in the hall over and over again. Each time they were shown, the leaders would stand up, cheer, clap and shout slogans and each time they would look toward the section commanders to ensure they and their people also stand up and join the celebrations. And they would, because they knew the consequences of not obeying. Rajavi, standing on the stage, was more excited than anyone else. After a while he ordered people to stop and listen. He then said (his exact words): “Praise Islam. Praise Islam. Imagine, if this is what Reactionary Islam can achieve, then what a day it will be when Revolutionary Islam steps up to the scene”.
Maryam Rajavi started talking right after him and said: “You have once more disappointed the leader Massoud. This operation should have been carried out by you and should have been a lesson from you to the Americans and the world”.
After that a video of 10 suicide missions carried out by Palestinians against Israel was broadcast. The suicide missions were all from before this Al Qaida suicide operation. The video showed every suicide operative reading his testimony before death, accompanied by relevant propaganda. Both Rajavis stood up at the end of each one and clapped and praised them to the full.
After that Massoud Rajavi said: “This [9/11] is, of course, the product of a right wing Islamic Ideology which has brought down the Americans and the west and especially the Imperialists who are now shaking and afraid. Imagine the day that the Fedayeen and Mojahidin of Maryam, who have passed the stages of Ideological Revolution, decide to engage directly. And that day is not far away and is the divine responsibility of the Mojahedin, and we know that the regime (Iranian Regime) is only an excuse. Our historical and our real purpose in being Mojahedin is the destruction of Imperialism, especially the head of the snake, American Imperialism”.
Today the Wahhabi regime of Saudi Arabia has been directly implicated by the 28 pages of American report (recently unclassified). It clearly indicates direct Saudis involvement in 9/11. We have also witnessed the unusual presence of Saudi’s retired chief spy Prince Turki al Faisal in Maryam Rajavi’s annual show in Paris and more than that, his controversial announcement of the death of Massoud Rajavi for the first time which cannot be interpreted as anything other than the overt stamp of ownership by the new benefactor of the cult (i.e. Saudi Arabia after Saddam).
Putting these things together, I can now clearly see why the Rajavis were so enthusiastic and celebrative about 9/11 when it happened. The logical truth is now clear to everyone. The Saudi regime supported and provided all the backing necessary for this terrorist attack – it is not by accident that 15 of the suicide terrorists were citizens of Saudi Arabia and 4 were living there. And I would add that it is not beyond imagination that the name of Rajavi will also come out in investigations into the 9/11 tragedy. It is clear now that the relations between Rajavi and the Saudi regime go back a long time. It is clear now that this relation was becoming closer and closer after 9/11. Evidence reveals frequent information gathering by Mojahedin Khalq operatives from sensitive places in various cities in the United States and subsequent handing over to Saudi handlers. This information gathering and passing to Saudi and Iraqi intelligence officers of course has always been part of the responsibilities of the Mojahedin Khalq and we as members have known this from a long time ago. I will write another article based on my own first hand witness testimony about these relations in future.
We should keep in mind that Rajavi’s Mojahedin were the first of the Mojahedin who in 1981 started suicide bombing, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old girl (Gohar Adabawaz). And this continued as recently as 2003 in Paris when self-immolation was ordered among the Mojahedin’s supporters – resulting in the deaths and disability of several – after Maryam Rajavi was arrested and detained by the French anti-terrorist police.
I would like to emphasise to all governments and security forces, especially in France, that there is no such thing as “Good Terrorists” and that the age of dividing terrorists into good and bad is passed. Rajavi and his cult are more criminal than all of them. You should consider the influence which the first so-called “sacred suicide operation of the Mojahedin Khalq” – as Rajavi calls it – had on the ideology and the thoughts and deeds of the Wahhabi suicide bombers decades after that. You should remember that the recent terrorist attacks in Europe and US and especially the ones in Paris were directly influenced by the past suicide bombings and self-immolations of Rajavi’s Mojahedin. And this is exactly why he was broadcasting the Palestinian suicide videos over and over again for us directly after 9/11, referring to them as the examples and inspirations of our Mojahed brothers in other countries…
Reza Sadeghi Jabali,Peyvand-e Rahaee, Paris
At the annual gathering of the Mojahedin Khalq to celebrate armed struggle, Maryam Rajavi praises her husband Massoud Rajavi’s leadership of the organisation. The crowd cheers and chants. However, during his speech, Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi spy master, refers to Mrs Rajavi and “the late Massoud Rajavi”. The translator does not translate the word ‘Marhoum’, an expression of condolence in Arabic. But Maryam Rajavi’s expression shows clearly enough that she understood exactly what was said.
