#MEK'S POPULARITY AMONG #IRANIAN YOUTH, REGIME'S NIGHTMARE
CONTRARY TO IRAN LOBBY CLAIMS, REGIME CHANGE DOES NOT END IN WAR
One
of the great falsehoods of the Iran lobby and the appeasers of the
clerical regime in Tehran is that any effort at regime change would
inevitably lead to war. This by-line can be seen in every article by the
Iran lobby and the appeasers attempting to underscore the growing
global support for the Iranian opposition (MEK/PMOI) and the Iranian
people’s quest for regime change.
History teaches us though that the longevity of any regime born out of violent conquest is ultimately short-lived.
The
Iranian regime that was born out of a revolution overthrowing the Shah,
which was in turn hijacked by the mullahs and turned into a religious
oligarchy. The original aim of the revolution was the formation of a
secular, pluralistic democracy. That dream still exists in the hearts
and minds of the overwhelming majority of the Iranian people and
resonates in the various forms of protest in Iran, despite the
repressive measures by the regime. Therefore, the call for “regime
change” is primarily the Iranian people’s demand.
Since
the early days after the 1979 revolution, the mullahs have relied on
the typical tools of oppression to keep their grip on power, including
the creation of a paramilitary and judiciary system so vast, it touches
nearly every sector of Iranian society. At the same time, the Iranian
regime and its apparatus (including the regime lobbies and appeasers)
have been quick in attacking any publication or personalities who dare
speaking about the Iranian people’s quest for freedom and particularly
“regime change” in Iran. It goes without saying that those more in line
with the regime have targeted MEK/PMOI, since MEK/PMOI is the most
dedicated and the organized opposition with extensive routes and support
at home, that can materialize the regime change. The people’s Mojahedin
Organization of Iran, PMOI (usually referred to as MEK) has therefore
been the subject of dubious propaganda campaigns by the Ministry of
Intelligence and Security (MOIS) at home and by the regime lobbies and
appeasers abroad. The idea is to say that there is no democratic
alternative to this regime. Hence, the only option is to put up with the
dictatorship in Iran, otherwise there will be war!
A
look at the back ground of the MEK/PMOI, Iran’s democratic opposition
can be helpful in shedding light on the reasons for sometimes
unprecedented campaigns against them. The People’s Mojahedin of Iran
(PMOI/MEK) is the oldest, largest, and contrary to the mullahs’
propaganda, the most popular resistance organization in Iran. The
PMOI/MEK was founded in September 1965 by three Iranian engineers, who
sought to replace the Shah’s repressive monarchy with a democratic
government.
The PMOI/MEK enjoys broad popularity in Iran because of itslongstanding support for democracy and
its modern interpretation of Islam. The MEK/PMOI believe Islam is
inherently tolerant and democratic, thus fully compatible with the
values of modern-day civilization. This vision is in fact the cure to
the growing expansion of Islamic extremism funded and supported by the
mullahs in Iran.
The
MEK/PMOI participated in a united front against the Pahlavi monarchy,
which violently opposed democratic reforms and had one of the worst
human rights records in the world. After the Shah fled Iran, the
MEK/PMOI worked to establish a democratic government, but Ayatollah
Khomeini hijacked the Revolution and instead created an Islamic
theocracy.
The
MEK/PMOI shifted course and directed its opposition against the
Ayatollah, continuing its struggle to restore democracy in Iran. In June
1980, the PMOI/MEK organized a rally in Tehran to protest Khomeini’s
escalating despotism. More than 200,000 people participated in the
demonstration.
With
each passing day, the PMOI/MEK gained strength and, in July 1980,
Khomeini openly considered the possibility of defeat, stating, “Never
have I so much feared the Islamic Revolution end in failure.” He lashed
out at the PMOI/MEK, declaring the resistance organization as the main
enemy. Khomeini said, “Our enemy is neither the United States, nor the
Soviet Union, nor Kurdistan, but sitting right here in Tehran under our
nose [the PMOI/MEK].”
Revolutionary
Guards escalated their attacks on the PMOI/MEK, which continued to
promote its pro-democracy campaign. The turning point came on June 20,
1981. The MEK/PMOI organized rallies across Iran to protest Khomeini’s
oppressive rule. More than a half million Iranians attended the
demonstration in Tehran.
On
direct fatwa by Khomeini, the Hezbollah blocked off streets and fired
weapons into the growing crowds, killing hundreds of Iranians and
injuring many more, with thousands arrested. The reign of terror had
begun. The following day, Khomeini’s henchmen executed hundreds of
PMOI/MEK supporters who had been arrested, including young girls.
