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In a farcical spectacle held every Tuesday under the guise of a trial against the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the clerical dictatorship in Tehran continues to showcase its desperation. This week’s session saw all participants—the plaintiff’s lawyer, summoned experts, witnesses, and even the judge—unanimously and hastily calling on foreign countries to hand over members of the MEK to Iran, a regime notorious for its record of executions.
As usual, the trial was widely covered by state media, regardless of their factional association.
At the early stages of the process, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Moradieh, highlighted the regime’s primary concern about the MEK’s continued activities.”The use of the term ‘so far’ is because this crime has not ended, as every few years we witness this group’s significant role in various incidents in the country, which they proudly announce on their Simaye Azadi TV channel,” she said.
Moradieh further alleged that the MEK continues to pose a significant threat to national and international security, accusing them of collaborating with foreign nations. “Their crimes include inciting public disorder and disrupting social order through the spread of statements, speeches, and propaganda. They conspire to undermine domestic and foreign security and have engaged in organized street riots and terrorist actions,” she stressed.
Justice in Absurdity: #Iran’s Lawless Dictator Holds Trial of Sworn Enemieshttps://t.co/gMVIRpmuT0
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 25, 2023
Accusations extended to the MEK’s recruitment and training, with Moradieh stating, “They create a platform to recruit and indoctrinate individuals with extreme ideologies from Islam, Marxism, and feminism, planning criminal actions against citizens of the Islamic Republic in their complex organization. They finance these criminal activities, procure weapons, and meticulously organize tasks to carry out these acts, including armed robbery and public and private looting.”
In a desperate effort, Moradieh tried to incite pressure on international organizations, stating, “Various groups like Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS, and their affiliates are considered terrorists by the UN and Security Council, which are American puppets. The fact that the MEK was removed from the list of terrorist organizations in 2010, despite initially being condemned, demonstrates international support for them, much like the support the US and other countries provide to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.”
Accusing Western nations of holding double standards, she questioned, “How do countries like Albania, France, Germany, and the US easily host MEK members and allow them to operate freely? This shows their contradictory approach to combating terrorism.”
#Iran’s Regime Admits Failure in 44-Year Effort to Discredit #MEKhttps://t.co/rgxK3iXWrE
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 29, 2024
Mohammad Reza Mousavi-Far, introduced by state media as a professor of criminal law and terrorism researcher, took the stand to echo these sentiments. “We see some governments openly supporting terrorism, such as Albania, which hosts this terrorist group and others,” he stated.
The presiding judge interrupted to agree, questioning the credibility of European and American governments. “This court is addressing the crimes against humanity committed by MEK members. European and American legal systems, which claim to combat terrorism, should not be hosting or engaging with these accused terrorists,” he declared. The so-called judge accused Western countries of hypocrisy, citing America’s military actions post-9/11 while allegedly supporting terrorism by harboring MEK leaders.
In a theatrical display, a regime cleric named Sedaghat accused the MEK of mistreating women, including forced marriages and divorces, further illustrating the regime’s misogynistic reputation. A purported former MEK member was called to testify, claiming the organization uses psychological methods to attract young recruits.
Even though affiliation with the #MEK systematically bears apprehension, torture, and even execution under the law of the clerical regime, more and more youth join their #ResistanceUnits ranks and dare to openly express their support for @Maryam_Rajavi. pic.twitter.com/MRPYA9ybrQ
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 13, 2023
This sham trial, with its barrage of baseless accusations and deep-seated grievances by the clerical dictatorship, once again exposes the true nature of a major human rights violator and its judicial charades. It underscores the regime’s fear of organized resistance amid growing internal, regional, and international crises. Moreover, the regime’s actions reveal both the source as well as the intended audience of the lies and accusations propagated against the MEK in recent hit pieces and so-called documentary films.
This is why Mostafa Nakh’ee, a member of the regime’s parliament, formulated a major purpose of these sham trials. In an interview with the Judiciary-run Mizan News Agency, he said on June 7, “New generations are not familiar with these ‘criminals,’ especially as the MEK has tried to present itself positively through media efforts, advocating for values like freedom and human rights. The judiciary’s action in holding these trials is significant and must continue.”