From 1977 to 2001, Prince Turki was the director general of Al Mukhabarat Al A’amah, Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency, resigning the position on 1 September 2001, some ten days before the September 11 attacks in which 14 Saudi nationals hijacked commercial American airliners. Prince Turki subsequently served as ambassador to the Court of St. James’s and the United States.
Download Saudi chief spy announced the death of fugitive terrorist Rajavi
In an official MEK (Mojahedin-e Khalq of Iran, aka MKO) meeting, a Saudi guest speaker mentioned that Massoud Rajavi is dead. Prince Turki Al-faisal, who is a member of the Saudi Royal family and the former head of the KSA spy agency, gestured to Maryam Rajavi twice while directly saying “your late husband”.
For a long time the MEK has refused to talk about the situation of their leader and master Massoud Rajavi. They have tried to provide an account in which he is hidden, while many others believe that he died when Iraq was attacked by American forces in 2003. Dead or alive the MEK is still following the rules and regulations which are designed by Rajavi. The Ideological Revolution, which forbids MEK members from getting married and forces them to live collectively in isolated gender-segregated houses and attend self-criticism meetings, is still being followed. These are all standards which were designed by the leader who has disappeared.
Another legacy of Rajavi for this Organization is working for the notorious enemies of Iran, and this is still being practiced. Rajavists became a part of Saddam’s army during the Iran-Iraq war. However, their participation was more beneficial to the Iranians than to their master. In this era they did not have any military or political victory which could change the playing field on their behalf. Information they provided for Saddam was not beneficial either. The MEK lost many of their loyal forces in combat and provided a good source of propaganda for hardliners in Tehran.
After the fall of Saddam and in order to get removed from the US terrorist list, they approached right wing conservative US politicians who were negotiating for a military attack on Iran to stop its nuclear activities. At the same time the MEK enjoyed a good relationship with the occupation forces in Iraq – although after being used, the MEK was thrown away by its American handlers. US military sources who were assigned to interrogate members of the organization claimed that they exaggerated their power and information in a way that throws doubt on all of their claims. Nevertheless, the US left the MEK in the deserts of Iraq and the ongoing war in Iraq has cost the life of many MEK activists.
The third phase in which the MEK has tried to attach itself to a wealthy power is the Syrian civil war. Although the MEK had had a long term relationship with Saudi intelligence, this strengthened since the Syrian war began. During this period they approached the KSA embassies in European capitals claiming they have information to sell about activities of Iranians in Syria and Lebanon. Being so desperate to have anything against Iran, the Saudis began to invest in the MEK – even though the historical facts show that investing in the MEK is not a win win game. It seems rather that the KSA has a propaganda plan for internal use. They are fully aware that the MEK is not what it claims. The MEK provides information from open sources which are not accurate. Therefore, Saudi intelligence’s pay and play with this organization shows that they want to use it for their internal affairs. For example, to show the new King that they are working!
The Saudis have had many failures in their intelligence war on Iran. A former Iranian activist and reformist individual who spent some time in Evin prison 209 section as a high-security prisoner, claims that he had seen two individuals accused of spying for the KSA. Both cases were very humorous, he said. In one case the Iranian national arrested for espionage sold translations of articles and interviews of Iranian military officers published on the IRGC website, claiming that it is confidential information that only he has access to.