The
bloodbath was unrelenting. In the months and years that followed, more
than 120,000 PMOI/MEK members and supporters were killed by Khomeini and
the ruling mullahs. In only one occasion in summer of 1988, over 30,000 political prisoners (mainly members and supporters of the MEK/PMOI) were
mass murdered in Iran, based on a direct fatwa of the mullah’s Supreme
Leader, Khomeini. The savagery removed any legitimacy the Islamic
Republic may have once had. The regime is now viewed by the people of
Iran as fascist, maintaining power through fear and brutality.
Members
and supporters of the PMOI/MEK have suffered greatly in their struggle
to restore democracy to Iran. Iranians respect the many sacrifices made
by the MEK/PMOI and revere its martyrs.
Through
the years, the MEK/PMOI has been steadfast in its battle to rid Iran of
the mullahs’ nightmare regime, overcoming severe hardships and
setbacks. Contrary to the Iranian lobby’s claim, the support by the
Iranian people for the PMOI/MEK is also steadfast. The resistance
organization has earned their respect and trust and it gives voice to
their aspirations for a free and democratic Iran. This can be seen in
the latest activities of the supporters of the MEK/PMOI, in Tehran and
other major cities across Iran, during the election show and in
solidarity with the Free Iran gathering in June and July 2017.
Hundreds
of video clips and photos of banners and placards hanging from pathways
over highways and auto routes on billboards, or in the shape of
graffiti on walls in Tehran and other major cities, are published on
various Telegram and YouTube channels, showcasing the vast magnitude of
these activities. This is while activists have been prosecuted and some
even executed for far less “crimes” in the past decades. To an extent
that the regime’s supreme leader had to change plans and give in to a
second term for Rouhani as president to end the spreading protest and
infightings in fear of a similar 2009 uprising that could sweep his
regime, was the result of the MEK/PMOI’s presence and their activities.
Activities seen
in cities across Iran during the election season, were all following a
call made by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), who spread the slogan “My vote is regime change”
across the country. This brought the mullahs to the conclusion that the
dangerous consequences of deepening divides amongst the regime’s senior
elite were paving the path for nationwide uprisings similar to those
seen in 2009. As a result, the mullahs’ ruling elite decided to quickly
bring an end to the election farce in the first round and prevent any
further opportunities for protests and possible uprisings.
Dr.
Rafizadeh, a leading Iranian-American political scientist, president of
the International American Council on the Middle East, and best-selling
author in an opinion piece in Huffington postpublishing 8 video clips of MEK/PMOI activities inside Iran,
wrote: “The activists of the network of the Iranian opposition
movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran and its group the
Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI), inside Iran have been engaged in an
extensive campaign nationwide, calling on Iranians to boycott the
elections.
Their
activities involved hanging huge portraits of the Iranian opposition
leader, Maryam Rajavi from overpasses or bridges in major freeways in
Tehran and other cities, posting her pictures on walls in different
streets and other public locations, such as in the bazaar or outside the
paramilitary Bassji headquarters, or placing them on the windshields of
cars, and distributing flyers and T-shirts with the MEK/PMOI emblem and
calling for government change.”
He
concludes: “Finally, from my perspective, it is critical to point out
that Iranian leaders fear the soft power of oppositional groups more
than the military and hard power of foreign governments. That is why
Iranian leaders and media outlets normally react forcefully and
anxiously to activities by the opposition, such as the recent critical
move where Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chair of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, recently met with Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the
President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), in
Tirana, Albania. Iran’s oppositional groups can be a very powerful tool
to counterbalance the Islamic Republic.”
Some of the MEK/PMOI affiliates activities reflected on the opposition media outlets include:
In Tehran: Haghani cross section,
activists of PMOI/MEK put up a poster in a major cross section reading:
“My Vote Overthrow, Big No of the People of Iran to Election Farce in
Clerical Regime. Down With Khamenei, Hail to Rajavi (the leader of Iran
opposition).”
Iran, Tehran and Azarbaijan,
in the run - up to the sham presidential election, activists of
MEK/PMOI in the capital Tehran, and Azarbaijan province Notrh in Western
Iran put up posters against Iran regime's sham election written: Our
vote is for Maryam Rajavi.
Iran, Uremia ,
in the run - up to the sham presidential election, activists of
MEK/PMOI in Uremia Azarbaijan province North- West Iran put up posters
against Iran regime's sham election written: Our vote is for Maryam
Rajavi.
