How Iranian MEK Went from US Terror List to Halls of Congress

N O . 1 2 0 U P T O D A T E PUBLICATION OF AAWA - ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 2019 https://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/decryptages/comment-lorganisation-des-moudjahidine-du-peuple-est-passee-de-la-liste-noire-du How Iranian MEK went from US terror list to halls of Congress Described by critics as 'a cult', Iranian opposition group is now lauded by top US officials as alternative to Iran's government By Ali Harb, July 17, 2019 As soon as Maryam Rajavi, her face beaming across a giant screen, finished speaking, the sky above hundreds of her supporters in the United States filled with red, white and green confetti - the colours of the Iranian flag. Dressed in a glossy, dark blue suit and matching scarf tied loosely around her neck - a modest way to wear the hijab that went out of style decades ago in the Middle East - Rajavi had just accused the Iranian government of "terrorism and belligerence". "Iran Maryam, Maryam Iran," the protesters chanted back, holding up posters of Rajavi in a show of admiration bordering on religious devotion to the leader of the Iranian Mujahideen-e Khalq, commonly referred to as MEK or PMOI. Dressed in yellow, the MEK supporters were lively but disciplined, standing in military formations as they stared up at the screen outside the US State Department building in Washington. They waved pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flags, which feature a golden lion brandishing a sword instead of the name of God in Arabic script that adorns the country's emblem today. Critics have described the Iranian opposition group as a "totalitarian cult", voicing concerns about its growing clout in the halls of power in the US capital. Only seven short years ago, the US State Department listed the MEK as a terrorist organisation - and the group's sordid reputation is something Rajavi and her followers are acutely aware of. At the 21 June demonstration, Rajavi even acknowledged it, accusing the MEK's detractors of siding with the Iranian government and carrying out a "disgraceful demonisation campaign" against the group. That effort, she said in Farsi in the video, which was accompanied by English subtitles, "seeks to perpetuate the narrative that the people of Iran are better off with the theocratic rule of the mullahs". In her brief speech via video feed, Rajavi also thanked her "friends" in the US. Today, they include representatives, senators, ex-generals, former ambassadors and current policymakers of all political stripes. In fact, two of Donald Trump's right-hand men have been on the MEK's payroll: National Security Adviser John Bolton and the president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, have both charged hefty fees to speak continues on page 4 UP TO DATE N0.120/OCTOBER 2019 Page 2 https://ricochet.media/en/2792/liberal-in-richmond-hill-faces-smear-campaign-in-bid-for-re-election MEK Trolls in Albania are activated against Canadian MP Angry protesters showed up multiple times at Liberal MP Majid Jowhari’s Richmond Hill constituency office last week, holding signs plastered with his picture that read, “Shame on You. You will not Re-elected” and “NO to Lobbyist of Islamic Terrorist Regime in Iran.” Shenaz Kermalli, Ricochet Media, October 26 2019: Liberal MP Majid Jowhari is being fiercely targeted by online activists, trolls, and angry Liberal members in his own riding. What’s behind the hate? Angry protesters showed up multiple times at Liberal MP Majid Jowhari’s Richmond Hill constituency office last week, holding signs plastered with his picture that read, “Shame on You. You will not Re-elected” and “NO to Lobbyist of Islamic Terrorist Regime in Iran.” Meanwhile, local residents received cryptic emails from a former Liberal politician, Reza Moridi, saying he and three other former Liberals are “unable” to vote for Jowhari’s most vocal offline critic, Reza Moridi, is a former Jowhari. The email offered no explanation for the Liberal MPP for Richmond Hill and former Ontario minister of statement. research, innovation and science. He denies there’s a smear campaign against Jowhari. “It’s not an attack or targeting,” Still other voters that had placed Jowhari campaign signs Moridi told Ricochet last Friday, in reference to the cryptic in front of their homes reported finding papers dropped on email he had sent to local residents on Oct. 9. “It’s a reverse their lawn or placed on car windshields. The documents, endorsement, that’s all.” obtained by Ricochet, are titled “A Better Introduction to Mr Jowhari’s Family” and slander his wife, mother and The email sent to local residents included photos of Moridi brothers, suggesting they are connected to international and three others: Bryon Wilfert, former Liberal MP for drug business and other criminal activities. Richmond Hill; Sarkis Assadourian, former Liberal MP for Brampton Centre; and Richard Rupp, former