Former members of the MEK

MKO former members

Sahar Family Foundation (SFF) to aid the families of the MKO members

Patience, the dawn is near The Sahar (Dawn) Family Foundation is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profitable organisation which has been established to provide humanitarian aid to the families of members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO) who are based in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. This foundation is solely focused on charitable and human rights issues regardless of political or group considerations and geographical boundaries and only aims to help the suffering families. The Sahar Family Foundation covers a great number of families as well as former members of the MKO who seek help. This foundation enjoys good support amongst the local and international bodies in Iraq which is the base of the foundation. The MKO has been based in Iraq, precisely in Camp Ashraf, for more than two decades. This organisation is run as a classic cult and therefore would not give its members the chance of free association with the outside world or with their families. Therefore the families of these members are suffering severely and seek assistance from humanitarian organisations. When the former regime of Iraq was toppled, a small light of hope lit the hearts of the families and they thought that, in the new situation in Iraq, they would be able to visit their beloved ones freely and adequately without the presence of a third party. Some of these families have not heard from their relatives for more than 20 years and some even don’t know if their beloved ones are still safe and sound. According to these families those who are residing in Camp Ashraf â€“ as is the case with many cults throughout the world “ are considered to be captives both mentally and physically and therefore are assumed as hostages. The Sahar Family Foundation is striving to reunite the members of these families again using every possible means. Camp Ashraf is the base of the MKO members which is guarded by US forces in Iraq. On the other hand the present Iraqi government insists that Camp Ashraf must be dismantled. Iraqi constitutional law does not permit any foreign terrorist organisations to remain in that country. The US State Department as well as that of Canada, along with the European Union and the British parliament and many other governmental and international bodies have officially designated the MKO as a destructive and terrorist cult. Obviously the members of a cult and their families are considered to be the prime victims whom must be helped. In May 2005 Human Rights Watch published a report called ‘No Exit’ which details human rights abuses meted out by the MKO against its own members. At the present time Baghdad is the central meeting point for the misfortunate families and the former members, as well as concerned entities which are all waiting for the crack of dawn. They seek help from all the humanitarian bodies throughout the world. Anyone can help a little. On the other hand, of course, Camp Ashraf, according to many international security professionals, is a centre for training terrorists. The families are concerned about the fate of their children who are subjected to brainwashing and terrorist training. Please contact us. We would be more than pleased to have your comments and ideas. Help us in any way you can. The members of Sahar Family Foundation are all volunteers who have moved to Iraq to work in the difficult situation of that country merely to gain family reunions. Contact (Iraq): saharfamily@yahoo.com Tel: +964 – 7808481650 (Arabic and Farsi) Contact (outside Iraq): Sahar BM 2632 London WC1N 3XX U.K. Tel: +44 – 2076935044 (English only) SAHAR Family Foundation, February 15, 2008

February 17, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Akbari Nasab family demands for returning their son’s body to Iran.

According to reports ,Akbari Nasab family are trying in Baghdad to return the body of their son Yaser who last year died in Ashraf prison and his death was announced as self- immolation.

Reza Akbari Nasab the oldest brother who is now in Baghdad ,went to Ashraf yesterday asked for visiting his other brother “ Morteza” and his other son” Musa”. The visit was arranged with the presence of some authorities of MKO without Musa.

According to Reza Akbari, his brother who couldn’t talk in a free atmosphere due to the presence of his commandants started to insult his older brother. “I didn’t receive the medical documents of my nephew’s death so I suspend his death” Reza Akbari Nasab told the reporters. He also asked the Iraqi authorities to assist him to transfer his nephew’s body to Iran.

Yaser Akbarinasab

The following is piece written by Mr. Reza Akbari Nasab:

The function of “brainwashing “in a meeting with an “element” not a “brother”

First of all I have to explain that: My brother “Morteza” left Tehran in 1985, to join the MEK in Iraq. We had no news from them for years. In 1990 we found out that his wife has died in “Eternal Light” operation. Their three children “Fatemeh”, ”Yaser” and “Musa” were separated from father following the strange “Ideological Revolution” and were sent to Germany where they were held in a camp.

Unfortunately the misfortunes didn’t end with our family and due to the manipulations, Morteza called his sons to come to the desert (Ashraf) and the consequence was the death of Yaser last summer.

Apparently he killed himself in a suicide but the bizarre thing is that the organization kept everything silent with no news of such an event. Just after the defectors published the news on their websites, the MKO became forced to confirm the news and contrary to their usual process, they didn’t hold any ceremony for his death and tried to make every thing forgotten. A dear friend from America sent me an email and asked forget the issue and look for consoling my family.

