Former members of the MEK

MKO former members

Nejat Society Albania’s Action in Support of Families of MEK Members in Iran

On Friday, July 19, 2024, the Nejat Society Albania took an action in support of the families of members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), who want to contact their loved ones after decades.

In this campaign that was held in the National Park of Tirana, a number of Iranian and Albanian members of Nejat Society Albania distributed explanatory flyers among the passers-by. They were welcomed by the people in the national park.

This action was carried out in support of the families of Nejat Society in Iran and in order to expose the violation of the most basic human rights in the MEK’s camp in Manez, Durres province, North of Tirana.

While taking the papers, the people asked for more explanations about the MEK and their presence in Albania, their internal relations and the inhuman treatment they have against their own members and their families. In response, the members of Nejat Society Albania provided them with detailed information.

Those who read the flyers and heard the explanations, expressed their sympathy for the families and expressed regret for the suffering they have endured during these years.
All the people emphasized on the demand that the Albanian government should intervene in this matter and put an end to the miserable conditions and to aid the people inside the closed and remote Manez camp so that they can choose for their own fate.

The video and full report of the action will be broadcast soon by Nejat Society Albania.

July 20, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

The great gathering of Nejat Society Albania in Tirana

On June 23, 2024, Nejat Society Albania, as a supporter of Iranians living in Albania and as an officially registered Albanian institute, held a large gathering with public invitation in Tufinë district of Tirana.

The purpose of holding this gathering was to express the demands and goals of the Nejat Society Albania, which was announced as follows:
“No to the violation of human rights in the Mujahedin-e Khalq camp in Manz, Durres”
“Yes to visit between the mothers and their children in the MEK’s camp in Manz, Durres””
“No to the separation of men and women in the MEK’s camp in Manz, Durres”
“Yes to the release of the confined members in the MEK’s camp in Manz, Durres”

The gathering had more than 500 participants. A large number of human rights associations and civil rights, women’s rights and mothers’ rights activists in Tirana participated the event and supported its goals.

The great gathering of the Nejat Society Albania started at 10:00 am with the opening clip broadcast on the big wide screen. Then, Erisa Idrisi (Rahimi), the head of the society thanked all the participants. She also thanked the Albanian government and police for making it possible for them to establish the Nejat Society Albania and implement the event. She explained about the society and its goals, as well as the MEK.

Nejat Albania’s great gathering

Idrisi also appreciated the managing director of Nejat Society, Ebrahim Khodabandeh, for supporting and guiding the society of Albania. Pointing to the fact that they have not yet reached their main commitment, which is the release of all the members trapped in the MEK camp in Manz, Durres, and the meeting of the families with their children.

A documentary which highlights the cut-like and anti-family nature of the MEK was aired, which shocked the audience by the realities about the group.

The second speaker of the event Angjela Doçi, the head of the student defense committee of the Nejat Society Albania, said: “The MEK camp in Manz in Durres has very strict rules that actually torture the residents there. Residents of this camp are not allowed to talk or communicate with their family members. They are not allowed to think freely, they cannot even breathe freely. Their suffering has no end, but it increases day by day and their lives become more and more hell, a burning hell that burns their souls and break their hearts.”

Angjela Doçi

The next speaker was Ela Deda, the legal director of Nejat Society Albania. Deda said: “Today, we have gathered in this conference to talk about the rights of migrant refugees, especially the Iranian members of Nejat Society Albania and all the MEK members who are imprisoned in the group’s camp in Manz, Durres. It has been two years since I joined Nejat Society Albania to support a very important goal, namely the freedom and human rights of former members of the MEK, and to convey their valuable messages in order to have a small contribution to the unification of as many families as possible. Human rights are an important part of legal theories and an important philosophical-political concept. Among the basic human rights, we can mention the right to individual freedoms, the right to life, the right to self-determination, the right to choose a religion, etc. Human rights describe the concept that all people are born with universal human rights. Human rights do not only mean freedom from coercion, discrimination and abuse. Human rights must be current in all aspects of our life with maximum potential. Human rights compel governments to protect our freedoms and work to ensure dignity, justice and inclusion for all.”