The second case involved an Afghan man who was spying for Saudi for a long time. After his arrest he told his cell mates that the Iranian interrogator had information about him which could only have been obtained from his handlers inside the Saudi service. He was mocked by his interrogator for working for people inside Saudi intelligence who were actually working covertly for Iran!
Thus, considering these examples, it can be concluded that Saudi Intelligence officers are trying to grab at anything they can against Iran to satisfy their king. It is very unfortunate for the MEK because the average age of Saudi Kings is usually between 5 to 10 years and after choosing a new king a new policy will be enforced.
The Saudis have accidentally announced the death of Rajavi. This does not indicate a very professional new master for the MEK.
Arash Pirouz,
Maryam Rajavi’s Grand Gathering in Paris on 9 July was billed as her promise of imminent regime change at her 
behest. Instead it turned into a Grand Controversy of a different kind. This annual propaganda show advertises Rajavi’s propaganda skills in order to secure continued funding from regime change pundits. This year was dramatically different due to the unannounced presence of Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi ambassador to the UK and US. Certainly not a person you invite from a list in a speakers’ agency.
This year, Prince Turki’s involvement changed everything for the MEK. Not least because of public perception of Saudi Arabia as a repressive regime, particularly toward women. Turki insisted the venue be moved from Villepinte to Bourges for reasons of security. He then ordered changes to the layout of the stage and the speakers panel. Suddenly someone else was in charge of the event. Undaunted, perhaps even pleased to have such a prestigious guest, Maryam Rajavi opened the rally by praising her husband Massoud Rajavi. “May God protect the everlastingly vigilant lion” she announced while gesturing to his picture posted large around the arena. This was only to be expected. Even though he disappeared just before allied forces attacked Iraq in 2003, Massoud Rajavi is known to be the actual leader of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK – NCRI is a front name for the MEK), his wife being second-in-command.
When it was the turn of the Saudi Prince to speak, he gestured for Maryam Rajavi to sit down with the rest of the audience and listen, ensuring at the same time that she was not photographed with him in any capacity. Turki, former head of Saudi intelligence with which he is still involved, is a notoriously shrewd operator. As Ambassador to Washington he famously convinced some Americans that the backing for 9/11 came not from Saudi but from Iran. He is known to never talk off script. Therefore, there can be no doubt that when he twice announced Massoud Rajavi’s death it was not a mistake. The word ‘marhoum’ – which is understood by Arabic speakers as an ex
Until that moment Maryam Rajavi had been blissfully unaware. Her lack of reaction the first time he turned to look directly at her and said ‘marhoum Massoud Rajavi’, shows that she didn’t catch what had been said. The second time the penny dropped, as did her smile. Clearly Turki had not consulted the MEK in advance on the content of his speech. And if he had made a mistake there was plenty of time afterwards to correct it. He didn’t.
So, what does this mean? Is Massoud Rajavi dead? And if so, why doesn’t his wife know, or if she does, why not say so? More importantly, why did Prince Tuki make this announcement in public during the most important event of the MEK?
Although Saudi support for the MEK goes back to the time of Saddam Hussein, the relationship was never made public. (Indicatively, the MEK have used Al Arabiya as their mouthpiece for years and much more in recent months.) Analysts have surmised that Prince Turki attended the MEK rally in order to publicly announce himself the new owner of the group.
After the fall of Saddam Hussein, the MEK needed new backers. Massoud Rajavi sold the services of his group to the Israelis, the neoconservatives and of course to Saudi Arabia. This is why we saw the MEK used during the P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran. Once agreement was reached their anti-Iran rhetoric shifted towards human rights abuses. Unfortunately for MEK backers the group has history in this respect, with Human Rights Watch and the RAND Corporation revealing human rights and cultic abuses taking place inside the MEK. As a fake opposition, the group is so reviled by Iranians that it has even attracted its own opposition!