Time passed and we were going to forget Yaser until my mother asked me to go to Iraq and try to get news of Morteza and Musa. Finally I could come to Iraq in Feb 3rd, 2008 and I went to American Camp in Ashraf and asked for meeting my brother and his son, I also asked them to let me go to my nephew’s tomb and see the documents of his death. The American officials told me to tell my request to MEK authorities. During the hours I was waiting for my beloved ones the American soldiers and officials hosted me in a courteous manner.

I was enjoying the friendly atmosphere of American camp which had decreased the pressure on me when a man carrying a file came over shouting at me: “why have you come here?” He was speaking Persian angrily so I didn’t recognize him. But he was no one except my kind and lovely brother, Morteza! He was carrying a file that he said that they were my writings on the death of Yaser. He actually threatened me that he would hand them to the Americans since I had written some polite critics against the American officials. I told him sympathetically: “you may be right but let‘s have a short talk which is something normal in any political organization’’.

But he didn’t accept and he even didn’t let me get closer than 3 meters. My former kind brother insulted me in front of American soldiers. My nephew Musa didn’t get the permission to visit me since he is a German citizen and Mujahedin were afraid.

The Americans didn’t answer my questions simply and to answer my claim that the MKO members are manipulated they just said that it’s not their responsibility! They didn’t let me visit the tomb of Yaser either. I expected more of the American democracy. While leaving, I told the American lieutenant: ‘’you are developing a new Al-Qaida.” Recently I have received important news: that the members of Ashraf are not allowed to visit Yaser’s tomb.

Here’s a question: if Yaser has self-immolated, because the Americans treated him badly! Why is his tomb forbidden? Maybe the real thing is that our young boy was killed and then burned! There is also other news on the assassination of Yaser which will be proved by the struggle of benevolent people. Bagdad- Winter 2008.

February 12, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Masud Khodabandeh replies and”Alseyassah”explains

Anne Khodabandeh, who is of British nationality and the wife of the Iranian Massoud Khodabandeh, replied to the article published by "Alseyassah" on the first of this month under the heading "Iraqi warnings from the agent of the Iranian regime by the name of Massoud Khodabandeh", in a letter sent to the cultural office at the embassy of the State of Kuwait in London, of which "Alseyassah" has received a copy. In the reply, Massoud says that "the article was slanderous and defamatory to my good name and unfortunately its anonymous writer did not try to contact me by email or by telephone or at my address in Britain, or at the Centre de Recherches sur le Terrorism in Paris where I work". He refers to the scurrilous accusation made by the remnants of the Baathist regime in Iraq which links his name and his wife’s name to the Iranian intelligence services – which is completely untrue and there is not a shred of evidence for the lies which appear in that article. Mr. Masud Khodabande He also gives the reason why it was published. Mr Khodabandeh explains that he lives in the United Kingdom and is currently visiting Iraq at the invitation of government officials, and was invited in order to attend various meeting on the issue of foreign terrorist groups in Iraq. He adds that "in the course of this work I have regular contact with the US army and relevant humanitarian bodies and I am seeking ways to rescue people from the hands of the Saddamists in Diyali province". He considers that "as all Kuwaiti citizens know all too well, the "Mojahedin-e Khalq" organisation acted as Saddam’s private army in Iraq and helped to crush the Kurdish uprising in 1991 at the end of the first Gulf war. The Iraqi Government is now determined to remove all remnants of the Baathist regime, including the Iranian foreign terrorist group "Mojahedin-e Khalq", from its territory". He adds "I have travelled to Iraq to help those people who want to leave the group to find refuge and return to their families and to normal life."

He concludes by saying that readers of the newspaper "Alseyassah" will understand now why the Saddamists have tried to blacken his name and he states that the paper’s editors have acted properly in giving him the right to reply.

In this connection, it is important for "Alseyassah" to explain to Mr and Mrs Khodabandeh and to our readers that what was published on the first of February was an announcement and not an article and it was not simply ascribed to anonymous sources but it made clear in it that it was an announcement issued by the "League of Iraqi Academics and Educationalists" and it is important to explain that the accusations made by the League that Mrs Ann and her husband are "working in the service of the Iranian security services in Iraq and that they are carrying out the tasks of the Iranian regime under false pretences" were accusations carried by "Alseyassah" but not espoused by it, as was stated in the announcement itself. Alseyassah, February07, 2008- http://alseyassah.com/news_details.asp?nid=3713&snapt=الدولية

February 10, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

The statement issued by MKO defectors on Mohammadi Family

We, named below, believing in the freedom of speech and tolerance, withdrawing the present actions and believes of people and politicians, without any political interest, focusing on humanity and our previous cooperation with MKO and regarding our personal experiences with MKO, declare that: A: gradually after the residence in Iraq, criticizing the leaders (Masud and Maryam Rajavi) and their policies became impossible.