president of the And on Thursday, a highly followed but fake Twitter Richmond Hill Federal Liberal Association. Above the photos, account associated with the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), a a single line read: “As concerned Richmond Hill Liberals we cult-like group from Iran that has a history of engaging regret that on October 21, we are unable to vote for Majid with Canadian politicians, added to an ongoing online Jowhari, the Liberal Candidate in Richmond Hill.” smear campaign against Jowhari by tweeting a long thread urging Canadians to unseat him. When asked why he decided to send the email to voters, particularly without an explanation of why he and the others Sources close to the Jowhari family and campaign told were “unable” to vote for Jowhari, Moridi said, “These are Ricochet it’s been a “horrible” time for the family and that Liberal MPs and also two former Liberal riding presidents. they often feel unsafe. We came to the conclusion that we cannot support him. “They [his critics] have painted him as the complete People can make their own decisions. opposite of everything he stands for. It’s not even remotely “We reviewed media reports over the past four years and close to who he is,” said one source who asked not to be also records of the candidate. I’m sure every voter is doing identified due to fear of being targeted themselves. their own research of the candidates. We’re just saying we “It’s all sophisticated and interrelated,” they added. “I’ve did that research and came to that conclusion. Coming to had to contact police before. People don’t understand that that decision is not difficult.” fake news can actually kill you.” UP TO DATE N0.120/OCTOBER 2019 Page 3 In response, Jowhari’s office posted a response on “When you talk and sit at a table, you can exchange his Facebook page the next day: “This communication ideas, whether it’s on the issue of human rights, represents the worst type of campaign tactics – a non- whether it’s freedom of press or women. We need to sit specific note from a group who do not have the courage of at the table…. You cannot have a dialogue behind their convictions to say what party and policies they do closed doors.” support but are prepared to say only what they don’t But some residents don’t believe him. Salman Sima, a support without providing any rationale or substantiation.” former political prisoner in Iran, is one of Jowhari’s But voters were met with another shock a few days later most vociferous critics on Twitter, having previously when the Shahrvand, a Farsi-language newspaper, came called him a foreign agent and a representative for out with Moridi’s photo splashed on the front page, along Ayatollah Khamenei in the Canadian Parliament. Sima with a proclamation of his support for Richmond Hill’s stands accused of starting a smear campaign against Conservative candidate, Costas Menegakis. The idea that a Saman Tabasinejad, an Iranian-Canadian NDP former Liberal leader was overtly canvassing for voters in candidate in Ontario’s last provincial elections, calling his riding to vote blue sparked coverage in conservative her the granddaughter of a major cleric in Iran. outlets The Toronto Sun and Rebel Media. Tabasinejad later debunked this rumour on Twitter. Soon after, 100 Liberal members and supporters sent Sima joined several other critics protesting when a letter addressed to the Ontario Liberal Party requesting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited a Richmond Hill that the party leadership publicly reject Moridi’s coffee shop on Oct. 13. endorsement. Former Ontario premier and current MPP “We believe that Mr Jowhari doesn’t follow Liberal and Kathleen Wynne put out a statement on Moridi’s decision to Canadian values, including respecting human rights, endorse a Conservative candidate in Richmond Hill. “As you respecting women’s rights and respecting LGBT rights,” know, Reza Moridi has been a trusted colleague of mine for he told Ricochet. “Why? Because we know and I a number of years,” she wrote. “Having said that, Reza is no believe that he is supporting one of the most longer a member of the provincial legislature nor does he misogynistic regimes in the world — the Islamic regime speak for the Liberal Party.” in Iran.” Jowhari’s office declined to comment for this story, saying Sima said the staged protests were non-partisan and they wanted to stay focused on his campaign and local unlinked to any political Iranian opposition groups, residents. “We are not focused on the negative voices that including MEK. are out there in the wilderness,” Jowhari’s campaign manager Michele Bussieres told Ricochet. “I write lots of things criticizing some opposition groups, including MEK,” he said, adding he knew many Canada-Iran ties residents who voted for the NDP and Liberal their The long-term rift between the two Iranian politicians whole lives but were strongly opposed to Jowhari.

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