Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) From: Country Reports on Terrorism, 2004. United States Department of State, April 2005. ——————————————————————————– Other Names The National Liberation Army of Iran The People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI) National Council of Resistance (NCR) National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Muslim Iranian Student’s Society Description The MEK philosophy mixes Marxism and Islam. Formed in the 1960s, the organization was expelled from Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and its primary support came from the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein starting in the late 1980s. The MEK conducted anti-West-ern attacks prior to the Islamic Revolution. Since then, it has conducted terrorist attacks against the interests of the clerical regime in Iran and abroad. The MEK advocates the overthrow of the Iranian regime and its replacement with the group’s own leadership. Activities The group’s worldwide campaign against the Iranian Government stresses propaganda and occasionally uses terrorism. During the 1970s, the MEK killed US military personnel and US civilians working on defense projects in Tehran and supported the takeover in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. In 1981, the MEK detonated bombs in the head office of the Islamic Republic Party and the Premier’s office, killing some 70 high-ranking Iranian officials, including Chief Justice Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, President Mohammad-Ali Rajaei, and Premier Mohammad-Javad Bahonar. Near the end of the 19801988 war with Iran, Baghdad armed the MEK with military equipment and sent it into action against Iranian forces. In 1991, the MEK assisted the Government of Iraq in suppressing the Shia and Kurdish uprisings in southern Iraq and the Kurdish uprisings in the north. In April 1992, the MEK conducted near-simultaneous attacks on Iranian embassies and installations in 13 countries, demonstrating the group’s ability to mount large-scale operations overseas. In April 1999, the MEK targeted key military officers and assassinated the deputy chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff. In April 2000, the MEK attempted to assassinate the commander of the Nasr Headquarters, Tehran’s interagency board responsible for coordinating policies on Iraq. The normal pace of anti-Iranian operations increased during "Operation Great Bahman" in February 2000, when the group launched a dozen attacks against Iran. One of those attacks included a mortar attack against the leadership complex in Tehran that housed the offices of the Supreme Leader and the President. In 2000 and 2001, the MEK was involved regularly in mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids on Iranian military and law enforcement units and Government buildings near the Iran-Iraq border, although MEK terrorism in Iran declined toward the end of 2001. After Coalition aircraft bombed MEK bases at the outset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the MEK leadership ordered its members not to resist Coalition forces, and a formal cease-fire arrangement was reached in May 2003. Strength Over 3,000 MEK members are currently confined to Camp Ashraf, the MEK’s main compound north of Baghdad, where they remain under the Geneva Convention’s "protected person" status and Coalition control. As a condition of the cease-fire agreement, the group relinquished its weapons, including tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy artillery. A significant number of MEK personnel have "defected" from the Ashraf group, and several dozen of them have been voluntarily repatriated to Iran. Location/Area of Operation In the 1980s, the MEK’s leaders were forced by Iranian security forces to flee to France. On resettling in Iraq in 1987, almost all of its armed units were stationed in fortified bases near the border with Iran. Since Operation Iraqi Freedom, the bulk of the group is limited to Camp Ashraf, although an overseas support structure remains with associates and supporters scattered throughout Europe and North America. External Aid Before Operation Iraqi Freedom, the group received all of its military assistance, and most of its financial support, from the former Iraqi regime. The MEK also has used front organizations to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian communities. ——————————————————————————– This is an official U.S. Navy web site
Remember those terrorists Iraq was accused of harboring and training before the war? They’re on Washington’s side now.
One of the terrorist organizations that the U.S. accused Iraq of supporting during the run-up to the war, the Mujahedin Khalq (MEK) or the "People’s Combatants", has been lobbying House Republicans and Democrats.
More than 300 U.S. legislators from both parties have at one time or other signed petitions in support of the MEK since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, and MEK spokesmen say they have offered the sect’s services to the United States.
