The thirteenth session of the trial of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) terrorist group was held at the Imam Khomeini Judicial Complex in Tehran, presided over by Judge Dehghani Nia with advisors Morteza Turak and Amin Nasseri. The case involves 104 individual defendants and one organizational defendant, the MEK itself.
Judge Dehghani Nia opened the session by noting the numerous hearings conducted so far and mentioned that the court is currently listening to the complaints presented by the victims' lawyers following the completion of the indictment. He emphasized the significant nature of the accusations, which center on the group's attempts to undermine the Islamic Revolution.
Referencing a Quranic verse, Judge Dehghani highlighted the importance of resilience against enemies infiltrating society. He stated that the trial focuses on the MEK's alleged infiltration into the pillars of the Islamic Republic, an issue that remains unresolved.
Judge Dehghani Nia also announced that international criminal police (Interpol) has issued red notices for the defendants, urging host countries to refrain from issuing identification documents or visas for these individuals, in compliance with Interpol regulations.
During the session, a lawyer for the victims expressed gratitude to the judiciary for addressing the atrocities committed by the MEK, which have resulted in thousands of Iranian casualties. He called for thorough investigations and separate trials for each incident.
In response, Judge Dehghani Nia assured that the court would patiently and meticulously examine the crimes committed over the past 40 years.
MEK's ISIS-like Atrocities
During the continuation of the trial concerning the MEK terrorist group, the victims' lawyer highlighted the group's atrocities, comparing them to those of ISIS. Presenting books containing confessions from MEK members about their crimes, he emphasized the political and ideological roots of their violent actions. Judge Dehghani Nia requested these books be officially recorded.
The victims' lawyer noted that the MEK, funded by Saddam Hussein in exchange for committing crimes against Iranian soldiers, had committed severe atrocities, including those documented in videos shown in court. In response, a defense attorney complained that extraneous accusations were being raised and called for the defendants' right to speak.
An expert on ideological matters testified about the unusual violence exhibited by the MEK, tracing it back to their foundational beliefs. He referenced the organization's ideological texts, including a key book by MEK leader Massoud Rajavi, which presents a materialistic view of God contrary to traditional Islamic beliefs.
The expert also compared MEK's actions to those of ISIS, citing the group's deviation from mainstream Islam and their utilization of communist literature in their ideology. He pointed out that the MEK's rhetoric includes a rejection of established Islamic beliefs, including those related to the occultation of Imam Mahdi and the afterlife.
This session further underscored the gravity and complexity of the crimes attributed to the MEK, with a call for thorough investigation and accountability.
MEK's Engineering-Style Butchery
The ongoing trial of the MEK terrorist group saw further shocking revelations as experts described the extreme violence perpetrated by the group. One expert detailed how MEK members would skin individuals alive and butcher them, referring to these acts as "engineering," a term they used for their torture units, similar to SAVAK's torture practices.
The expert explained that the MEK killed many simply for their religious beliefs or appearances, claiming the lives of 17,000 individuals and many more in Iraq with Saddam Hussein's assistance. He emphasized that the group's worldview was rooted in materialism, prioritizing self-interest without inherent respect for human dignity.
A video depicting the MEK's brutal treatment of Iranian soldiers held captive in Iraq was shown in court, further illustrating their atrocities. The expert recounted how the MEK mercilessly killed their own leader, Sharif Vaqefi, by burning and dismembering him, highlighting their extreme brutality.
The expert argued that the MEK's violent actions stem from a materialistic and Machiavellian ideology, drawing parallels to the actions of Stalin. He cited Abdulreza Nikbin, a founding member of the MEK, who admitted that the group's shift in ideology resulted from a moral crisis.
Further, the expert linked the MEK's behavior to colonialist strategies that historically created violent sects within Islam, such as Wahhabism and Babism, to project a harsh and irrational image of religion. He mentioned how ISIS, emerging from Wahhabism, claims to be a pure representation of this ideology, and described the extremist beliefs of figures like Ali-Muhammad Bab and Hussein Ali Nuri, who founded Babism and Bahá'í Faith respectively.
The court learned about the MEK's internal deification of its leaders, Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, comparing them to revered Islamic figures, which illustrates the cult-like reverence within the group.
In conclusion, the expert suggested that the MEK shares behavioral and ideological similarities with other violent sects created under colonial influence, emphasizing their extreme materialism and brutality. Judge Dehghani Nia acknowledged these insights, underscoring the need for comprehensive investigation and accountability for the group's extensive crimes.
