Getting to know The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is the largest and the most organized Iranian opposition group.
The MEK was established in 1965 and had a key role in the overthrow of the Shah’s monarchic dictatorship.
The MEK rejected the principle of the “Velayat-e faqih, therefore, it didn’t vote for the regime’s constitution in spite of the fact that being in camaraderie with Khomeini, the then Supreme Leader could have paved the way for them to gain a magnificent share in power. The MEK refused to participate in the referendum on the new constitution which was planned to fortify the legitimacy of the rule of a theocratic fascism. As a result, the peaceful political and revealing activities of the MEK were confronted with violence by the Khomeini’s agents and the plainclothes; the members and offices of the MEK underwent routine attacks.
Finally, on June 20, 1981, Khomeini ordered the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to open fire on the unarmed and peaceful demonstration of more than 500 thousands people in Tehran, called for by the MEK. The event was as a coup de grace for the last remaining drops of freedom. All the hopes for the continuation of any peaceful political activity perished. The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran announced “June 20, 1981” as the outset day of the nationwide resistance.
National Liberation Army of Iran was founded by Mr. Massoud Rajavi on June 20, 1987, aimed at the overthrow of the clerical regime in Iran.
In a series of internal discussions, the MEK concluded that in order to increase the ability to fight against a clerical regime, with misogyny as its main characteristic, the MEK members had to revolt against all facets of patriarchal mindset. This was the viewpoint of Mr. Massoud Rajavi, the then MEK Secretary-General, and could not be fulfilled unless after a revolution in the beliefs and thoughts, and the acceptance of the women’s hegemony by all the MEK members.
Due to those changes, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi was elected as the MEK’s secretary general. By this biennial event, so far 8 women have taken this position, which is the highest executive rank in The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
Following this development, in 1993, The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran announced the formation of its Leadership Council consisted of qualified women, and in 2015, this matured to the Central Council, consisting of 1000 women. These steps forward proved themselves in the field of action and saved The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran amongst the most dangerous events.
The NLA preserved its structure after the occupation of Iraq by the US in 2003. After the occupation of Iraq, the NLA, at the headquarter, Camp Ashraf, was repeatedly attacked by the Iraqi puppet government. Due to the continuance of the attacks, and after the international activities led by the MEK’s supporters and the NCRI, the MEK members were collectively transferred to Albania where they founded their new headquarter: Ashraf 3.
The NCRI, a coalition of dissident personalities and organizations that support democratic regime change in Iran, and the most long-lasting political alliance in the history of Iran, was founded by Mr. Massoud Rajavi in1981. Though the MEK is the core organization of this council, like its other members and organizations, it enjoys only one vote in the council’s decision making.
The NCRI enjoys the support of hundreds of representatives and political figures in five continents.
In 1993, the NCRI elected Mrs. Maryam Rajavi as the interim president for the period of the transition of power to the people of Iran and to their democratic institutions after the Mullah Regime’s overthrow.
According to the NCRI approvals, within six months after the overthrow of the clerical regime, the interim government is required to hold a free election to establish the Constitutional Assembly.
Now, the MEK is active in most European and American countries, and its headquarter inside Iran is forming the resistance units; a declared strategy by The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran for overthrowing the mullahs and to bringing about freedom.