With the rise of Daesh and other violent gangs and groups in Syria and Iraq, the MEK found new opportunities. Maryam Rajavi made overtures to the Syrian Free Army. It looked for a while as though the MEK would be able to use a new base in Albania – to which its ageing, but deeply radicalised fighting force in Camp Liberty, Iraq are currently being transferred – as a facilitating camp. The idea was to provide training and logistics to newer terrorist groups from a country on the edge of Europe but close to the Middle East. This was blocked when Albanian experts exposed it on national television.
Events in the Middle East have shifted. Saudi Arabia has come to the fore and covert threats of military conflict against Iran are an open secret in the region. But after being left in the cold by the United States, the Saudis have had to search for other allies in this venture. While Turki knows very well the MEK is nothing more than a propaganda machine and irritant for Iran, this is apparently better than nothing.
Turki’s appearance at the rally signals that whoever was handling Rajavi previously – presumably western intel services – have handed him over to the Saudis as they did in 1986 when Rajavi was expelled from France and handed over to Saddam Hussein to help his war effort against Iran.
Massoud Rajavi, being as naïve as he is, thought he would retain the old masters and work on new projects for the Saudis. Instead, MEK experts believe that Maraym Rajavi will have understood Turki’s message as this: ‘There are no old masters, they are all gone. It is only me. And Saudi intel will not treat you like Saddam did. At that time you had a fighting force in Iraq ready to attack Iran. Now your only use is as a propaganda outlet. Nor will we treat you with the leniency that the Israelis or UK or US have shown. And so that you understand your position as our slave I have just announced your husband’s death. Now, forget about disobeying my commands. His actual death can easily be arranged at any time’.
Whether Rajavi is already dead or now killable is not known – only he can answer this – but he and his whole organisation are certainly now, body and soul, in the capable hands of the Saudi Prince. If he is still alive, Rajavi’s only role is to act as go-between to instruct his wife what she must do on behalf of the Saudis. If he is dead, some other operative will easily do instead. The Saudis, like Saddam Hussein, regard women of equal importance to goats and sheep. It would, therefore, be inconceivable they deal directly with her as the so-called feminist leader of a group whose services they are paying for.
Days have now passed since this Grand Controversy erupted. The MEK reaction following the rally was near hysterical. They issued messages in places they would never normally talk to – VOA and BBC Persian – to emphasise beyond doubt that Rajavi is still alive. In spite of this, the MEK has still not been able to actually prove this to be true. Somebody therefore is lying.
The fact is, nobody outside the MEK really cares whether Rajavi is alive or dead. But for his followers the grim reality of their future must by now have sunk in. If the MEK cannot prove – by voice or appearance – that their leader is alive, or proclaim instead that he is actually dead, it means the whole organisation has died. For if they cannot accomplish this simple task, how can they promise regime change?
By Massoud Khodabandeh Director at Middle East Strategy Consultants., huffingtonpost.com
Co-authored by Anne Khodabandeh
Iraj Mesdaghi ; author of "Neither Living Nor Death" and the internal critic of the Mujahedin e- Khalq 
Organization who has several times criticized by the group for exposing Massoud Rajavi as the group leader published an interview with a former SAVAK(Pahlavi regime’s security and intelligence organization) officer.
The interview was basically about the arrest and killing of “Hamid Ashraf” ; a leader of Feda’yan Khalq ( martyrs for the masses) by SAVAK. During the interview the former SAVAK officer; Parvis Motamed declares that Massoud Rajavi worked with them against the founding members.
Parvis Motamed said:” …I took Massoud Rajavi to show me the addresses. He disclosed the address of Mohamamd Hanifnejad and Mohammad Hayati [ who lives in Liberty Camp].I can remember the exact color of the home door . I was involved in the arrest of Hanifnejad. Such cooperations along with SAVAK authorities’ attempts led to reduce of Rajavi’s punishment [death penalty] ..”
Documentary evidences has been published on the Rajavi’s cooperation with SAVAK in detecting the activities of a number of MEK members. The evidences include handwritten notes and sketches by Massoud Rajavi identifying the whereabouts of other members such as Mohammad Hanifnejad. The evidences also include the praise letter of SAVAK official for Massoud Rajavi’ cooperating with them as a prisoner.
