The comeback staged by mercenary terrorist force the Mojahedin-e Khalq has faltered on since May, following an apparent capitulation to US forces in Iraq in April. The Mojahedin’s new backers have insisted on a revamp of the organisation before it can be postured against Iran; this time using the old Mojahedin brand instead of the defunct National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which the US designated as terrorist in August this year. 

Having recreated a romantic and sanitized history of the organisation as of before 1985, the Mojahedin now describes a palatable new format for its activities, with no reference to the armed forces it jettisoned in Iraq. 

The first requirement was to stop all publicity for Massoud Rajavi, who in any case is in hiding for fear of being arrested on terrorism charges. All reference to his so-called ‘ideological revolution’; the promotion of women, forced divorces and psycho-sexual manipulation of the members etc, have been eradicated from the Mojahedin’s publicity – though not from the internal relations which continue unchanged. The arrest of Maryam Rajavi in Paris two months earlier, although at first shocking for the Mojahedin, was soon turned to advantage as the leadership is now effectively silenced and kept from scrutiny by journalists and others.

The Mojahedin used a concert in Dortmund, Germany on 18 October, billed as an event in support of refugees, as a ploy to circumvent legal restrictions on Maryam Rajavi which curtailed her activities with the organization while she is on bail under investigation on terrorist charges. The event was staged so that the new line for the organization could be issued; essentially acting as a unifying call for the members and supporters had who remained in some confusion for several months.

The Mojahedin has, on the surface, abandoned its policy of armed force to overthrow the ruling system of Iran, and adopted a political slogan calling for a referendum to determine Iran’s future system of government. While it is not unexpected that Rajavi try to engineer this change of image, it should be clearly understood that this group will not and cannot change its fundamental beliefs and modus operandi.

The referendum slogan is not new. But whilst Rajavi failed to specify the issue, the monarchists, headed by Reza Pahlavi in the US, previously called for “ the establishment of a democratic and secular government” via a “national referendum”. This choice between Islamic or secular government would of necessity place the Mojahedin in the same side as the existing Islamic Republic since Rajavi has always explained his plan for Iran’s future government as a democratic Islamic republic.

So, how genuine is Rajavi’s new line? One further aspect which exposes its falsity is the reaction of all other of Iran’s opposition groups, whether inside or outside Iran. Even those who previously proposed such a referendum have immediately withdrawn their backing in protest. The reaction was not unexpected. The Mojahedin plan for this reaction and deliberately introduce divisiveness into the political scene in order to prevent change or progress. They know that by calling for a referendum it will kill it dead and others will not support it, and therefore it is dead in the water. They use the slogan to claim democratic credentials while their tactics also serve the interests of the hardliners inside Iran. This is while at the same time they are continuing to act as before – saying one thing but continuing to behave just as they always have.

The motivation powering the Mojahedin’s new slogan is self-preservation until the situation has changed sufficiently for Massoud Rajavi to emerge from hiding. He is backed in this by the right wing of Israel and hawks of the US government. The Mojahedin maintains its low profile contact with backers such as the Fox News Corporation. MPs and Senators who are willing to use them as tools to achieve an objective - against Iran – don’t back them, they use them. The Mojahedin accept this as an advantage now because it gives the appearance of legitimising them.

For five years, Rajavi expended his maximum effort to take on the west and have the terrorist label removed, but failed. In this final bid for his future he has merely erected an advertising hoarding in order to cover up his past. In reality Rajavi has only one option left to him: We will soon see the introduction of Mostafa Rajavi, his son. Mostafa has been trained and groomed by Rajavi to take over his leadership role in future. Rajavi will maintain absolute control, but his son with no history to hide, will be fronted to present his plans in a sanitized version.

Meanwhile, the Mojahedin continues to operate as it always has; with armed activities. The organization has convinced the US to allow them to keep their arms in Iraq and to continue with military training, while they buy time with the referendum slogan. The internal suppression and severe human rights abuses associated with this cult continue to afflict every member inside the organization; the threats to assassinate former members in Europe have increased with the Mojahedin’s main website, IranLiberty now calling directly for the murder of these people; and planning for terrorist stunts in Europe, signified by the recent spate of self-immolations, has neither ceased nor diminished.

Iran-Interlink
November 2003