Founded in 1965 by a group of leftist iranian college students as an islamic political movement, the mujahedine khalq organization was mainly devoted to opposing the rule of the shah before the islamic revolution. The history of the mek, or the peoples mujahedin of iran, is long and complicated. The mek has a history that does go back to the time of the shah in the 1970s. Arab news reported that key organizers of recent protests could be said to be associates of this oppositional group mek. Another mujahideen was the mujahedin e islam, an islamic party led by ayatollah abolghasem kashani. The mujahedin ekhalq organization in iraq terrorspring. Trump allies visit throws light on secretive iranian.
And there were some in the administration who wanted to use the mujahideen e khalq as a. The mko has carried out numerous terrorist attacks against iranian civilians and government officials over the past three decades. The mujahedin e khalq later claimed responsibility. Irans important geopolitical status and the critical role of the national council of resistance ncr and the peoples mojahedin organisation of iran in shaping that countryd future have prompted many scholars and analysts to address these issues from varying angles. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran or the mojahedine khalq persian. The mek is currently campaigning to be officially delisted in the us as a terrorist organisation. The iranian regimes long coverup of this crisis, its inaction and not taking necessary measures, such as releasing all prisoners have made the situation even worse. Peoples mojahedin organisation of iran sourcewatch. The peoples mojahedin organisation of iran pmoi, also known as mujahedin e khalq, is the largest and most militant group opposed to the islamic republic of iran. The mujahedin e khalq pmoimek was founded in 1965 by three muslim university graduates and sought to replace the shahs dictatorship with a representative government that respects human rights. Founded in september 5, 1965 by a group of leftist muslim iranian university students as an islamic and marxist political mass movement. Who is the iranian group targeted by bombers and beloved.
Jan, 2006 state scholarships enabled a far greater range of iranians to receive higher education than at any previous time in history. Analysis the mujahideene khalq mek showdown with iran. Terrorists, cultists or champions of iranian democracy. Abrahamian, thus began an act of violence unprecedented in iranian history. Iran irn35739 national council of resistance mojahedine. Mujahedine khalq mek shackled by a twisted history. Mujahedin definition of mujahedin by the free dictionary.
I have asked people to provide page number previously. Bloomfield, a former defense and foreign policy official who has served three presidents over five administrations in the pentagon, white house and state department, has produced a scholarly history about the mek. Sazmane mojahedine khalqe iran, abbreviated mek, pmoi or mko is an iranian politicalmilitant organization in exile that advocates the violent overthrow of the current regime in iran, while claiming itself as the replacing government in exile. At the outset of oif, the mek was designated a hostile force, largely because of its history of cooperation with saddam husseins military in the iraniraq war and its alleged involvement in his suppression of the shia and kurdish uprisings that followed the gulf. New book details atrocities by iranian regime in the 1980s. Description the mek advocates the violent overthrow of the iranian regime. The sordid history of state sponsored terrorism against. Peoples mujahedin of iran communpedia, the communist. The mek was the first iranian organization to develop systematically a modern revolutionary interpretation of islam an interpretation that differed sharply from both the old conservative islam of the traditional clergy and the new populist version formulated in the 1970s. He reportedly cooperated with it in the area of chemicalbiologicalradiologicalnuclear cbrn weapons and may have trained some fighters in iraq at camps run by saddams antiiran force, the mujahedin al khalq.
They were all books about psychology and books relevant to cults. Mujahedin e khalq has also conducted attacks against numerous western targets, both in europe, north america and elsewhere. This book is based on a bipartisan delegation that visited ashraf 3 in albania which is currently the home of thousands of peoples mojahedin organization of iran pmoi, mujahedine khalq or mek, members. They appropriated the mek name, and in a book entitled manifesto on. The mujahedin e khalq mek was formed in 1965 by a group of leftist students in iran who opposed the regime under shah mohammad reza pahlavi. This discussion took place in january at the mek iran base in albania where a contingent of public figures and journalists were invited from around the world to visit. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran, or the mojahedine khalq persian. Mujahedin e khalq s ultimate goal is to update and modernize their interpretation of radical islam. Mujahedinekhalq mek is an organization with a history of violent terrorism against americans and others, and was a key strategic asset of saddam hussein during his brutal crackdown on iraqi kurds in the early 90s. From the mujahedine khalq mekshackled by a twisted history. Do you have brief background information on how the book of martyrs was. Yes, we do know the mek has a terrorist past politico magazine.