Alireza was a one-year old toddler when he saw his father for the last time.
Alireza Beheshti’s father; Mr. Morteza Beheshti and his uncle Mostafa was deceived by the Mujahedin-e Khalq recruiters in Turkey into joining the Cult in 2001.
Alireza is now 16. His father victimized by the MKO Cult leaders at camp Ashraf in 2011. His uncle;Morteza is still hold hostage by the MKO.
Beheshti family have several times gone in front of Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty to visit their beloved Morteza or even get a news of him.
They do their utmost efforts in accompany with other suffering families of MKO destructive Cult to liberate their loved ones.
Alireza Writes:
With greeting, I am Alireza Beheshti and it is 16 years that I spend days and nights with this hope that I can see my father whose name is Morteza Beheshti. I, ve kept all my handwritings from my childhood to show them to my father.
My father and my uncle Morteza and Mostafa Beheshti were fallen in the traps of Rajavi band in Turkey. They were hunted by them. I am a child who has not seen his father from a time I was just one year old. Now, I am 16 years old. My dear father was killed in 2011 in Ashraf jail. I burn in the pain of separation for years. Rajavi band killed my father and I became an orphan. Now, I search my uncle whose meeting makes me glad as if I see my father. I am a child and I speak with my own language. I call those who speak from human rights. I could not see my father, at least provide a condition for me to see my uncle. I could not take part at my father’s funeral. I wait to see my dear uncle even for many years like my aunts Nargess, Laila and my uncle Mohammad who are waiting for many years. You Rajavi! You deprived me from meeting my father, but I will get my uncle from you. My dear uncle! Please, say to me what did my father do in the pain of my separation. Come to give my handwritings. I want to give them you as a gift.
Lack of ideological consistency in certain politic men causes smacks of corruption. This is one of the main reasons to describe the Mujahedin Khalq Organization as hypocrites who have changed many faces since the establishment of the group. Supporters of such a group seem to own the same factor –hypocrisy—in their carrier.
As an anti-Shah anti-imperialist group the MKO supported the Islamic Revolution in Iran embracing the revolution leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The leader of the group, Massoud Rajavi turned against the newly-established government of Iran and sided with the enemy fighting his country, Saddam Hussein. After a decade of serving Saddam Hossein to suppress the uprising of Iraqi Kurds and Shiites, the collapse of the land lord in 2003 made Massoud Rajavi to sell his cult-like group to American military. Since then, the MKO –that was once an anti-America armed group—has shifted to a pro-American cult that lobbies in the US government paying large sums to US politicians in order to run its regime change agenda.
It is not surprising that those well-paid politicians who embrace the MKO have at least one characteristic in common with the group: they both change many faces just to run their goals. For them, the ends justifies the means. Howard Dean sounds to be one example of these politic men whose “ends” include the money he receives from different lobbies.
According to a report by Lee Fang on the Intercept, Dean who has been a longtime supporter of a single-payer health care plan has changed tune. Lee Fang states, “This evolution of Dean, known within many circles for his spirited critique of the Iraq War during the 2004 Democratic primary, comes as he has settled into a corporate lobbying career.” [1]
“ In his new career, he has helped drug companies maintain monopoly power, reversed his old positions on Medicare prices, and worked to undermine a critical component of the Affordable Care Act,” The Intercept’s correspondent describes Howard Dean’s shifting ideas. “ Though known for his anti-war rhetoric in 2004, Dean has accepted money from Mojahedin-e Khalq, an extremist group seeking regime change in Iran and has criticized President Obama’s negotiations with Iran.”
As an alleged democrat figure who opposes military action, he was an MKO agent in the US Congress to obstruct negotiations with Iran. Lee Fang introduces Dean by this subtitle “Paid by Iranian extremist group, bashing Iran negotiations”. He states Dean’s greed to receive the MKO’s money. ”In 2011, the Wall Street Journal reported that Dean was receiving speaking fees from the group,” He writes. “Around that time, Dean began vociferously arguing on behalf of the MEK, even though he conceded that he had known little about the group before joining its cause.”