Ela Deda, the legal director of Nejat Society Albania

The gathering went on with airing a clip of the families of MEK members inside Iran. Consequently, the attendees were deeply affected by the stories of mourning mothers and fathers who miss their loved ones who are barred in the MEK camp. Many shed tears after watching the clip.

Mehdi Soleimani, former member of the MEK and an active member of the society, gave a speech in Albanian. Mehdi Soleimani said: “I was in the MEK for fourteen years and I lived with them. The MEK is a Cult-like group and its members do not have the right to have any relationship with the outside world of the cult. I was in a prison called MEK for fourteen years and during this time I could not talk to my mother, father, siblings. According to the MEK, the family is considered an enemy and one should not talk to them. Many people who came to Tirana ran away from the MEK while going to the doctor or in the dark of the night. When I escaped from the MEK, it took me a month to find my brother’s phone number. When I called him, he didn’t know me. After I gave several addresses and told the names of my father, mother and sister, my brother recognized me and said that he would go home and call at night. At night when he called, the whole family was gathered. When I talked to my mother, she said this is not my Mehdi. I again showed that it was me so that she recognized me and started crying. For a week, I only talked to my mother from morning to night. During that week my mother only cried and spoke a few sentences and then cried again.”

Ebrahim Khodabande, the CEO of Nejat Society, spoke live to theaudiance. He said:

“Greetings to all the respected audience and thank you for making it to gather here to support the goals of Nejat Society Albania. I would like to thank each and every member and officials of Nejat Society Albania, both Iranian and Albanian, and also appreciate the assistance of the authorities of the Albanian government who made the establishment and registration of the Nejat Society possible.

“Nejat Society belongs to families who are in Iran far away from their loved ones in the MEK camp because the leaders of the MEK do not allow their members to communicate with their families. Nejat Association tries to somehow provide the possibility of communication between families and members living in the MEK camp in Durres.

“Many news is heard that the leaders of the MEK do not respect and recognize the minimum rights of their members in this camp. It is also heard that the Albanian government is not allowed to interfere in the affairs of this camp, which is in Albanian territory.

“On behalf of thousands of families in Iran, I request the government of Albania to exercise its sovereignty over this camp and ensure that human rights are respected in this camp in accordance with the standards of the Council of Europe Human Rights Convention, of which the Republic of Albania is one of the signatories.

“Thank you again to all of you who came together to defend the goals of Nejat Society and I request you to ask the responsible authorities in the Albanian government why the Albanian government cannot or will not exercise its sovereignty over this camp. And is it really true that this camp in Durres is under the absolute control of the leaders of the People’s Mojahedin Organization?”

Soraya Abdullahi, the mother of Amir Aslan Hassanzadeh, and Masoumeh Rezaei, the mother of Saeed Farajullah Hosseini, spoke live on behalf of all mothers and families in Iran, and spoke about the pain and suffering of the separation of tens of years, which touched the audience immensely. They urged the Albanian government to make arrangements to connect these heartbroken mothers and expectant families with their loved ones. Their words were accompanied by expressions of emotion and continuous praise from the audience.

RTSH report on the great gathering of Nejat Albania

The great gathering of Nejat Society Albania was also welcomed by the media. TV and radio channels and various publications covered this gathering by sending a team of reporters and cameramen. Famous and popular televisions including: RTSH 1 (Nationwide State Television Network), RTSH NEWS (national state television news network), NEWS 24, ALPHAPRESS TV, ATV, Tirana 1, TRING TV, BIO NEWS, PUBLIALB and Kristal TV covered the event.

June 24, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Final Statement of the Great Gathering of the Albanian Nejat Society

At the end of the great gathering of the Albanian Nejat Society in Tirana on Sunday, June 23, 2024, a statement was read by the president of the society, and then its copies were signed by all the participants, which will be delivered to the authorities of the Ministry of Interior of Albania in the coming days.
The text of this statement is as follows:

Honorable people of Albania
About 7 years ago, the members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK, MKO) were brought to this country from Iraq in a humanitarian gesture by the Albanian government and were finally settled in a camp near the city of Manez in Durres province. But according to the statements of the Albanian government officials, the MEK did not fulfill its obligations and acted against the laws and regulations of Albania and became a threat to national security.