Following the long residence in Iraq, insisting on one’s interests, opinions and critics were considered as anti-revolutionary action and were oppressed seriously. B: they organizationally encounter the private talks where the Mujahed friends were giving opinions within the organization. Every member had to submit a written report to his responsible, on the details of his talks. In the organization control and scrutinize of opinion were considered as normal and revolutionary. C: MKO’s leader consider the emotional contacts of family members as an obstacle to the policies of the organization and to the fall of Islamic regime and tries to weaken such contacts in any way. D: there is no possibility to access and transfer news, newpaper, T.V … freely, inside the MKO in Iraq.

Any news was canalyzed by the organization and it wasn’t possible to access the free world. According to the mentioned experiences, the position taken by Somayeh Mohammadi who has declared that she has “chosen living in Camp Ashraf on her own will’’ clearly opposes our personal experiences. While we respect everyone’s right including Somayeh’s right to choose her place of residence freely according to UN human rights charter, we ask MKO’s leadership to publish any document that they have, on Mostafa and Mahboubeh Mohamamdi’s link to Islamic Republic , so as to inform Iranian people.

Otherwise they should allow Somayeh who according to her father, mother and brother was taken to Ashraf when she was under legal age and now is under the psychological pressure and the news absolutism, to be transferred out of Ashraf to decide independently. UN human Rights Charter, article 12 : No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. We demand MKO’s leadership and Islamic Republic regime that A: they respect international laws on women, children and civilians and execute them B: they respect UN Human Rights Charter. UN Human Rights Charter

Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 13.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state

Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association

February 1st, 2008 1. Saeed Soltanpour, journalist, human rights activist, Canada

2. Mohammad Mohammadi,Canada

3. Mohammad Houshmand, Socialist ,former member of NLA,USA

4. Soheila Behboudi-Germany

5. Mahboube Baraati- Netherlands

6. Batoul Maleki – Switzerland

7. Nasrin Behboudi – Netherlands

8. Kazem Husseini – Netherlands

9. Mohammad Hussein Sobhani – Germany

10. Jaafar Baqalinezhad.Norway

11. Siamak Gilani – Norway

12. Soheila Nowrouzi – Canada

13. Elham Nowrouzi – Canada

14. FArideh Baraati – Netherlands

15. Mother Rezwan – Sweden

16. Behzad Alishahi

17. Habib Khorami – Netherlands

18. Edward Termado – defector , former prisoner of Abu Qoraib

19. Ali Qashqavi – defector ,former prisoner of Abu Qoraib

20. Seid Amir Movasaqi- defector , former prisoner of Abu Qoraib

21. Masud Khodabandeh, Britain

22. Ann Singleton, Britain

23. Azra Asadi , Netherlands

24. Reza Asadi , Netherlands

25. Majid Farahanian, Netherlands

26. Roya Rondsaz , Netherlands

27. Karim Haqi, Netherlands

28. Naser Razavi , Sweden

29. Mitra Yousefi ,Sweden

30. AliReza Nabavi, wounded in MKO operation ,Sweden

31. Masud Jabani ,writer and human rights activist

32. Ali Shams, writer and human rights activist

33. Javad Firouzmand, human rights activist, France.

February 10, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Symposium on Terrorism in Iraq

A round table discussion centred on the issue of terrorism in Iraq and possible solutions to this problem. The Symposium was divided in to 3 parts: – the general threat posed by terrorist groups and the ways they operate in Iraq – foreign terrorist organisations in Iraq – the creation of terrorist organisations in Iraq and the global supporters of these terrorist groups Participants of the Symposium ranged from university professors including, Dr. Aziz Jabar Shayal, Dr. Samir Alshweely and Dr. Rasheed Saleh, professors of Political Studies from the University of Baghdad. The Symposium was also attended by many governmental and non-governmental representatives from a wide range of ministries and NGOs, including representatives from Iraq’s Ministries of Defence, Human Rights and Security.

Massoud Khodabandeh from the Centre de recherches sur le terrorisme depuis le 11 septembre 2001 (Paris), who was in Baghdad for meetings concerning the fate of the remaining individuals following dismantlement of Camp Ashraf which houses the disarmed Iranian terrorist organisation Mojahedin Khalq Organisation, was invited to participate in the discussion.

Prominent among the participants was Mr. Bassam Alhassani, advisor to Prime Minister Noori Al Maleki.