In 1965, mek was formed by a group of iranian college students as an islamic political movement. Established in the 1960s, the marxistislamist group killed members of the shahs security apparatus on the streets of iranian cities. Sep 01, 2012 who are the peoples mujahedin of iran also known as mek. Bloomfields book raises painful questions about the limits of. The story of the peoples mujahedin of iran, also known as the mujahedin e khalq mek, is all about the way image management can enable a. The mujahedin e khalq mekshackled by a twisted history is available at amazon. Irans mujahideene khalq has friends at the white house. It houses thousands of exiled iranians who would fear for their lives if they were living in iran during current. In the washington times, former secretary of homeland security tom ridge strongly endorsed the book. The iranian mujahideen mujahideene khalq mek youtube.
Its arabic singular, mujahid, was not an uncommon personal name from the early islamic period onward. Despite its checkered history and only recent delisting as a terrorist organization. The mujahedin e khalq, or mek, has emerged as a leading expatriate dissident group battling the iranian regime. After two and a half decades i realised that this is what he was doing. Mek kills us personnel in tehran the mujahedeene khalq mek, a militant iranian political organization formed in the 1960s, kills us military personnel and us civilians working on defense projects in tehran. Mujahedine khalq organization mek the investigative. Maryam rajavi the presidentelect of the national council of resistance of iran ncri. The following is a list of notable people assassinated by the peoples mujahedin of iran assassinations heads of government branches. So far, it has lost tens of thousands of its members and. After that time it was inevitable that the camp would close.
Dec, 2016 members of the mujahedeen khalq, or mek, an armed iranian opposition group in iraq, guard the road leading to the groups main training camp near baqubah, north central iraq, in may 2003. Peoples mujahedin of iran wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Mujahedeene khalq mek terrorist supported by the united. However, the term did not gain popular currency as a collective or plural noun referring to holy. During operation iraqi freedom, coalition forces classified the mujahedin e khalq mek, an iranian dissident group dedicated to the violent overthrow of the iranian government, as an enemy force. Beware of the mek the voices supporting the mek are ignoring the lessons of some of the most catastrophic u. The guardian s audio long reads terrorists, cultists or champions of iranian democracy. May 25, 2011 the mujahedin e khalq pmoimek was founded in 1965 by three muslim university graduates and sought to replace the shahs dictatorship with a representative government that respects human rights. The story of this group, which was formed by student intellectuals during the 1960s to oppose the shah of iran but became an enemy of the clerical. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran or the mojahedin e khalq abbreviated mek, pmoi or mko is an iranian politicalmilitant organization in exile that advocates the violent overthrow of the government of iran while claiming itself as the replacing shadow government. It was a group that propounded an ideology that mixed islamism and marxism. In this book a leading authority on iranian political parties offers the first history of. Widely regarded as a cult, the mek was once designated as a terrorist organisation by the us and.
Mujahedin e khalq mek, also known as the peoples mojahedin organization of iran or by the alias national council of resistance of iran ncri, is a cult citation needed of iranian terrorists who oppose the government of iran. Mek camp in albania fake heshmat alavi and the troll factory iran interlink mek rajavi cult mek camp in albania fake heshmat alavi and the troll factory. Mohammad hanifnejad, said mohsen, and aliashgar badizadgan founded the peoples mojahedin organization of iran pmoi or mujahedine khalq, mek on september 6, 1965. Irans resurgent resistancea book on mek iran ashraf. Conflict with ayatollah khomeini turned into open war and most of mek members fled abroad. Regarding iraq, bin laden, as noted, was in contact with baghdads intelligence service since at least 1994. Mujahedeen e khalq mek sazman e mojahedin e khalq e iran mujahedin e khalq organization mko national liberation army of iran nla peoples mujahedin organization of iran pmoi muslim iranian students society national council of resistance ncr national council of resistance of iran ncri description. The event marked a turning point in the history of the mojahedin in its struggle against the fundamentalist ideology of khomeini, which was especially harsh toward iranian women. In the early 1970s, mek members killed several us soldiers and civilians working on defense projects in tehran. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran pmoi, mujahedin e khalq or mek announced on wednesday that nearly 16,000 people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus outbreak since the novel coronavirus first reached iran on flights from china, doctors and activists have been raising alarms about its impact on iranians.