According to the testimony of those who managed to escape from the MEK camp in Albania and return to normal life under the support of the Albanian government, unfortunately, the leaders of the MEK violate the basic human rights of the members in this camp. The members are denied the right to marry and form a family, the right to communicate with the outside world, especially the family, and the right to choose their own destiny.

The Albanian Nejat Society was formed with the help of the families of the members of the MEK in Iran in order to support Iranians who were able to separate from this organization and return to normal life, as well as to draw the attention of the general public to the conditions inside the camp and to register it with the legal authorities of the Republic of Albania.
On June 20 of last year, Albanian police officers went to inspect this camp with a court order, but unfortunately, they faced a violent confrontation against this legal action of the police officers. The MEK’s violent confrontation against the police and the Albanian government revealed the terrorist nature of the leaders of the MEK to everyone in Albania.
The MEK claims to expand democracy and create the right to free choice for everyone, but in practice, in its relations in its camp in Durres, it does not give its members the least right of choice and freedom of speech.

Although this camp is inside the territory of Albania, but according to those who were previously stationed there, its control is absolutely in the hands of the leaders of the MEK and the Albanian government has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the MEK camp in Durres.

While thanking and appreciating the responsible authorities in the Albanian government for the assistance and support provided and the conditions provided for the return of these people to normal life, the Albanian Nejat Society asks the Albanian government to fulfill its legal right in the MEK camp in apply the territory of Albania and take over the control of this camp and ensure compliance with the standards of human rights based on the human rights convention of the Council of Europe, of which Albania is one of the signatories.
In this regard, the Nejat Society of Albania is willing to cooperate and assist with the responsible authorities in the Albanian government.

Also, the Albanian Nejat Society requests the German government, which is hosting the meeting of the MEK this month, to reconsider this decision and not to allow an undemocratic group to use the democratic atmosphere of western countries to gain legitimacy and deceive people.
This statement is endorsed by the following signatories:

(list of signatures)

June 24, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Atefeh Sebdani: My new mother had seen Cinderella in me

My foster mother did everything to prove me wrong. Jealous, a psychologist would say many years later. But what do I know.

If only I gave a little more. Be a little kinder, more capable? If I maxed out the grades? Just responded to summons. If I did all the cooking, everything cleaned up afterwards without prompting. Didn’t want anything. Didn’t sing, because they hated when I did. I, who loved it, had a talent for it. Like I didn’t see that grain of rice on the floor when I was sweeping the kitchen, how could I be so stupid? It was just to take the consequences of that, that became my foster father’s task. I was then six years old.

I quickly learned not to make the same mistakes again.

We were a total of six children but my new mother had seen Cinderella in me. A docile, desperate girl and…? I had to take care of everything. Never good enough. If I didn’t have time to clean the whole house of 300 square meters in the half hour notice I was given before the spontaneous guests would arrive, then there was a family meeting afterwards about my ineptitude. In the best case.

The stress and pressure were constant. In between I would sit quietly in my room. Not meeting friends. At least not outside the organization. Sometimes it let go of the reins so that outwardly it looked good. Then I hung out with my friends. Felt the sweetness of freedom. Be myself and be appreciated for it. Outwardly I was happy, laughing out loud and not least at my own jokes.

No one was told what was going on behind closed doors. Either what my new mother or my new father did. They had taken on different roles, and both were devastating.

If I survive this, then I will be free.
I have to survive because I had promised my mom to take care of my little brothers. If I don’t survive, I’ll never see her again.

Hold on Atefeh.
So, I persevered.
Atefeh Sebdani’s Face Book, June 14th, 2024

June 16, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Former members and families of MEK hostages write letter to the Germany Chancellor

A group of former members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK, MKO), along with some families of the current members of this organization from Zanjan Province in Iran, wrote a letter to the Chancellor of Germany, which was delivered to the Embassy of the Federal Republic in Tehran.