The Symposium ended with a full report on the issues discussed and Dr. Aziz Jabar Shayal delivered the end resolution in which one paragraph emphasized the necessity for the dismantlement and deportation of the foreign terrorist Mojahedin Khalq organisation and encouragement and facilitation by the government and others to help the remaining individuals find a safe palace outside Iraq and return to normal life.

The symposium was covered by media representatives who reported from the meeting room.

Alaraghia television, Iraq’s main TV network, reported the Symposium and broadcast a brief interview with Massoud Khodabandeh.

In the interview, Massoud Khodabandeh emphasised above all the right of the Iraqi people to enjoy security and have justice served against the perpetrators of violent acts in their country, in particular the criminal heads of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation which was involved in the massacre of the Kurdish and Shiite uprisings against Saddam Hussein in March 1991. Mr Khodabandeh said that in his belief and according to all the studies of the Centre de Recherches sur le Terrorisme, the phenomenon of terrorism cannot have a single solution and needs inter governmental cooperation as well as the involvement of NGOs to protect the human rights of the who have been inveigled by terrorist leaders into this path, and to give them a second chance of integration back into their societies.

Thanking the organisers of the Symposium Mr Khodabandeh emphasised the cult culture of terrorist organisations and the methods they use to brainwash their followers. He also gave examples of foreign support by some influential groups and parties who facilitate the flow of finance for terrorism. Not the least the relationship between the remainders of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, London, Washington and other countries with the Mojahedin Khalq Organisation, and the way this relationship is becoming clear in the escalation of violence in Diyali province as well as the streets of London and other European countries.

The Symposium lasted for over two hours. Afterwards the participants formed smaller groups to further discuss the variety of issues raised by the Seminar.

A full report and media coverage will be published shortly. Thursday, 31st of January 2008.

Centre for International and Inter-governmental Studies of the University of Baghdad

February 3, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Javad Firuzmand interviewed by Mehrdad Farahmand

Former MKO seeking refuge in western countries The military coalition under the US commandment in Iraq confirmed that some MKO members have left this organisation and their base in Iraq. Confirmation of this news takes place after some reports were published indicating that in the past few weeks the efforts of dozens of former MKO to escape Iraq and seek refuge in western countries have failed and many of them are left hanging around in Iraq where they are in a very desperate situation.

In the past four years since Iraq was occupied by the US forces and its allies, some MKO members gradually left this organization and Camp Ashraf which is their base in Iraq.

The US army which is guarding Camp Ashraf during this period, kept the dissidents under its own protection in a camp near to this base. As the press office of coalition forces under the US command has informed the BBC, during the last four years 380 individuals of MKO have returned to Iran at their own request. But those dissidents who did not wish to return to Iran despite the efforts made by the United States did not gain the confirmation of any country for their application for refuge.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that within the last few weeks, dozens of them decided to leave the camp they were living in which was protected by the US forces and try to leave Iraq through different ways but this effort was unsuccessful for most of them and they returned to the camp protected by the US forces. Some were arrested after crossing the Turkish border and returned to Iraq, a few managed to remain in Turkey or go to Greece illegally.

The Society for Defending Immigrants and Iranians in France (ARIA) tries to help the MKO dissidents to leave Iraq and settle in another country. According to this society 208 MKO dissidents were staying in the US camp up to last month. The press office of the US forces today gives their number at 110. Javad Firuzmand, the spokesman of ARIA society who himself has left the MKO says that this number had reduced to 50 last week and the number 110 indicates that some of those who had left there have returned to the US camp.

Mr Firuzmand told the BBC that 70 of the dissidents tried to go to Turkey after Javad Firuzmand;former member of MKO they left the Americas with the aid of some smugglers, but the Turkish border police arrested them and after one month in prison and remaining in compulsory camp were handed over to the Iraqi Police. One of these people was shot and wounded by the border police and is in hospital now in the city of Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The spokesman of ARIA society says that the autonomous government of Iraqi Kurdistan is keeping the people who were handed over by the Turkish police in a temporary camp in Arbil. But some of these people tried again to cross the Turkish border. Ten of them were arrested again by the Turkish police and handed over to Iraqi police and they are now in prison in Arbil. Amongst those who managed to cross the border ten were able to reach Greece with the aid of smugglers and 15 are living covertly in Istanbul and Ankara and Van in Turkey.

According to Javad Firuzmand, the MKO dissidents who are staying in Turkey could not approach the Human Rights and Turkish organizations since if they are revealed they would be arrested and returned to Iraq. The ten who stay in Greece are also in covert situation in that country. The ARIA society spokesman added that about 15 individuals approached Jordan and there is no information about the destiny of other 8.

