Many MKO Members in Iraq Want to Return
 

BBC World has broadcast a film about the returning of some MKO (Mojahedin-e khalq) members from Iraq to Iran.

Francis Harrison, BBC's correspondent, reported the event from Olympic Hotel in Tehran:

"With the opening up of Iraq, these families in Iran now have hope. Their sons and daughters joined the Mojahedin, an armed Iranian opposition group backed by Saddam Hussein. For years they had no news.

Suddenly, Farah Samarati got a phone call telling her to come to this hotel because her brother was back in Iran.

One by one the seven men are brought in. until a few years ago, members of the Mojahedin would have been treated as traitors and spies. Now, there are tearful reunions.

Those who have just come back say there are nearly 500 Iranians being held in a US military camp in Iraq, many of whom also want to return.

Farah's brother alleges he was mistreated by the Americans whom he says are now hand in glove with the Mojahedin. That of course echoes the fear of the Iranian government that its two enemies, Mojahedin and the United States, might unite.

Hence, the decision's to do everything to welcome deserters back, as one of the organizers (Hora Shalchi) explains.

"My husband and my 3 sisters are in Iraq. I'm sure my husband's only scared that if he returns, Iran will torture him or imprison him. My sisters are ashamed of being seen to run away. They want the Red Cross and governments and the United Nations to support them and guarantee no body will harm them."

Many families are left disappointed. They were so sure they would see their sons and brothers. But there was a time when they were too scared to admit they had relatives in an armed opposition group.

The Iranian government official policy of encouraging defections from the Mojahedin has been given a boost by two things recently: the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and events like this that reassure the members of the group they'll receive a warm welcome when they come home."