The text of the letter is as follows:

His Excellency Mr. Olaf Scholz,
Honorable Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Greetings and regards

We, a group of survivors from the MEK, as well as some of the families of the members of the MEK, who are currently captured in the camp known as Ashraf 3 in the city of Manez in Durres Province in Albania, under the control and domination of the MEK, led by Maryam Rajavi, from Zanjan, Iran, would like to inform you of the followings:
The MEK, which used to hold its main annual conference every year in Paris, France, was banned from holding this program by the French government and police since last year due to the nature of this group.

Now that the leaders of the MEK have failed to hold this program in France as well as in Albania, which is their headquarters, they plan to carry out the desired program on June 29, 2024 in Berlin, Germany, with the permission of your government, in order to deceive public opinion.
We, the signatories of this letter, in order to reveal the true nature of the leaders of the MEK, declare that this fraudulent group, by resorting to cultic methods with brainwashing, captures the soul and body of the members and abuses them for inhuman interests.

According to the testimony of a large number of survivors from this organization, many of the opposing members of this destructive cult were arrested, tortured and even executed by the direct orders of Masoud and Maryam Rajavi and were killed in the prisons of the MEK.

Despite the years of efforts of the old and expectant fathers and mothers, who have no desire but to meet their family members who are trapped in the MEK camp, they have always faced anger and wrath from the leaders of the MEK, and were not allowed even a minute to visit their families. The legal and human rights of the members of the MEK have been trampled under the feet of the leaders of this group.

The point to think about, which has caused the resentment of families and former members, is the acceptance of hosting the meeting of the MEK by the German government. The German government has given permission to the MEK to officially open offices there for illegal activities to deceive people and attract them to terrorist acts.
Mr. Federal Chancellor

What has been formed in the minds of us Iranians from your country is the existence of a rich history and culture that seriously fights terrorism. Unfortunately, the acceptance of the MEK and the issuance of a license to promote lie and deceit and murder by this destructive cult in Germany have challenged our opinion.

Our question is how the German government considers itself to be the leader in the fight against terrorism and the defense of human rights, but in practice, it puts its territory at the disposal of a terrorist and criminal group whose hands are stained with the blood of thousands of innocent people and even discontented members within itself?!

We emphasize that a number of rescued members of the MEK filed a complaint against the leaders of the MEK for torture, murder, genocide, deprivation of civil liberties and numerous crimes through the Tehran International Court Branch 55, which issued a definitive verdict in 39 pages. It was noted that the implementation of this ruling is followed up through international authorities. Also, there is a criminal trial going on in Iran regarding the filing of a lawsuit by a large number of families of terror victims against the leaders of the MEK.

We, far from any international political discussions, only as members and families affected by the crimes of the MEK, ask you not to allow the MEK to endanger the image of your country with their usual tricks and leave a bitter memory in our minds.

Thank you in advance for your attention:

List of signatures:
Rescued members of the MEK:
– Samad Eskandari
– Fathullah Eskandari
– Kamand Ali Azizi
– Rahim Qanbari
– Adam Karimi
– Nasser Almasi

The families of members in the MEK camp in Albania:
– Ghasemi
– Kamyab
– Jama’ti
– Sadeqi
– Mohebbi
– Kalantari
– Mohammadi
– Zakery
– Bagheri
– Karami Afzal
– Soleimani
– Afshar
– Borji
– Qadimi

June 10, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK Missions of Nejat Society

Amir Yaghmai: Didn’t we have the right to choose?

A visual narrative from childhood to adulthood of Amir Yaghmai as a child of Mujahedin-e Khalq

Amir Yaghmai, a former child soldier of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), was one of the first children of this group who spoke out to expose its leaders. 5 years ago, when he went to meet his mother in front of the MEK’s camp in Albania, he was not allowed by the group leaders to meet her. Then, he started publicly criticizing the leaders of the MEK, and in return, he was accused and defamed by the MEK that claimed that Amir is the agent of the Iranian Intelligence.

Amir is one of the 1000 children of the MEK, whose Mujahed parents offered them to Masoud Rajavi when they were children. He is one of the 4 children who participated in the documentary “Children of Camp Ashraf” directed by Sara Moin, and after the release of this documentary, he was hated by the MEK more than before.
In response to the attacks of the MEK’s insults, he has increased his activity on social networks more than before. He, who is always accused of being a mercenary for the government of Iran by supporters of MEK, addressed them in one of his posts on the X social network and promised that he would share more stories from his past time inside the MEK in response to each accusation.