The BBC’s effort to contact the UNHCR to obtain information about the destiny of these MKO dissidents did not reach anywhere but enquiries are still ongoing. The ARIA society which is a human rights establishment defending Iranians has demanded help for these people and the chance to live legally in European or other free countries. During the last four years some MKO dissidents have returned to Iran – the press office of forces under US command in Iraq gives their number at 380. Javad Firuzmand, the spokesman of ARIA society says that these individuals are living and working in several Iranian cities and are freely active in the society and he himself is in contact with some of them. According to him, inside Camp Ashraf which is still run by the MKO, some 200 individuals have left the MKO too. These people are not willing to move to the American’s camp and they are kept in a separate place inside Ashraf. Mr Firuzmand says that these people also seek refuge from western countries.

Camp Ashraf was established in 1986 after MKO leader [Massoud Rajavi] moved from France to Iraq and the members of this organisation launched an armed struggle against Iran benefiting from the military facilities given by Saddam Hussein’s regime. They participated in military operations against Iran during the Iran Iraq war. This base is situated in the district of Khalis in the province of Dyala in the east of Iraq and the coalition forces under US command have given the total number of individuals living there as 3360. The United States designated the MKO as a terrorist organisation but according to international regulations and Geneva Convention, they are kept under the entity of "protected persons".

The Iranian government demands that Camp Ashraf be dismantled and all MKO members be expelled from Iraq and accuses the Americans of protecting them in order to use them against Iran. January 26, 2008

February 3, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

A letter from Dr. Torabi on behalf of 8 UNHCR refugees

Dear Mr. Speaker,

I’m writing to you on behalf of the following 8 UNHCR recognized refugees who have been forced by Turkish Security and Political Police under gun fire to leave Turkey and cross the border back into Iraq :

Abdollahi, Ali

Adel, Hassan

Azari, Nasrollah

Eslamizadeh, Karam

Ghorbanzadeh, Ramezan

Mohebbi, Hamid

Nemati, Hassan

Zolfaghaari, Kamran

These 8 people aged 30-50 are from a larger group of 200 Iranian nationals and former members of Mojaheddin Khalkh Organization (MKO), an opposition group fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following Saddam’s downfall, these people seized the opportunity to leave MKO and take refuge in an American-run camp called Temporary International Presence Facility (TIPF) to await their destiny (i.e., being sent to European countries as refugees). They are all UN recognized refugees, each carrying three identification documents: an Iraqi Government’s issued “Lesser Passer” card, a UNHCR Refugee ID, and a Coalition Forces’ issued ID.

About 4 weeks ago, American Forces in TIPF began freeing these people from the camp in groups of 4 to 8 people and providing secure passage to various cities in Kordestan , Iraq , e.g., Moussell, Erbil . Avoiding arrest by Kurdish police and extradition to Iran , many of them began heading north to Turkey . Upon entering Turkey at the Iraq-Turkey border line, they were all arrested by the Turkish Security Police (in charge of foreigners) and moved to various prisons inside Turkey .

These 8 people, after two weeks in prison, were told to get ready to be moved to the city of Shirnak ( Center of Silopi Region ) for processing their request (to be formally recognized as UN refugees and allowed to contact UNHCR representatives in Turkey for resettlement in a safe 3rd country.) Instead, they were taken to the Turkey-Iraqi border post at Haboor on the Turkey side (called Ebrahim Araghi on the Iraq side) in order to send them back to Iraq. Iraqi officials at the border-crossing refused to allow them entry to Iraq . Turkish Security Police then decided to force these people back into Iraq by taking them to a nearby unmanned border point with a river marking the border line between the two countries. There, the Turkish soldiers stripped these 8 people of their money and valuable personal belongings and under the command of Turkish Security Police forced them (by firing warning shots) to cross the river into Iraq. These 8 people, are now in a border city called Zakhoo in Iraq and in eminent danger of being arrested by the Iraqi police and extradited to Iran .

By writing this letter, I would like to report to you this unprecedented level of violation of human rights as well as the negligence of basic rights of UNHCR recognized refugees by your border and security police and to appeal to you for your help to intervene on behalf of these 8 and close to 200 other former MKO members who are kept in Prisons in Turkey. Please act from the position of authority and responsibility and use whatever means available to you to ensure that the Turkish Government respect the minimum rights of these people as UNHCR refugees and allow them to contact UNHCR representatives in Turkey for a safe passage to and resettlement in a country within European Union.