Fang describes the MKO’s violent substance in this paragraph to reveal the extent the group supporters are misled:
“The Mojahedin-e Khalq, an exiled Iranian group that has attempted for years to overthrow the government of Iran, paid Dean to help in its campaign to be delisted as a U.S.-recognized terrorist group. That year, Dean traveled along with other paid MEK supporters, including Rudy Giuliani, to appear in Berlin with the group and demand that Western nations recognize the MEK leader Maryam Rajavi as the president of Iran. In addition to carrying out a campaign of terrorism against Iran, the MEK helped Saddam Hussein after the Gulf War crush rebellions in Iraq’s Shiite and Kurdish communities. “Take the Kurds under your tanks, and save your bullets for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,” Rajavi once said.”
Brainwashed and/or bribed by the MKO, “Dean came out against President Obama’s policy of engagement with Iran, declaring that the U.S. negotiations failed to account for the interests of the MEK”. Last year, he criticized Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama “far, far too eager for a deal with Iran.”
But, It seems that Howard Dean is “far, far too eager” for money, just like his contributor Massoud Rajavi. Logic, morality and even politics are of no value for these people. What pushes them forward is their ambitions to reach their goals. No matter how immoral and inhumane are their goals.
By Mazda Parsi
Source:
Fang, Lee, Howard Dean Says He’s Not a Lobbyist But He Sure Acts Like One, the Intercept,
Jan. 21 2016
There was a time when Ebrahim Mohammad Rahimi and others like him were willing to fight and die for the MEK and its leader Massoud Rajavi. Not any more. What was once a mass movement of over half a million Iranians has been reduced to a group of old and sick former 
combatants sitting it out in a closed camp in Iraq with no hope for the future. Neither struggle nor normal life are open to them now. In many ways, Ebrahim has been among the lucky ones. After the 2003 invasion he decided to leave Iraq and, after spending four years in the Temporary Internment and Protection Facility (TIPF) run by the American army, was able to join family members in England. In 2010, he was reunited with his fifteen-year-old son who had been left with his grandparents in Iran as a baby when both his parents – former political prisoners – joined other MEK combatants in Iraq in the 1980s. Ebrahim continued to support the MEK in England as an activist. He encouraged his son to be involved too. But what should have been the beginning of a new and happy future for father and son has been sadly cut short. Ebrahim is dying of brain cancer in a London hospital. His son, Sepher, and other family members and friends attend him in his last days.
Ebrahim’s only dying wish is to speak a few words with his estranged wife who is still trapped in Camp Liberty in Iraq. Sepher, who is now twenty, would also like to renew a relationship with his mother. Since 2010 he has only been able to speak by phone to his mother three times, and each time, he says, the call was controlled by MEK minders. In August 2015, after Ebrahim’s devastating diagnosis, they wrote to Maryam Rajavi in Paris asking her to allow this contact. They had no answer. They tried through the MEK in London, with the paperwork needed to bring her to London prepared by their lawyer through the UNHCR in Iraq. Still they received no help.
Instead the MEK began a vicious defamation campaign against the father and son. The MEK’s efshahgah website and others accused Ebrahim of being a long standing “agent of the Iranian regime’. Although this is the standard response of the MEK to its enemies, nobody could have been more surprised than Ebrahim himself that he is now being accused of this faux crime. Ebrahim remains a loyal supporter of the MEK. His son also. Even worse, the MEK began writing on behalf of his former wife; this time saying that Ebrahim had forced their son Sepher to work for the Intelligence agency of the “Khomeini regime”. Of course, for anyone familiar with the MEK this label is not new, nor does it carry any weight. It is not based on fact but is in fact the name given to the ‘red line’ used by Massoud Rajavi to define who he thinks his enemies are. MEK members and supporters at all levels are inculcated with fear of these enemies. It is a cultic control mechanism.