Thus, his account on X is full of photos and videos that show the painful history of helpless children of the MEK in its brainwashing system. Some of these children, such as Amir, have been involved in the issues of this terrorist cult since birth or at a very young age. Some of these children were able to distance themselves from the group, some have managed to leave it, and some are still trapped by it.

Amir is a child of Iranian parents, but he was born in France. He is the son of Ismail Vafa Yaghmai, a former member of the MEK. His father, who was once a member of the National Council of Resistance and a poet of the group, managed to leave the organization when Amir was young. His mother Akram Habib Khani, who is still trapped behind the bars of the Cult of Rajavi, has taken strong positions against Amir and his father in recent years under organizational pressure.

After enduring a long and difficult process, Amir Yaghmai managed to leave Camp Ashraf and join the temporary camp of the American army in the neighborhood of Camp Ashraf, and after 8 years of being a child soldier and living in the modern slavery structure of the MEK, he made his way to the free world. In 2005, he managed to return to Sweden.

This article is supposed to republish some of the photos and notes shared by Amir Yaghmai in his account on the X social network, in the order of the time of occurrence, from his childhood to today. Your attention is drawn to a few images from the story of a child who was a victim of the totalitarian and extremist cult of Masoud and Maryam Rajavi at least until he was 19 years old, translated by Nejat Society:

Amir Yaghmaei and his mother Akram Habibkhani

Amir Yaghmai’s post on X, May 5th, 2024

5 years ago, I and one of my friends went to Ashraf 3 in Albania, hoping to meet our mothers. At that time, I had not contacted my mother for about 16 years, and my only intention was to inform my mother that she would have a grandchild in a few months. MEK responded negatively to the meeting request.

Amir Yaghmaei in his childhood

His post on X, May 28th, 2024
This is a photo of me when I was 5 years old in the area of “Skan” or MEK’s housing complex in Badiezadegan camp near Baghdad. I was with my family one day a week and then I would go back to the overnight boarding house. We were used to missing our parents. Sometimes I think I dreamed everything…

His post on X, June 1st, 2024
The first year after I left Iraq and came to Sweden. Wherever I went, the photo of the two “ideological prophets” of the MEK was above my head.

Amir Yaghmaei in Sweden

His post on X, May 9th, 2024
Here at the base of the Zayerian in the suburb of Paris and me at the front, at the age of 4. We are singing the songs of the MEK. The brainwashing of MEK children started from this age. Pay attention to the letter board “A is like a revolution, G is like a gun, W is like war, K is like Khomeini…

the base of the Zayerian in the suburb of Paris

His post on X, May 10th, 2024
About 1 year before we were sent back to Iraq, I met Maryam Rajavi during a trip to Paris. She gave me a gold necklace. The necklace that she gave to all the children of MEK. 1 year after that, I left for the hell in Iraq and the exit doors were completely closed on me.

Amir Yaghmaei and Maryam Rajavi

His post on X, May 10th, 2024
A photo of “Auver”, the main base of MEK in the suburbs of Paris in 1998. The underage children in this photo were all sent to Iraq and Camp Ashraf. They were brought from Germany during the school holidays to be brainwashed and recruited by the MEK. I’m in the middle with a red shirt.

A photo of Auver

His post on X, May 11th, 2024
The MEK claims that there were on child soldiers in the group. This is a picture of me at the age of 14 in a military uniform in Camp Ashraf. After 1 year of active brainwashing by the authorities, I was transferred from Paris to Iraq in 1998, and this captivity lasted for 6 years until the arrival of the American forces.

Amir Yaghmaei at Camp Ashraf-Iraq

His post on X, May 31st, 2024
This is at Alavi’s border camp. I was transferred here from Faeze camp because I was a “non-organizational” person and did not follow the MEK’s rules. I had told myself that now that I was forced to be a prisoner here, I will be “childish” and I will not let them steal this time from me. I am the second person standing from the right in a white T-shirt.