According to a Guardian story, "Now US ponders attack on Iran†(1/18/2005) "the Pentagon was recently contemplating the infiltration of members of the Iranian rebel group, Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) over the Iraq-Iran border, to collect intelligence. The group, based at Camp Ashraf, near Baghdad, was under the protection of Saddam Hussein, and is under US guard while Washington decides on its strategy. The MEK has been declared a terrorist group by the state department, but a former Farsi-speaking CIA officer said he had been asked by neo-conservatives in the Pentagon to travel to Iraq to oversee ‘MEK cross-border operations’.â€
The MEK started in Iran as an Islamic-Marxist group, and was expelled in 1979 by the Iranian Islamic Fundamentalist Party that took power. They fled to France where the French foreign minister, Claude Cheysson, convinced the MEK leader Massoud Rajavi to work with the Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz and the Iraqi government during the Iraq-Iran War during the 1980s.
Special U.S. Middle East Envoy, Donald Rumsfeld, frequently met with Tariq Aziz in the ’80s and sent biological and chemical weapons to Iraq to be used against the Iranians. Later, again with the knowledge and acceptance of the Bush government, these weapons were used by the Iraqi military against the the Iranian Army with logistical support from the CIA.
The MEK helped the revolutionary Khomeini regime to take power in 1979. Part of their assistance consisted in burning down restaurants and cinemas. The MEK initiated the idea of taking over the U.S. embassy and holding Americans hostage. Yet within a year, MEK leaders decided that the Khomeini regime wasn’t behaving in a "revolutionary" fashion and soon they were plotting to overthrow Khomeini and the Islamic Fundamentalist leaders of Iran.
In 1987, Jacques Chirac, then Prime Minister of France, allowed the MEK to operate outside Paris by signing an agreement with them that they would not kill any Iranians on French soil.
France intentionally dismantled the group in 2002 several months before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March of 2003."
These sleazy terrorists held a fundraiser for victims of Iran’s devastating December 26 earthquake in January 2004!! Members of congress were invited and many attended. They support a group that kills women and children .
On 25 July 1988, in the last days of Iran-Iraq war, after the ceasefire was accepted by Ayatollah Khomeini, the MKO (Mojahedin-e khalq Organization) launched an all-out armed operation against the Islamic republic; despite early breakthrough, it was soon crushed by the military forces loyal to the Islamic Republic.
This operation, called by the MKO "Forough-e Javidan" (Eternal Light) and called "Mersad" (Ambsuh) by Iranian leaders, was the largest armed move by an iranian opposition group which was performed to topple the Islamic Republic government.
Using heavy weaponry (including tanks, armored vehicles) and with thousands of trained members, Mojahedin entered Iran from Iran on July 25, very easily and determinedly. They soon passed the cities of Kermanshah province and captured Sarpol Zahab, Karand, and Western Islamabad and moved towards the city of Kermanshah.
According to the Iranian officials, the early successes by the MKO had created fear among the authorities and they were concerned that Kermanshah might fall soon and that MKO forces move toward the capital.
It seemed that MKO, conceited of developments and the support of the people of the captured cities, moved toward Kermanshah.
Iranian military commanders say they withdrew intentionally in order to blow back later with stronger force.
According to the officials, Revolutionary Guard and Basij forces started their final operation on July 27, when the MKO was only 40 kilometers from the city of Kermansha. MKO forces were crushed heavily.
Revolutionary Guard commanders say that around 1500 armed members of the MKO were killed in the operation and many of them were wounded or captured.
But Iranian officials have not mentioned the number of casualties on their own side.
Now the MKO calls this operation one of its historical achievements!! They called it "Forough Insurance" and said that they imposed a big blow on the pillars of Islamic republic. They also claim that they killed thousands of Iranian forces.
The MKO has never mentioned the real purpose of this operation and it never says whether it was to capture Tehran. So, in MKO’s point of view, this operation has not failed.
But heavy failure and the high number of casualties of MKO made some members and supporters ask questions on the accuracy of decision (by MKO leader) to attack Iran.
A number of high ranking officials of MKO, who later left the MKO, called it a "military suicide" and put the blame on Massoud Rajavi the leader of the organization.
Many of the experts believe that the waning period of MKO, as an armed group, started since that time.
Former members of the organization say that after that time MKO was more dependent on Saddam Hussein.
After the fall of Saddam Hussein by US-led coalition forces, the MKO left its independence more than ever before and after being disarmed by US forces, was limited to its main base near Baghdad (under the US control).
Now, around 3000 MKO members are living in limbo in Iraq, without clear future.