Iran, Marvdasht,
in the run - up to the sham presidential election, activists of
MEK/PMOI in Fars province Central Iran put up posters against Iran
regime's sham election: “No to Rouhani the imposter , No to Raisi the
murderer.”
Supporters of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK) have filmed and photographed themselves holding up photographs of Iranian Resistance President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and slogans in support of the 'Free Iran' rally.
Another hallmark for understanding the extent of activities of MEK/PMOI and its popularity among youth, is the recent expressions of concerns followed by crackdowns on the youth under the pretext of cybercrimes. Recently,
Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, regime’s deputy public prosecutor said that
cyberspace have become extremely worrisome for Tehran. Referring to
“Telegram”, by far the most popular social media platform in Iran with
over 20 million users, he said:
“More
than 30% of these Telegram channels are involved in criminal activities
against the country’s security and disrupting the entire nation.”
“The
MEK Telegram channel inside Iran is very active… all the regime’s
opponents are providing the people all their books and written material
through this online platform. If you sought to purchase them you have to
pay huge amounts of money. If you wanted to publish a book, it would be
very demanding, but on the Internet it is quite easy,” added the
regime’s deputy public prosecutor.
The
Iranian regime has time and again negotiated with Telegram’s managers
to block the MEK/PMOI website and associated channels, only to be
rejected each time. This has left Tehran facing an impasse.
Either
accept the MEK/PMOI’s vast network with all its grave consequences or
pay the ultimate price of blocking Telegram. The latter, however, will
raise even more dissatisfaction that can even trigger a protest.
The
2009 uprisings and massive protests that were viciously put down sent
shivers down the mullahs’ spines and served as a sharp reminder that
their hold on power is tenuous at best. Hence, they actively repress a
free press, continually arresting and imprisoning journalists, editors,
photographers, and now bloggers, who voice, print, transmit or
illustrate any hint of dissent.
Dictatorships that stand on fragile ground are always more oppressive. The Iranian regime fits that bill to a T.
In
addition to using blunt force on people, the regime invests heavily in
the massive propaganda effort it mobilizes through state-controlled
media and via its lobbies and paid agents abroad, in order to discourage
more support for the MEK/PMOI, which is the main driver for regime
change in Iran. The extent of the anti MEK/PMOI propaganda has
increased, particularly after the July 1, 2017 gathering in
Paris, which had a clear message: “Regime change in Iran is within
reach”. Some 100,000 Iranian diaspora and supporters of MEK/PMOI gave
energy to it. A nightmare for the criminal mullahs that cannot be
avoided.
This
is why it serves the regime’s purposes to continually dangle the threat
of war over the heads of its people. It also helps the Iran lobby’s PR
efforts to cast Iran like some poor, defenseless nation under threat by
the big bad U.S. and its allies, such as Saudi Arabia or the Iranian
resistance movement, the MEK/PMOI.
Trita
Parsi, the head of the National Iranian American Council and staunch
advocate for the Iranian regime, appeared on Bloomberg to beat the war
drum again, as well as attack the Trump administration for not living up
to the Iran nuclear deal, even though Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
announced the renewal of the compliance certification for another 90
days.
But
the Trump administration also is asserting that Iranian regime’s
development of ballistic missiles; support of terrorism and militancy;
complicity in atrocities by the government of Syrian dictator, Bashar
Assad; cyberattacks on the U.S.; and other actions “severely undermine
the intent” of the nuclear accord.
Based
on those actions, Trump is announcing an additional package of
sanctions against 16 Iranian entities and individuals found to be
supporting Tehran’s activities in the region, according to the
Washington Times.
The
real threat to the Iranian regime though lies not within sanctions, but
in the simple acts of defiance that the Iranian people undertake
themselves, such as the hanging of banners on Tehran overpasses bearing
the image of MEK/PMOI leader Mrs. Maryam Rajavi; an act punishable by
death if the perpetrators were caught.
The
regime is also threatened by every protest over low wages or unsafe
working conditions. In many ways large and small, the process of regime
change can happen slowly, methodically, and inexorably.
Mrs.
Rajavi, in a recent speech at the annual gathering of the Iranian
resistance movement and supporters of MEK/PMOI, opined that the movement
did not require outside assistance from governments, such as the U.S.,
to succeed. It only needed the recognition by governments to be
empowered.
The heavy lifting of pushing for regime change must come from within Iran from the Iranian people, said Mrs. Rajavi.
So
long as the Iranian regime keeps trying to place a tight lid on the
simmering pressure for change by the Iranian people, the harder it will
be to prevent the inevitable.
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