Wahhabist Takfiri Thought in MEK Ideology
The ideology and Wahhabist Takfiri thought within the MEK (Mujahedin-e-Khalq) have led to atrocities against Iranian citizens and, in some cases, against citizens of other countries, such as Iraq, stated a lawyer during the ongoing trial of the terrorist group.
The lawyer emphasized that proving the terrorist nature of the MEK requires examining the concept of terrorism in both international and domestic law. He noted that it is essential to match the actions of the MEK with the definition of terrorism to elucidate its terrorist nature.
The victims' lawyer pointed out that there is no universally accepted definition of terrorism in international law. Various regional international documents have provided definitions, indicating that terrorism involves criminal acts intended to instill fear among people and destabilize political and social structures. Examples include the OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, the OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism, the Commonwealth of Independent States Cooperation Agreement on Combating Terrorism, the Gulf Cooperation Council Convention on Combating Terrorism, and the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition, and All Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair or Assembly.
The lawyer stressed the importance of aligning the MEK's actions with these definitions to comprehensively demonstrate their terrorist activities. The trial continues to reveal the extent of the MEK's violent and extremist ideologies.
Masoud Rajavi Believed Violence Should Be Obtained by Any Means Necessary
A former member of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) was permitted by the judge to speak and shed light on the atmosphere of terror and assassination within the organization.
The ex-member stated, "These acts of violence by the organization are not exclusive to the Islamic Republic or to any particular period. I was a member of the organization for 22 years and have firsthand experience living among its members. We never saw Maryam Rajavi answer questions unless they were predetermined, and the journalist was a member of the organization."
Continuing, he revealed, "In the early days of the revolution, we observed that the MEK intended to be seen through street demonstrations. Masoud Rajavi believed that if the members of the organization only walked the streets, they would be forgotten instantly, but if violence occurred and blood was shed, people would talk about the Mujahedin for days and then forget. When these violent tactics did not yield results, Masoud Rajavi proposed the theory of assassinating the leaders and prominent figures of the revolution. He believed violence should be obtained by any means necessary."
The former member further explained, "The MEK's military exercises in Iraq were conducted in villages sympathetic to the Islamic Republic, as Saddam's regime had instructed the Mujahedin that if they wanted to carry out real military operations, they should do so in these villages, and the crimes of the organization were not limited to the Iranian people. During the operation Mersad, when people were fleeing from the organization, they chanted slogans against it, and members of the organization began shooting at the fleeing people, resulting in one death. At that moment, the people changed their slogans out of fear and began chanting, 'Long live Rajavi.' After this operation, Masoud Rajavi repeatedly declared in his speeches that violence comes with power, and we have underutilized this power."
Piercing Teeth with a Drill by the MEK
The former member of the organization revealed, "The organization also showed violence towards its own members. When the organization became suspicious of me, I was imprisoned and tortured for 7 months, including methods like pulling nails and piercing teeth with a drill."
He continued, "At one point, the organization became suspicious of its members and killed them, claiming that the Islamic Republic was responsible for the deaths. After my arrest, the organization no longer trusted me and did not allow me to attend member gatherings."
The ex-member stated, "During my time in prison, I was hung upside down, and they would throw food on the ground and drill holes in my teeth. Even outside the country, attacks were launched against former members. When the police arrested the assailant who attacked the members, he confessed to receiving money for the job."
Following this testimony, Koushki, an expert in international affairs, took the stand.
Koushki stated, "The 'Mojahed' magazine, as the official organ of the organization, is part of the evidence. However, I must explain the course of action this magazine has taken based on my research."
He continued, "The 'Mojahed' magazine, belonging to the Mujahedin Organization, began its activities in 1979, and this magazine is a legal document that can be referenced. Masoud Rajavi mentions in it that the military phase of the organization began on May 24, 1981, and lasted until 1982."
He added, "In this magazine, Rajavi declares that first, we targeted the pawns, and then we targeted the heads of the regime. Rajavi mentions that in the month of September 1982, about 600 people were eliminated according to his interpretation. Also, in issue 134 of this magazine, it is stated that since the beginning of the second phase of resistance, over a thousand regime adversaries have been destroyed, 28 of whom were from the Revolutionary Guard."
Koushki elaborated, "Most of the individuals who were assassinated were ordinary members of society. The organization in its magazine promotes and teaches various methods of violence. For example, in issue 137, it instructs on the method of ambushing in the jungle and boasts of assassinating the commander of the gendarmerie in Mazandaran Province on the Kiasar road using this method in October of 1982."