3/7/2004
1. Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
2. Abu Sayyaf Group
3. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade
4. Armed Islamic Group (GIA)
5. Asbat al-Ansar
6. Aum Shinrikyo
7. Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
8. Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA)
9. Gama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group)HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
10. Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)
11. Hizballah (Party of God)
12. Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
13. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) (Army of Mohammed)
14. Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI)
15. al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad)
16. Kahane Chai (Kach)
17. Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) a.k.a. Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy
18. Congress (KADEK)Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT) (Army of the Righteous)
19. Lashkar i Jhangvi
20. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
21. Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)
22. National Liberation Army (ELN)
23. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
24. Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)
25. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
26. PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
27. al-Qa’ida
28. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
29. Revolutionary Nuclei (formerly ELA)
30. Revolutionary Organization 17 November
31. Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army/Front (DHKP/C)Salafist Group for 32. Call and Combat (GSPC)
33. Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL)
34. United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
TRC Terrorist Group Profile – Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO)
This group was formed in the 1960s by the college-educated children of wealthy Iranian merchants. Their purpose in organizing was to counter what they perceived as excessive Western influence in the Shah`s regime and to bring the nation more in line with their philosophical blend of Marxism and Islam. At a point early in the 1970`s, the MEK concluded that violence was the only way to bring about change in Iran. Since then, the MEK has developed into the largest and most active armed Iranian dissident group. Its history is studded with anti-Western and anti-Iranian activity, continuing with recent attacks on the interests of the regime in Iran and abroad. During the 1970s the MEK staged terrorist attacks inside Iran to destabilize and embarrass the Shah`s regime; the group killed several U.S. military personnel and civilians working on defense projects in Tehran.
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implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2004/306/EC To view the list of Terrorist organizations published by EU click here
List of Terrorist organizations & liberation movements published by Federation of American Scientists
Terrorist group profile Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MeK)
Mothertongue Name: Mujahedin-e-Khalq
Aliases: Mojahedin Khalq Organisation, Mujahideen-e Khalq Organisation (MKO), People’s Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI)
Base of Operation: France; Iraq
Founding Philosophy: The MEK is the primary opposition to the current Iranian government and acts as the focal point of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of Iranian opposition groups which claims to be the transitional parliament-in-exile with 570 members. The NCRI was headquartered in Iraq, with representative offices in other countries including a presence in Washington where it has previously received support from the US Congress. After the 9/11 attacks however, the US government actively courted cooperation from the government of Iran and further sidelined any unofficial support for the MEK. Worsening their reputation further, intelligence reports suggested that the MEK’s military camps in Iraq might be hiding some of Iraq’s weapons programs. The group surrendered to US forces following the US invasion of Iraq. In May 2003, US Central Command stated that the group was "complying fully with Coalition instructions and directives". The MEK began as a liberal nationalistic party supporting former Prime Minister Mossaddeq against the Shah. When a 1963 uprising against the Shah failed, more radical members split off to form the MEK. In 1971 the new group began its armed struggle against the Shah, whom it saw as a dictator and a puppet of the United States.
The group conducted a number of attacks on US military personnel and civilians in Iran in the 1970s. Although the group initially supported the 1979 revolution and the overthrow of the Shah, the group’s secular perspective led to an eventual crackdown by the Khomeni regime following MEK’s call for a mass demonstration after the 1981 impeachment of Abolhasan Bani-Sadr, the elected President and chairman of the Islamic Revolutionary Council. Thousands of MEK members were killed and imprisoned during the repression. The MEK’s leaders fled to Paris and their military infrastructure moved to Iraq. The headquarters were relocated to Iraq in 1987, the MEK’s military wing, the NLA was formed and began using Iraq as a base for cross-border raids into Iran. In 1991, it assisted Saddam Hussein in suppressing the Shia and Kurdish uprisings, and continued to perform internal security services for the Government thereafter. In April 1992, the MEK conducted near-simultaneous attacks on Iranian Embassies and installations in 13 countries. More recently, the MEK assassinated the deputy chief of the Armed Forces General Staff of Iran in April 1999, and was involved regularly in mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids on Iranian military and law-enforcement units and government buildings near the Iran-Iraq border throughout 2000 and 2001.