The fascinating story of the controversial life of camp ashraf in iraq from its foundation in 1986 to the present day is told in this book. Why trumps hawks back the mek terrorist cult the new. Morteza shafaei, my mom, two brothers one was only 16, my sister and my brotherinlaw. Mujahedin e khalq has long been jointly led by husbandand. Official website of iranian opposition group pmoimek mujahedin e khalq. Mujahedine khalq mek shackled by a twisted historyauthor by lincoln p. But there was only one item that united iranians inside iran. Originally created to accommodate the iranian opposition group mojahedin e khalq aka mek, mko, pmoi, rajavi cult and. New book on the mek and ashraf iiisupporters of mek iran. The mujahedin e khalq mek, the extreme iranian opposition group who was the target of a foiled bombing attack in france, was once a sworn enemy of the united states.
A rand study recommends that most mek members be repatriated to iran. A 2005 report offering a succinct history of the mek and its attacks against iranians and americans. Mek fits well into definition of cult aka mojahedin khalq. Peoples mojahedin organization of iran the pmoimek seeks to replace irans religious dictatorship with a secular, pluralistic, democratic government that respects individual freedoms and gender equality. The huffington post, 04 march 2010 the mujahedine khalq pmoimek was founded in 1965 by three muslim university graduates and sought to replace the shahs dictatorship with a representative government that respects human rights. Successive iraqi governments since 2003 insisted that the americans close camp ashraf and expel the foreign terrorist group mojahedine khalq from the country because of the groups history of terrible crimes against the people of iraq. Families in mek cult iran interlink mek rajavi cult families in mek cult mojahedin khalq organization hostages from iraq to albania.
University campuses became incubators of opposition. Radio liberty, march 19 2020 the mujahedin e khalq organization mek is an exiled iranian opposition group. It advocates overthrowing the islamic republic of iran leadership and installing its own government. It was in this era of oppression that mohammad hanifnejad, saeid mohsen and ali asghar badizadegan founded the group that would later become the peoples mojahedin organization of iran pmoimek aka mujahedin e khalq, the oldest and largest resistance movement in iran. List of people assassinated by the peoples mujahedin of iran. Special events marking the publication of this work will be announced shortly. How i was interrogated by the new york times issues. Young radicals looked abroad and drew inspiration from revolutionary movements in algeria, vietnam, cuba, and elsewhere. Mek families petition albanian government to allow contact loved ones iran interlink mek rajavi cult mek families petition albanian government. The peoples mojahedin of iran or the mojahedinekhalq mek, also pmoi, mko. However, the term did not gain popular currency as a.
Peoples mujahedin of iran mek was a participant or observer in the following events. Today, the organization focuses mainly on human rights and respect for personal property. March 2012 the mujahedin e khalq sometimes referred to as the mek, the mko, the pmoi, the ncri or, perhaps more fittingly, the cult of rajaviis a strange terrorist group by anyones. Apr 17, 2020 the peoples mojahedin organization of iran. The peoples mujahedin of iran, or mujahedin e khalq mek, has a dark history of violence and acts of terrorism against american interests. Mohahedine khalqe iran peoples mojahedin organization of iran. What the world is being told about the official figure for coronavirus victims is just one big lie. Critics and many of those who have left the group in recent.