Yours Truly

M. Torabi

Mohammad Torabi, Ph.D

CTO Architecture & Solutions Engineering

Alcatel-Lucent

Monarch Beach, California

USA 92629

Aria Iran, January 24, 2008-http://www.ariairan.com/?mod=view&id=3020

January 28, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Seminar on Releasing Captives of MKO Terrorist Cult

A seminar on the subject of how to release the members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) who are held both mentally and physically captive in the Ashraf Camp in Iraq was highly attended by the families in the city of Shiraz despite the cold and snowy weather. The families of the members of the MKO who anxiously desired visiting their beloved ones after so many years had gathered in this seminar organized by the Nejat Society in the city of Shiraz on 11th of January 2008 in the Red Crescent Hall of that city.

Mr. Ebrahim Khodabandeh, Mr. Kambiz Bagherzadeh, and Miss Ronak Dashti the former members of the MKO delivered speeches in this seminar. Mr. Khodabandeh while describing the common methods used by all cults to manipulate and to brainwash the followers, gave some examples on practices applied within the MKO cult and referred to the subjects such as the family relationship, the emotional feelings, expressing opinions, make of choice, thinking independently, showing excitements, and presentation of caring, to be highly restricted and are considered as unforgivable sins. He emphasized that according to the MKO’s ideology all fondness and emotions must be entirely directed towards the leadership. He explained that inside the MKO everyone is held responsible against the leadership while he is considered as impeccable.

Mr. Khodabandeh mentioned the efforts made by the families within the framework of the Nejat Society to organize meetings with their beloved ones held in Iraq. He clarified that restoring the family emotions could lead to the savior of the member from the psychological boundaries the person is held in. Mr. Bagherzadeh referred to all mistreatments and confinements applied against discontented members inside the MKO and underlined that although his brother was in the same base with him but he did not see his brother for more than one and a half years.

Miss Dashti another former member of the MKO who had some bitter experiences while residing in the Ashraf Camp in Iraq explained how his brother and her were deceived by the MKO to be taken to Iraq and to the Ashraf Camp and how she was finally released thanks to the efforts made by her mother who traveled to Iraq and demanded the visit with his daughter. She described how the families could play a major roll to try to free their beloved ones from captivity.

She described that giving high commanding positions to the women is a sham gesture taken by the MKO while the truth is that women are expected to work even harder than men and their emotions are also systematically suppressed more. She clarified that members are expected to dislike whoever they adored before particularly the members of their family. She also explained that all discontented members are labeled as being metal cases. Miss Dashti also referred to the high level of dissatisfaction amongst the forces inside the Ashraf Camp who find no way out.

The hatred amongst the families in the hall of seminar was to the extent that they started shouting and cursing Mas’ud Rajavi the leader of the MKO who has caused all these miseries for the families and their beloved ones.

In the end the families wrote separate letters of request to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Iraqi government demanding the arrangement of a visit with their beloved ones by their own expenses without the presence of any third party as soon as possible.

The core slogan of the seminar was”the release of our children from the boundaries of the MKO terrorist cult and arranging a visit between the families and their beloved ones”

Nejat Society,11th of January 2008

January 12, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Hassibi: there is evidence of cooperation between American authorities and PMOI (aka: Mojahedin Khahlq organisation or Rajavi cult)