Rajavi first began delineating this red line in order to take control of the MEK after he and others left Iran in the early 1980s. The first victims of this red line were members of the newly formed National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) of which the MEK was only one member among several. Rajavi systematically began to draw his red line closer and closer to the needs and demands of his Mojahedin Khalq organisation. Those who disagreed with him were forced to leave the NCRI. Rajavi labelled them traitors and enemies of the Iranian people, addicted to the regime as agents of the Intelligence Ministry of Iran. This red line tactic suited him well. With hundreds of thousands of members and supporters in Iran and in the west, Rajavi intensified his aim to be recognised as the ‘sole leader of the Iranian resistance movement against the regime’. In 1985 he used his controversial marriage to Maryam Azodanloo to re-position this red line. Anyone who did not agree with his leadership was ousted from the MEK. Many left – including some who could have rivalled Rajavi for leadership of the organisation. Over the intervening years Rajavi used this strategy many times. Each time he announced a new ideological demand the red line would fall between those who accepted his leadership and those who didn’t. After each round of purges Rajavi would set about trying to recruit new members with the changed ideological framework. It didn’t work.
Little by little the MEK has shrunk as he labelled more and more people as his enemies. Alongside this strategy Rajavi tried to frighten his followers into staying with him by labelling anyone who spoke out against the organisation as ‘agents of the Iranian regime’. What outsiders may not be aware of is that Rajavi deems this ‘crime’ as punishable by death and that the reason such enemies are still alive are lack of opportunity and because of prioritising the overthrow of the ‘Iranian regime in its entirety’ before dealing with such critics. All well and good when these enemies really are against you. One such former member was Hadi Shams Haeri who rejected membership of the MEK following Rajavi’s forced divorces. Shams Haeri came to live in Holland where he began to campaign alongside other former MEK members to get his children back with him. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer in June 2012 without ever being reunited with his grown-up children. Shams Haeri’s actions attracted vitriolic attacks from the MEK. His demand to see his family fell outside Rajavi’s red line that separated families and banned all relationships except with him. Shams Haeri rejected Rajavi and paid the price.
Now with the situation of the Mohammad Rahimi father and son, it appears the red line is drawn even tighter. Ebrahim came from the heart of the MEK to help them in London. He and his son remain loyal to Rajavi and his aims but find themselves outside the red line simply because they want to have contact with a family member. Rajavi cannot tolerate any such contact. He wants to ban every relationship which doesn’t centre on him. Perhaps as a result of this unbearable, impossible demand, ten names have come to light over the past year of men and women inside the MEK base in Paris – from high ranking members right up to the top cult lieutenants (those just below second-in-command Maryam Rajavi) – who are on the brink of committing suicide or running away from the MEK. This will happen. It is inevitable.
As Rajavi’s red line grows ever tighter there will soon be no more room for anyone. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Mehdi Abrishamchi himself – Rajavi’s most trusted lieutenant – is soon found outside the red line. The only real task of everyone’s existence at this point is about how they can squeeze themselves inside the red line and not attract Rajavi’s wrath. Surely they are suffocating. The wonder is that these people appear unaware of their predicament. Someone who is on the brink, don’t they see that they will be next to be expelled from the MEK and subjected to character assassination on the Efshahgar website?
What is amazing is that the people remaining in the MEK do not appear to see that it is not the excluded who have changed but that Rajavi’s red line is drawn tighter and tighter around him to exclude thousands of former members and supporters. Normally, cult leaders grow their cults, attracting and recruiting new members, or as a minimum, maintaining what numbers they have. But since Rajavi stole the half-a-million-strong movement in the 1980s he has shrunk the MEK to fewer than two thousand people, most of whom are sick and old and trapped in the base in Iraq waiting to be moved to safety. This can only lead us to conclude that Massoud Rajavi is not a very effective cult leader. Not only has he failed to attract any new members for many years, but he cannot even tolerate the few followers he has left. If his red line gets any tighter only he and Maryam will be left. After he rejects her will he be unable to tolerate even his own company? Suicide then will be his only option; he can use his red line to hang himself.
Massoud Khodabandeh, Iranian.com