15.09.2004 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Repression of members and supporters of People's Mojahedin Organization marked by "extreme arbitrariness"; risk upon return, including arbitrary detention, prison terms and death penalty (expert opinion, in German) ("Iran: Vorgehen iranischer Behörden und Rückkehrgefährdung für Mitglieder, Aktivisten und/oder Sympathisanten der Volksmudjaheddin, Gutachten der SFH-Länderanalyse") [#26375],  [ID 8337]

Document(s): Open document

31.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

Iran has arrested dozens of people for allegedly spying on the country's nuclear programme ("Iran arrests dozens 'for spying'") [#25256],  [ID 8338]

""[...] Most were linked to the Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, the People's Mujahedin Organisation (MKO).""

Document(s): Open document

20.08.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Man who was accused of aiding the banned opposition group, Peoples' Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI), in placing a bomb outside an unspecified Revolutionary Court reportedly forced to return to Iran from Turkey in November 2003/ there are concerns that he is now facing execution following a trial in Tehran ("Iran - Further Information on UA 318/03") [#24941],  [ID 8339]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

27.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

3,800 members of Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahideen, granted "protected status" under the Geneva Conventions by US ("US 'protects' Iran rebels in Iraq") [#24286],  [ID 8340]

Document(s): Open document

15.10.2003 - Source: International Crisis Group

15.10.2003 - ICG: Mojahedin-e Khalq weakened by Saddam Hussein’s fall ("Iran: Discontent and Disarray") [#16759],  [ID 8341]

"The Mojahedin-e Khalq (People’s Holy Warriors, or MKO), an organisation based in Iraq that and enjoyed the Baathist regime’s support, lost any following it may have had in Iran when it fought on
Iraq’s behalf during the 1980-1988 war; it has been further weakened by Saddam Hussein’s fall and now depends almost entirely on the goodwill of the United States, which placed it on its list of foreign terrorist organisations and, at most, seems prepared to use it as a source of intelligence and leverage in its dealings with Iran."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: One of the most active militant opposition groupings with a worldwide network of members and supporters ("Country Assessment - October 2002") [#9556],  [ID 8342]

"5.167. The Mojahedin organisation is one of the most active militant opposition groupings with a worldwide network of members and supporters. Its ideology, based on Islam, emphasises the necessity of social change and incorporates many Marxist ideas. It advocates a two-pronged strategy of armed struggle and the use of propaganda to achieve its political objectives. During the 1970s, the MEK was at the forefront of opposition to the Shah. During the early phase of the Islamic revolution it was an uneasy ally with the clergy, was responsible for several assassinations and supported the take-over of the US Embassy and the holding of American hostages. However, the clergy's drive to consolidate power led to a final break in 1981. Since 1986, when the French government closed down its headquarters in Paris, the Mojahedin has been based in Iraq and has branches in Europe and North America. In 1987, MEK's leader Masud Rajavi announced the formation of the National Liberation Army, which conducted raids into Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. The Mojahedin have been responsible for acts of sabotage, violent attacks that victimise civilians, and violence against Iranian government targets in the West. [2(a)][4(c)][4(d)]

5.168. Popular support for the Mojahedin has declined in Iran, and Iraq's support of it has fluctuated with the level of hostility between the two regimes. The Iranian regime's treatment of the Mojahedin opposition has been extremely severe, with reports of large numbers of executions and torture. Known or suspected members of MEK face either execution or long prison terms if caught in Iran. [4(c)] The organisation claimed responsibility for 2 attacks in June 1998, including one a revolutionary court where three people died as a result. In August 1998 the MEK took responsibility for an attack on the former head of Evin Prison. Iran sporadically launches attacks in MEK bases in central Iraq."

Document(s): Open document

11.2001 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

00.11.2001 - ACCORD: The MKO, operating from abroad, launches terrorist attacks against state institutions or individuals; the MKO has no powerbase in Iran; persons who are seen to have links with the MKO are prosecuted severely ("7th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Berlin, 11 - 12 June 2001: Final Report - Iran") [#7661],  [ID 8343]

"However, although the MKO operates from abroad the Government of Iran feels the MKO to be a threat and is worried about possible infiltration through Afghanistan or Iraq and terrorist attacks against state institutions or individuals. In the past two years these attacks have clearly intensified and for the first time there are repeated references to activities by the MKO (officially called Monafeghin or hypocrites). There have indeed
been a number of bomb blasts and killings of military or individuals who had a position of responsibility at the time of the Revolution (2/6/98 bomb explosion in a revolutionary court killed three persons and injured six; 2/6/98 bomb explosion at Revolutionary Guards HQs in Tehran with no casualties; 1994 bomb explosion at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad killed 26 people) carried out by the MKO. The MKO has also claimed responsibility for the murder (August 1998) of Assadullah Lajevardi and his brother in the centre of the Tehran Bazaar. Lajevardi was a former revolutionary prosecutor, former Head of Evin prison and former Head of Iran’s Prison Organization.

The MKO have a military capacity in Iraq and have been reported to have made arrangements with the Taleban in Afghanistan to use their territory bordering Iran. The MKO currently operate a satellite TV broadcast and frequently have cross-border commando-type operations. Only recently, there was an exchange of fire (May 2001) between Iranian authorities and MKO fighters. The MKO’s bases inside Iraq are located in firing range of small missiles to the Iranian border. Although there have been reports that civilians were killed on the Iraqi side of the border, who happened to be associated with the Mudjahedin, it is worth noting that the Mudjahedin are an armed group and that it would be extremely unusual to have members of their group unarmed on that side of the border. There are cross-border incursions by the MKO as far north as North Kordestan. The border to Iraq is quite porous and not controlled in most places except the south. In addition, there have been unconfirmed reports relating to the trafficking of children to European countries, notably to Germany and the Netherlands.

The MKO has no powerbase in Iran. They are feared and hated by a whole generation of Iranians who have lived through the Iran-Iraq war and who consider the MKO as traitors because they sided with the enemy. However, a situation may be developing that might provide a fertile ground for recruitment by the MKO amongst mainly young Iranians, who are disappointed with the present situation and who have never
experienced war. The Iranian Government is aware of the presence of the MKO on the country’s borders and of the MKO’s excellent PR efforts abroad to present themselves as the main Iranian opposition group. Thus the MKO may be revived by instigating the younger generation to take on their cause.

Members of the MKO are proven to be at risk. Those who are seen to have or to have had links with this organization are prosecuted severely. Of course, as the MKO is not unwilling to commit human rights violations, the possibility of exclusion will need to be considered."

Document(s): cois2001-irn.pdf