In a recent podcast, Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr., a distinguished former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, refuted persistent allegations against the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK). These allegations include accusations of the MEK being a cult and lacking significant support within Iran.
Ambassador Bloomfield, who has served under five U.S. administrations, highlighted the persistence of these claims, particularly from Western analysts. He noted that these accusations often come from sources whose independence is questionable. “The cult allegation, or any dossier or any action that the NCRI or MEK had ever done that was offensive, that would be the focus. But there isn’t,” he stated, suggesting that such allegations are often tactics to demonize the group.
Amb. Bloomfield recounted a specific incident involving a Canadian newspaper that published a claim about the MEK hiding Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction under Camp Ashraf in Iraq. This claim was later discredited and removed from the web, highlighting the dubious origins of such accusations. He emphasized that former MEK members interviewed by major Western media outlets often turn out to be agents of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security. “The Albanian SPAK has rolled up the same people who were profiled in the New York Times sitting at a cafe in Tirana after leaving the MEK,” Bloomfield said, pointing out their continued connections to Iranian intelligence.
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Amb. Lincoln Bloomfield Jr. responds to myths about the #MEK, highlighting the falsehood of cult allegations and the reality of support repression in #Iran. pic.twitter.com/UTY7j1c0oh
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 18, 2024
Addressing the allegations of the MEK’s cult-like behavior, Bloomfield recalled his visit to Ashraf 3, where he interacted with members firsthand. He described them as “smart, articulate, young women” who were professionals with families. These individuals had joined the MEK out of a deep sense of duty to address the injustices suffered by their relatives under the Iranian regime. “They were not brainwashed,” Bloomfield declared, dismissing the cult narrative as unfounded.
Bloomfield also challenged the notion that the MEK lacks support within Iran, attributing this perception to the oppressive environment in the country. He explained that under Iranian law, expressing support for the MEK can lead to severe punishment, including imprisonment, torture, and execution. “Why would you tell some Western correspondent, I really secretly like the MEK?” he asked sarcastically, highlighting the dangers Iranian citizens face if they voice such opinions.
Furthermore, Bloomfield discussed the Iranian regime’s control over media and information, comparing it to the propaganda efforts seen in other authoritarian states. He illustrated this with an anecdote about a reporter in Libya during Gaddafi’s rule, who, after just a week of exposure to pro-Gaddafi propaganda, began internalizing it. “Try to imagine 45 years of being told that the MEK are warring against God, traitors, a cult, killed Americans, Marxists… don’t trust them at all,” he said, explaining the deep-seated misinformation among the Iranian populace.
Bloomfield’s goal is to alert the American public to the Iranian regime’s propaganda, which he described as “a major propaganda operation by a criminal dictatorship that is 100% against American security interests.” By raising awareness, he hopes to counteract the misinformation and present a more accurate picture of the MEK and its supporters.