MEK child soldiers

His post on X, June 7th, 2024
I am in Camp Ashraf. Smiles do not always express the truth.

Amir Yaghmaei

His post on X, May 16th, 2024
Dr. Jones, colonel dentist who took me under his wing after I was released from Ashraf prison and taught me the lesson of humanity. He trained me as his assistant in the dental office and paid me, he provided me with connection with the Swedish embassy and helped me in all the steps forward.

Dr. Jones, colonel dentist

His post on X, May 12th, 2024
Birthday celebrations were forbidden in MEK. Sometimes people who secretly have a friendly relationship with each other put a secret gift such as syrup powder or a handwritten greeting in each other’s closet. If it was revealed, you would be severely punished. But in the American camp, that “foreign imperialist” force, celebrated my birthday after 6 years.

Amir Yaghmaei’s birthday at the American Camp

His post on X, May 26th, 2024
In the end, it was the American forces who took me by helicopter to the Baghdad airport on October 2, 2005, to take me to the Swedish embassy in Jordan and finally return to Sweden. At the moment of the helicopter flight, the female colonel told the pilot to fly one round over Ashraf so that Amir would see this hell for the last time.

Yaghmaei at Camp TIPF

His post on X, June 6th, 2024
One of my first photos after returning to Sweden after 8 years in the hell of Iraq. I fell behind in everything, in education, social relations, even how to buy goods and train tickets. Someone told me, “Your fate is not strange, your parents were Mujahids and you ended up with Ashraf”. Does that mean we didn’t have the right to choose?

Amir Yaghmaei in Sweden

His post on X, May 6th, 2024
When I tried to meet my mother, the supporters of the MEK mockingly said, “A 40-year-old child is looking for his mother”, not knowing that in a free society, especially in Iranian culture, children have a relationship with their parents until the end of their lives. But my biggest regret is that my daughters have not seen their grandmother until today.

Amir Yaghmaei

Today, Amir Yaghmai is an environmental scientist and lives in Sweden. He is married and has two children. He believes that authenticity is with truth. Although in the middle of his content, he introduces himself as an atheist and against the government of Iran, he is well aware that the truth of the MEK must be acknowledged, and efforts must be made to end violation of human rights of the members of this violent cult.

By Mazda Parsi

June 9, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

My life experience with the Mujahedin-e Khalq

Mohammad Reza Torabi nicknamed “Ray”, former child soldier of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) has recently published a thread in his personal account on X social network on his life experience with the group. He was a member of the MEK’s army for 18 years. He left the group after it was relocated in Albania.

Ray’s father Ghorbani Ali Torabi was killed under torture in the MEK’s prison. His mother Zahra Seraj is still a member of the Cult of Rajavi. She is not willing to contact Ray because she considers him a traitor who has left the group and speaks out against it.

Ray Torabi’s thread on X published on April 28th, 2024

This is Ray Torabi’s thread on X published on April 28th, 2024:
There has been a lot of discussion recently about the fate of some 1000 MEK children who were separated from their parents during the Gulf War and sent to European and American countries. As one of those children, I want to clarify some facts.

These children came to Iraq with their parents in the 1980s, specifically after the establishment of the National Liberation Army (MEK’s armed wing). Their parents joined MEK military units and the children were kept in daycares and boarding houses in Camp Ashraf.

During the week the children were kept in daycare and the parents received military training in separate units. Parents picked up their kids from the boarding house on Friday and stayed with them in housing units until Sunday morning when they were dropped off again.

With the start of MEK’s internal “ideological revolution” and after the implementation of mandatory divorces within its ranks, families were separated. The father would get the child one weekend and the mother the next.

With the start of the Gulf War and upon Massoud Rajavi’s orders, the children were separated from their parents and moved to Jordan. We were kept in different hotels until MEK found families for us abroad. Many of the children were moved to families of MEK supporters.

Some went to MEK boarding houses in European countries. These boarding houses had terrible conditions such as lack of food and physical abuse by MEK caretakers. Most of the children were smuggled into these countries illegally. I was 9 when I was smuggled to Canada.