To whom it may concern, Since August 2007, I have received telephone calls and emails from individuals, who are among a group of 200 Iranians being detained for the past five years in an American military camp in Iraq. The following summary is based solely on these telephone calls and e-mails. These emails are available upon request. Year 2002 The United States State Department interviewed all the members of the organization of the People Mojahedin of Iran, PMOI (Mojahedin-e Khalgh Organization). A group of 200 individuals, who had been in disagreement with Mojahedin for some times, informed the US officials that they wanted to leave the PMOI. This group was later taken to a camp called Temporary International Presence Facility (TIPE) in Khalis city in Diyala province The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) assigned refugee status to these individuals, promising that all the necessary arrangements would be made in near future and they would be sent to another country. These 200 individuals were detained against their will in TIPF. Lt. Col. Amy F. Turluck was the American director of the camp. Year 2006 150 individuals started a peaceful vigil. Their main request was to leave the camp. This vigil was suppressed by 150 anti-insurgent US guards who used pepper spray and guns. The guards arrested all the representative of the group, in addition to some individuals. The arrested individuals were then sent to solitary confinement for several months and were later transported to a smaller camp. Year 2007 July The Iraqi government issued Laissez Passers for these refugees and informed them that with these Laissez Passers they could leave the TIPF camp and Iraq. The Laissez passers and the money of theses refugees were confiscated by Lt. Col Turluck and they were told that they could not leave the camp or Iraq. On many occasions the refugees asked Colonel Turluck to return their Laissez Passers and money so that they could leave the camp, but to no avail. The American military authorities also told them that the Iraqi government would not allow them to leave the country and that they would need visas for leaving Iraq. The relatives of these refugees went to the Iraqi Embassy in Tehran to inquire about the situation. They were told that the Iraqi government had already issued the Laissez Passers and that these refugees were free to leave the camp, acquire visa from a country and leave Iraq. These relatives also approached the Turkish Embassy in Tehran to find out if the Turkish government would issue visas to these refugees. They were informed that Turkey via its embassy in Iraq was prepared to grant visas to these 200 refugees if they applied in person. The refugees, however, were constantly told by the camp authorities that they have only the following two options. 1. To rejoin the PMOI (even though the PMOI is on the black list, i.e. it is considered to be a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union). 2. To go back to Iran (even though they could be executed by the Iranian regime). September · Twenty individuals started another peaceful vigil. This time Col. Turluck threatened to suppress the vigil once again if they did not stop it. Five of these individuals went on a hunger strike and as a result were placed in solitary confinement. They could not have any visitors and could not call their families. October · On October 8th, one individual was taken to the camp hospital and nobody was allowed to visit him. By October 12, after being on hunger strike for 29 days, he was told by the American authorities that if he would not break his hunger strike they would take him to Booka prison, cut his stomach open and would then force feed him. This individual was later transported to Krapeh hospital prison, which is usually used for members of Alghaedeh. · On October 8th, the other four individuals had been on hunger strike for 15 days, 12 days, 11 days and 9 days. One individual who was kept in the hospital of the camp had internal bleeding and had vomited blood. Col. Turluck visited these individual in their cells and told them that they should write their will and indicate where they wanted to be buried. These individuals were constantly being harassed by the American authorities to end their strike. · On October 13 Colonel Turluck announced that the Laissez Passers would be returned to all the refugees. While visiting the refugees on hunger strike in the solitary confinement, she promised them that if they broke their strike, their Laissez Passers would be retuned and they would be taken to Mousel. The refugees on hunger strike ended their strike and returned to the camp. · Colonel Turluck had promised that the voluntary project of re-location to Musel would be finalized by the end of October. · On October 22nd, these refugees were informed that due to the security reasons, they would not be allowed to use the phone. · By the end of October it became evident that the project of re-location to Musel was not going to materialize. November · By early November as the lies about re-location to Musel became evident, those who had broken their hunger strike started another hunger strike. · By November 20th, one of these individuals had been on hunger strike for 9 days. · On November 18 th , sometimes during the night, five of these individuals, who were on hunger strike, were taken out of the camp and were left on a nearby road. · Before leaving the camp, the camp authorities videotaped these individuals. In these videotapes they were asked to state that they were leaving the camp on their own free will. · Few days later five more individuals were taken out of the camp at night and were abandoned on the nearby road. · By now 20 individuals have been taken out of the camp in the dark of the night and have been dropped off somewhere close to the camp. · These abandoned individuals are in danger any time they come across an American checkpoint, the head hunters of the Iranian regime and the dangerous gangs and individuals in Iraq. · By November, the previous director of the camp, Col. Turluck, was replaced by Officer Harmon. December · On December 17 two individuals who had left the camp and were residing in a hotel, left their friend in the hotel for an outing. They have not been heard from since then and no one has any information of their whereabouts. · On December 18 six more individuals were taken out of the camp and were left on a nearby road. No one has heard from these individuals since then. Conditions at the camp: · No access to outside/denied to see a lawyer · No access to the internet · The limited letters, e-mails and phone calls are censored and monitored. If the refugees talk about their condition in the camp on the phone, the American authorities threaten them with losing the right to use the phone. Some emails were never sent and the complaints remain unanswered. · Limited medical services in the camp · No medical services outside the camp · A prisoner, who is going blind and needs immediate surgery, is not allowed to go to Baghdad for the operation. · Water shortage- no water on some days and on other days 3-4 hours at most, for months at a time · The refugees live in tents.

.Constant mal-treatment and torture – In one occasion, these refugees denied entry to their tents to an American soldier who refused to remove his boots. (They pray in the tents and therefore everybody must remove their shoes prior to entering the tent). The angry soldier beat them up and broke the shoulder of one of them. Needles to say, the broken shoulder was never treated medically. · There have been fifty incidents such as this resulting in the batter and injury of these refugees. · When these refugees go on hunger strike, they are immediately moved into solitary confinement and they lose all their privileges such as visits by their friends or contacting their families by phone. · There is evidence of cooperation between American authorities and PMOI. Once in a while some members of the PMOI are brought into the camp. They mingle with the refugees and try to get as much information as possible. They then pass the information to the American authorities and leave the camp. Two of these PMOI spies are presently living in Germany. Mohammad Hassibi Tel: 512-349-7899 hassibi@chebayadkard.com