We, the supporters of the mek irans historical struggle for freedom in iran, are mainly a group of iranians from all occupations that feel motivated and inspired by the values and teachings of mujahedine khalq mek iran. But after the 1979 revolution, it fell victim to the new dictatorships onslaught. They see the mek as a viable opposition to the iranian theocracy but, despite years of trying to influence us policies at the highest level, the exiles never managed to find a friend at the white house. History of the peoples mojahedin organization of iran. We, the supporters of the mek irans historical struggle for freedom in iran, are mainly a group of iranians from all occupations that feel motivated and inspired by the values and teachings of mujahedin e khalq mek iran. The friends left in the shadow of war, july 17, 20. Mek camp in albania fake heshmat alavi and the troll. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran pmoi, mujahedin e khalq or mek announced that as of saturday, over,000 people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus outbreak. Mujahedine khalq organization details written by habilian created. Peoples mujahedin of iran is an iranian exile organization officially declared a terrorist organization both in the united states and iran. Originally created to accommodate the iranian opposition group mojahedine khalq aka mek, mko, pmoi, rajavi cult and. The mohahedin whose history is covered in this book are the sazemane.
Irans regime lies about the impact of coronavirus after. As ali shamkhani, national security chief mentioned in the saying to members of parliament the mujahedin e khalq was behind the protests which raised after increasing the price of petrol. Recently, the longescalated relations between tehran and riyadh worsened after participating of prince turki alfaisal, saudi former intelligence chief, in mujahedin e khalq organizations mko annual meeting the in le bourget, near paris on july 9. Mek families petition albanian government to allow contact. May 30, 2012 the story of the peoples mujahedin of iran, also known as the mujahedin e khalq mek, is all about the way image management can enable a diehard enemy to become a cherished ally. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran, or the mojahedine khalq is an iranian. The peoples mojahedin organization of iran, or the mojahedine khalq, is an iranian politicalmilitant organization. Sazmane mojahedine khalqe iran is an iranian opposition movement in exile that advocates the overthrow of the islamic republic of iran. Mujahideen, in its broadest sense, those muslims who proclaim themselves warriors for the faith. Latest news on mek mujahedine khalq mek iran freedom. Iran irn35739 national council of resistance mojahedin e khalk niversity admission 3 december 2009 1. Sorry i used this framework to send you an email, since i could not find other way.
August 8 eight diplomats at the iranian consulate in mazar e sharif were killed after the taliban captured the city in northwest afghanistan. Ali sayyad shirazi was assassinated outside of his home in tehran by the mujahedin e khalq. The following is an interview i conducted via email with osli jazexhi, an albanianbased, canadianalbanian historian who specializes in the history of islam, nationalism and religious reformation in southeastern europe. The peoples mujahedeen of iran, more commonly known as the mujahedeenekhalq or mek, is a controversial iranian resistance group. Critics believe the group to be undemocratic and unpopular, and indeed antiamerican.
Mujahedin e khalq mek from iraq to albania the mek in albania americans championed mujahideen e khalq mek. Mek peoples mujahedin of iran us news the guardian. During operation iraqi freedom, coalition forces classified the mujahedine khalq mek, an iranian dissident group dedicated to the violent overthrow of the iranian government, as an enemy force. Families in mek cult iran interlink mek rajavi cultiran.
It has a controversial history and is backed by several prominent public figures in the united states. How an organization that was only delisted by the us department of state as a terrorist group in 2012 could so soon after win influential friends at the heart of americas current administration is the strange and sinister story of the mujahedin e khalq, better known by its initials, mek. The peoples mujahedin of iran pmoi, also mek, mko persian. The mujahedine khalq or mek, the iranian regimes most. The mek philosophy mixes marxism, feminism, nationalism, and islam. A marxian iranian exile group with cultlike qualities, mujahideen e khalq was responsible for the killing of six americans in iran in the 1970s, along with staging a handful of bombings. As a case in point, he cited republican us senator john mccains meeting with the head of the terrorist antiiran mujahedin e khalq organization mko, maryam rajavi, in the albanian capital tirana on friday. Mek only targets security and government officials. I was 8yearsold when the regime executed six members of my family in 1981 because they supported the opposition mujahedin e khalq. It formed part of the national front iran during the time of mohammed mosaddeqs oil nationalization, but broke away from mosaddeq over his allegedly unislamic policies. Peoples mujahedin of iran peoples mojahedin organization. It was the conviction of the mojahedin that if women are the primary victims of the iranian regime, then they should be given a privileged status in the meks ranks. Peoples mujahedin of iran wikipedia republished wiki 2. Coronavirus death toll exceeds 31,500 in 294 cities.
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