Many, like myself, later faced complicated legal issues for immigration status because of this. I want to note that there was little to no supervision from MEK and many of us children were subjected to physical, mental, and sexual abuse in the families where we were placed.

In some cases MEK tried to cover up these crimes and silence the children. In the late 90s MEK emotionally manipulated and made hollow promises to some of the children, including myself, to move back to Iraq to be with our parents again. I will also write about this later.

It’s not easy to talk about the pain and suffering we’ve experienced. Hence you don’t hear from the others. Many of the children started new chapters in their lives, forgot their past, and moved on. Most of them don’t want anyone to know they were affiliated with the MEK.

Do you know how difficult it is for me to publicly say I was sexually abused in my childhood in Camp Ashraf and then in MEK headquarters in Canada by an MEK members/supporters? The other children don’t want to talk about these things and I respect their right not to.

There are very few of us who speak openly. I’ve overcome my past. I don’t feel guilty for what happened to me. I hold the MEK responsible. I found the courage to speak up and share the truth about my past openly and confidently.
The people of Iran must understand the crimes, deception, and evilness of the MEK. I have learned in the past 7 years, since leaving the MEK, that people only have a shallow understanding of this cult. I will do my best to reveal their lies, deception and evil.

I’m not afraid to speak up because I only speak the truth. Those who read my words will feel it with their hearts. And I am willing to testify every word I write in any court.

April 29, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

From Victim to Victor, Ex-Member in the Trial of the MEK leaders

Ali Ekrami, a former member of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) and the current head of Nejat Society’s office in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, participated in the 11th hearing of the MEK’s charges. Ali Ekrami was a victim of the MEK’s cult-like system. He left the group 18 years ago. He was a member of the group for 25 years.
During the court, the lawyer of the plaintiffs, Hakimzadeh Hosseini introduced Ekrami, as a person who is informed about the case, to the court. Under the order of the judge, Ali Ekrami got in place. H testified about the MEK’s spying activities against Iran during Iran-Iraq war.

Ekrami began his life story by saying: “Influenced by the slogans of the organization in 1979, I joined the MEK while I was a student of oil university.”

He continued: “After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, I was an idealist young boy with a poor family. I worked and studied at the same time and I felt that the MEK was the key to the happiness of the Iranian nation.”

The former member of the MEK added: “After the group announced armed struggle in 1981, I did not join it, but once again I was recruited by the group in 1986. I went to Iraq through Pakistan and I became a member of the 56th rank of the group’s central council.

Based on his testimonies, in 1987 Ekrami was charged with foreign policy and relations with Iraq in the MEK’s central council. Ath the time, the office of the headquarters was located in Baghdad. Ekrami was a member to coordinate the relations with Iraq and part of the Iraqi intelligence.
He added: “I was one of the coordinators for the meeting between general Haboush [former Iraqi intelligence official who served under the regime of Saddam Hussein] and Massoud Rajavi. The video was taken by Iraqi intelligence.”

The former member of the MEK said: “We collected intelligence from inside Iran and provided it to the Iraqi intelligence and the Ba’athist regime through telephone hearing and spying. 400 military advisers were trained at the Camp Ashraf. And, mainly in all MEK-run operations, the ammunitions and military equipment were provided by Iraqi Baa’th regime.”
Referring to Iraq’s bombings of Iranian cities during the Iran-Iraq war, he said: “The MEK leaders ordered the members whose hometowns had been bombed by Iraq, to contact their families and seek information about the amount of demolition and fear of the people, while in the MEK, members were banned from communicating the family. In fact, the group asked its members to get information from their families under the cover of expressing concern about them.”

Ali Ekrami is a victor now. He has built his self-confidence. He is stronger than he was in the past, under the cult-like structure of the MEK. Unlike when he was a victim of the Cult of Rajavi, he now recognizes the influence he has over his circumstances. Thus, he participated the trial of his former leaders and commandants.

April 28, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Atefeh Sebdani’s autobiography to be translated in Persian

Atefeh Sebdani’s autobiography will be published in Persian. The Former child soldier of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), Atefeh Sebdani announced on her Facebook account that her book will be published in Persian soon.

