People's Mujahedin of Iran

People's Mujahedin of Iran. The organization, also known by its Persian acronym MEK, is an Iranian political-militant organization founded in 1965 that opposes the current Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Initially rooted in a revolutionary interpretation of Islam and Marxism, it evolved into a prominent opposition group, engaging in armed struggle against the Pahlavi dynasty and later the post-revolutionary government. Designated as a terrorist organization by several countries in the past, it has since cultivated significant political support in Western capitals, particularly in the United States and among members of the European Parliament.

History

The group was established in Tehran by a trio of University of Tehran graduates, including Mohammad Hanifnejad, seeking a modern Islamic alternative to both the Shah's secular monarchy and traditional Shiite clergy. Following the White Revolution, it launched a campaign of armed resistance against the Pahlavi dynasty, leading to the execution of its founding leaders by the SAVAK. After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, it initially supported the new government but quickly turned against Ruhollah Khomeini, culminating in a violent crackdown after the June 1981 protest and a failed bombing that killed dozens of Islamic Republican Party leaders. Forced into exile, its leadership under Massoud Rajavi and later Maryam Rajavi relocated to France before establishing a paramilitary base at Camp Ashraf in Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War, where it fought alongside Saddam Hussein's forces. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, its members were disarmed by the United States Army and eventually relocated to Albania, where they now reside at Ashraf 3.

Ideology and political positions

Originally synthesizing tenets of Shia Islam with concepts from Marxist theory, the group's ideology was outlined in the treatise Manifesto of Ideological Foundations. This Islamic socialist phase emphasized armed struggle and opposition to Western imperialism. Following the Iranian Revolution, a major ideological shift occurred, rejecting the principle of Velayat-e faqih and moving towards a staunchly secular and republican platform. The group now advocates for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and its replacement with a democratic, pluralist system, with Maryam Rajavi's Ten-point plan for the future of Iran serving as its central political platform, which includes commitments to gender equality, a market economy, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Organization and structure

The group operates as a highly centralized and hierarchical organization under the leadership of its President-elect, Maryam Rajavi. It functions as the principal member and driving force within the broader political coalition known as the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which includes various smaller opposition groups. Internally, it maintains a paramilitary wing, the National Liberation Army of Iran, which was active during the Iran–Iraq War. The organization's headquarters, Ashraf 3 in Albania, serves as its main operational and political base, from which it conducts extensive media outreach through outlets like Simay-e Azadi and organizes large-scale rallies in cities such as Paris and Berlin.

Activities and operations

During the 1970s, its activities included assassinations of U.S. military personnel and civilians in Iran, such as those during the 1970s, and attacks against the Pahlavi dynasty's infrastructure. In the 1980s, it conducted a sustained campaign against the new Islamic Republic, including the 1981 Iranian prime minister bombing and numerous guerrilla attacks across the country. Its alliance with Saddam Hussein during the Iran–Iraq War saw its National Liberation Army of Iran conduct cross-border military operations. In recent decades, it has shifted primarily to political activism, running a sophisticated international lobbying campaign, holding rallies, and alleging it provides intelligence on Iran's nuclear program to agencies like the CIA and Mossad. The group has also been accused by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran of involvement in the assassinations of nuclear scientists.

International relations and legal status

The group's international standing has shifted dramatically over decades. It was listed as a terrorist organization by the United States Department of State in 1997 and by the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy list, designations that were revoked in 2012 and 2009 respectively following intensive lobbying. It now enjoys formal political support from a bipartisan array of former high-ranking U.S. officials, including John Bolton, Rudy Giuliani, and Mike Pompeo, and members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum. Its current base in Albania operates under an agreement with the Albanian government and the United Nations. However, it remains officially proscribed as a terrorist entity by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and is viewed with suspicion by several regional governments.

Category:Political organizations in Iran Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Iran Category:Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran groups