Current Goals: The MEK’s goal is to overthrow the Iranian government and replace it with the NCRI. At a 1995 conference, the group outlined a 16-point plan:
1) Guarantee freedom of belief, expression and the press, without censorship; 2) Guarantee freedom for political parties, unions, groups, councils, forums, syndicates, except those loyal to either the Shah or Ayatollah Khomeini, provided they stayed within the law; 3) Ensure governments would be elected; 4) Respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 5) Abolish courts, tribunals, security departments introduced by the Ayatollah Khomeini regime; 6) Ensure women enjoy the same social, political and cultural rights as men (including a ban on polygamy); 7) Abolish privileges based on gender, religion or ethnic group; 8) End discrimination against religious minorities; 9) Abolish compulsory religious practice; 10) Secure Iranian territorial integrity while recognising the right of Iranian Kurdistan to autonomy; 11) Safeguard all social, cultural and political rights for ethnic minorities; 12) Repeal what the MEK deems to be `anti-labour, anti-peasant laws’; 13) Encourage a return from exile for all who fled either the Shah or Khomeini regime; 14) Base the economy on the free market, national capitalism and private ownership; 15) Provide welfare needs to the poor; 16) Improve Iran’s foreign relations with neighbouring and other states; to live in peaceful co-existence.
The Mujahedin-e-Khalq have periodically released information on Iran’s developing nuclear weapons program, however the information cannot usually be verified. The group’s information was, however, crucial in the 2002 revelation of Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Its latest release came in February 2005, when the group passed on information to the International Atomic Energy Administration (IAEA) that Iran now possesses sources for polonium-210 and beryllium, crucial components in building an “initiator.” The group claims that this is the last objective that Iran needed to fulfill and that they plan to have a nuclear weapon by the end of 2005.
Date Formed: Formed in 1963; began armed operations in 1971
Strength: Greater than 500 members
Classification: Leftist
Last Attack: Jan. 21, 2001
Financial Sources: For years the group recieved all of its military assistance, and most of its financial support, from the Iraqi regime. In addition, the MEK uses front organizations to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian communities, as well as a number of charities which operate as human rights organisations monitoring the Iranian government, or which claim to provide relief for Iranian refugees, are in fact collecting funds for the MEK.
U.S. Terrorist Exclusion
List Designee: No
US State Dept. FTO: Designated: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Watched: No
Key Leaders: Rajavi, Maryam Rajavi, Massoud
Related Groups: Muslim Iranian Student’s Society • Financial Associate
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Umbrella Group
National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA) • Political Wing
Foreign Terrorist Organization ("[FTO]") the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN (NCRI) has now also been listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist ("[SDGT]"), including its U.S. representative offices and all other offices worldwide. The following clarifications to existing entries have also been issued: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE (NCR) (a.k.a. MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. MEK; a.k.a. MKO; a.k.a. MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ; a.k.a. NLA; a.k.a. ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE’S HOLY WARRIORS OF IRAN; a.k.a. PEOPLE’S MUJAHEDIN ORGANIZATION OF IRAN; a.k.a. PMOI; a.k.a. SAZEMAN-E MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ-E IRAN; a.k.a. THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY OF IRAN), including its U.S. representative offices and all other offices worldwide [FTO][SDGT]
PEOPLE’S MUJAHEDIN ORGANIZATION OF IRAN (a.k.a. MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. MEK; a.k.a. MKO; a.k.a. MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ; a.k.a. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE (NCR); a.k.a. NLA; a.k.a. ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE’S HOLY WARRIORS OF IRAN; a.k.a. PMOI; a.k.a. SAZEMAN-E MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ-E IRAN; a.k.a. THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY OF IRAN), including its U.S. press office and all other offices worldwide [FTO][SDGT]
PMOI (a.k.a. MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. MEK; a.k.a. MKO; a.k.a. MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ; a.k.a. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE (NCR); a.k.a. NLA; a.k.a. ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE’S HOLY WARRIORS OF IRAN; a.k.a. PEOPLE’S MUJAHEDIN ORGANIZATION OF IRAN; a.k.a. SAZEMAN-E MUJAHEDIN-E KHALQ-E IRAN; a.k.a. THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY OF IRAN), including its U.S. press office and all other offices worldwide [FTO][SDGT]
Office of Foreign Assets Control
08/15/2003