Mohammad Hassibi, December 20, 2007 http://www.chebayadkard.org/chebayadkard/sokhan/20071217/maghaleh306.pdf

December 24, 2007 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

The Iranian Pen Club Letter to Ms Megevanal Roggo, International Committee of the Red Cross The Middle East Department

Dear Ms Beaterice Megevand Roggo,

According to the news received in the last few days by Iran-Ghalam (IRAN-PEN) association, the condition of disaffected members of Mojahedin Khalq Organisation who are now accommodated in the TIPF part of Ashraf Camp is critically dangerous. Some personalities have already raised concern not the least Mr. Mohammed Hasibi who has written an open letter today, 21 December 2007 raising his deep concern about the situation of these people. A copy of this letter is attached. You are aware that after the fall of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and since September 2003, TIPF was established provisionally alongside Ashraf Camp. The purpose was to locate those who defect the organisation at the first instance interviews by the American Forces. In those days the total number of people confined within the Ashraf Camp was 3855 while today only 3450 are remaining there. From those defected members who managed to get themselves to TIPF, more that 350 have succeeded being sent to their own country (Iran) or some European countries with the help of various governments, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Iraqi ministry of human rights. But unfortunately it is more than a year now that the process of freeing from the Camp – the total number makes to around 200 so far – has been stopped or intensely slowed down. As you are aware, in various reports by the Human Rights Watch, the European Union, the British Government, the US State Department, the Canadian Foreign office, and many other sources as well as the worldwide media, the deeds and practices of the MKO and its leader Mas’ud Rajavi have been categorised as terrorist, cultic, and violating the bases of human rights. Some documentation is enclosed to this letter in this regards. Therefore, we urge you to pay attention to our concerns as well as those of the families of the MKO members for the destiny of our offspring, our siblings, our spouses, and our friends who are held in Ashraf Camp by a destructive cult. Those who have defected from the organisation and are held at the Temporary International Presence Facilities (TIPF), as well as those who for any reason have not been able to flee the MKO and are still kept in their base, must be protected by the ICRC and the World Declaration for Human Rights; and we urge you to help them by any means you can. It is also worth mentioning that the MKO is considering the freedom of its members and their departure from Iraq as a grave threat to its existence and consider it as an encouragement to the remaining members to defect this terrorist cult. It is essential to point out the fact that the Amnesty International (AI) has expressed its concern over the events carried out inside the Ashraf Camp. Also, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a report on 18 May 2005 which points out many cases of systematically violating human rights inside the MKO since 2002. The report done by the HRW is based on the former members’ testimonies now living in Europe. A copy of the report is enclosed. You are aware that self-immolations done by some members in European capitals after the arrest of their leader Maryam Rajavi in Paris on 17 June 2003, is one obvious example of the kind. Like all cults, this organisation needs a remote site to be able to isolate the members from the outside world. The residents of Ashraf Camp have no contact with the real world, not even with their relatives or old friends. The members are forced to participate in the daily ideological sessions called "the Current Operation". In these sessions members are systematically subject to peer pressure and coercion methods. According to articles 25 and 26 of the fourth convention of Geneva which had enabled the MKO’s presence in Iraq, the members could freely have contact with their families. But unfortunately, both the members and their worried and suffering families have been deprived from such benefits. Therefore, we insist that the pressure be mounted against the MKO to lift any obstacles. The Iranian Pen Club has become aware through its corresponding about the efforts made by the Iraqi ministry of human rights for preventing the violation of human rights within the MKO. We would be more that pleased to learn that we could benefit from your cooperation and assistance too. We are prepared to hand over the names and particulars of the discontented members and those who wish to defect from the organisation as well as necessary files and documents. We would be most pleased to have a meeting with you or your colleagues in the office of the ICRC in European countries and be able to present our stories and documents in person. The Iranian Pen Club has become aware through its corresponding about the efforts made by the Iraqi ministry of human rights for preventing the violation of human rights within the MKO. We would be more that pleased to learn that we could benefit from your cooperation and assistance too. With many thanks and regards The Iranian Pen Club 21.12.2007 Postfach 90 06 63 51116 Köln Germany info@iran-ghalam.de kanoon-ghalam@hotmail.de 00491759726840 00491639076911 Copy to: The Representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq The United Nation’s General Secretary The Human Rights Watch The Minister of Human Rights of the Republic of Iraq The Representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva

Iranian Pen Club, December 22, 2007 http://www.iran-ghalam.de/2Haupt/2198-Galam-En.21.8.12.07.HTM

December 24, 2007 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts