Focus: MKO Members Return to Iran

IRNA, October, 13 2005

The German weekly magazine “Focus” has published an article on the issue of MKO defectors’ return to Iran.

“Now the group is fighting for its future,” the article said.

Carrying some photos, which showed former MKO members’ families welcoming their loved ones, the article added that “the families of these people welcome their lost boys and girls with indescribable happiness”.

“15 years ago in the deserts of Iraq, Faramarz Massouri was trained to kill. He used to shout slogans against Islamic Republic values, but now he is now returning to Iran,” Andrea Claudia Hoffman wrote.

“Massouri and several other former members said to International Red Cross representatives that they want to return to their country voluntarily.”

Quoting these people, Focus added: “We stopped our activities and want to start a new life in Iran.”

“To date, 340 out of 3800 MKO members have returned to Iran.”

Reflecting MKO’s fear from defection of its members, the BBC also reported last week that 90 former members of the organization have warned European countries, the U.S. and Canada in a letter that the group (by its agents) wants to harass former members.

In the letter, they said that a number of MKO agents, trained in urban warfare, security and intelligence courses, have been smuggled to the West to identify critics and former members in order to harass or even assassinate them.