In a note that Atefeh posted on Facebook platform on April 23rd, 2024, expressing her pleasure she explained about the publisher and the time of the publication:
Nothing makes me more proud and happy, than to announce that my book will be translated to Persian and this, already this year. It’s through eminent Baran Publishing and I feel honored to be part of their fantastic authors.

To even get the chance to write a book to begin with, and that for Albert Bonniers Förlag, was never anything I took for granted. Now, another wild dream is coming true which is to get the same book translated into my mother tongue.

So many have asked for this which I’m so humbled by and now we can let you know that sometimes during fall, you will be able to get your hands on your Persian version.
Thank you @nashrebaran for this opportunity and thousands of thanks to my fantastic agency @grandagency.se whom made efforts beyond the regular to sign me with an exile publisher. You are a true gem and I knew it from the start.

Now a Swedish citizen, Atefeh Sebdani was born to Mujahed parents. Under the order of the MEK leader, Massoud Rajavi, the five-year old Atefeh and her two younger brothers were smuggled from Iraq to Europe, together with at least 900 other children of the Mujahedin.

Last summer Atefeh published her biography, “My hands in mine”, in Swedish. The book is the story of a five-year-old girl who turned into the mother of her brothers. My Hand in Mine is a story about growing up with no one to hold on to but yourself, of abuses that are skillfully covered up by the MEK’s ruling system and a society that fails to see the vulnerable children. But it is also a story of a persistent burning energy and the courage to finally break free.

April 27, 2024 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Childhood trauma of a former MEK Child-Soldier

Childhood trauma happens when children are exposed to distressing or emotionally painful events. This can include events like actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Childhood trauma not only occurs when a child experiences an event themselves but also when a child is exposed to traumatic events. The children of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) have experienced childhood traumas in different ways but not many of them could dare to open up about it. Atefeh Sebdani is one of about one thousand children of Mujahed parents who has recently begun revealing her childhood traumas under the rule of the MEK.

The only way you can begin healing is to acknowledge that a traumatic event did occur and that you were not responsible for it. Atefeh and a few of other children of the MEK, who started talking about their childhood in public, have gone through a lot to heal their inner child, with great strength and courage.
Atefe Sabdani, who is a Swedish blogger today, publishes notes on her social media accounts after each stage of self-disclosure through her films, interviews or book, which shows the path she takes to reveal the truth and heal herself every day. It seems that every time it becomes less difficult for her, although this road is rocky and full of obstacles that the MEK agents always create.

This time, after the release of the “Cult and Loss” episode about the life of Atefeh Sebdani from Sweden’s Channel One SVT Story, Atefeh talks about the difficulty of revealing the emotional and psychological aspects of her life and the strength and courage she feels inside.
In the episode that was aired about Atefeh’s traumatic childhood, an impressive scene of meeting her mother after 25 years of separation is shown. According to Atefeh, this was one of the most difficult times in her life to show that scene.

https://dlb.nejatngo.org/Media/Documentary/SVT-Sebdani-202404.mp4

to download the video file click here

In her Facebook account, Atefeh writes about her loyalty to the truth in narrating her life story and about the strength that grows in her day by day:

“You are so brave!”
“You are so strong!”

Words I often get to me. But I don’t know if it’s about courage and strength. For me it has always been about two things:
Stick to the truth, never splice, never exaggerate.

Because no one can hold one for a single millimeter then. My credibility has always been important. I’d rather withhold details and tell a milder version than the other way around.
Go just a little outside my comfort. So it feels tough to do but is still doable.

That way, I stretch my ability with small steps all the time. Every small step taken becomes a bigger and bigger step. The challenges are stretched.

This week’s episode on Story was among the more difficult I’ve done. For those who have seen it, I still don’t think you understand how tough the scene with my mother was, even worse to show – precisely because I don’t think you understand what a terrible situation it was. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever been through and I don’t think anyone who’s been through something like this can ever imagine what it means. But more on that another time.

That was the thing about courage and strength.
After SVT Story, I will be able to handle even more difficult things.
Have you seen the episode on SVT story? What did you think?
And how do you express your courage and your strength?

Mazda Parsi

April 8, 2024 0 comments

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