The announcement by 200 former members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (aka MEK, MKO, PMOI), also known as the Monafeqin (hypocrites), of their readiness to testify against this terrorist group in court is a unique development that warrants thorough examination from various angles.
According to Mehr News Agency, the ongoing court sessions addressing the charges against 104 members of the MEK, as well as the organization's status as a legal entity, mark a significant chapter in Iran's longstanding fight against the deadly international crisis of terrorism. These proceedings represent a major step toward justice for the families and loved ones of several thousand victims of the group's terrorist acts.
Each of the court’s 22 sessions held so far has unveiled new, untold dimensions of the MEK's extensive and deeply rooted terrorist activities. The sessions have also highlighted how the Iranian people have steadfastly resisted politically, financially, and logistically supported terrorism from the West for over four decades to defend their rights and homeland.
The 22nd session of the trial was held on Tuesday, November 5, in Branch 11 of Tehran's Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Hojatoleslam Dehghani and the court advisors Morteza Turak and Amin Naseri. Also present were Prosecutor Representative Vaziri, families of the victims and their lawyers, as well as the defense attorneys, in the public courtroom at the Imam Khomeini Judicial Complex.
A key issue discussed during this session was the announcement by approximately 200 former members of the MEK of their willingness to testify against the organization in court. This matter holds significant importance from multiple perspectives.
The presiding judge described the testimony of 200 defectors from the MEK as an unprecedented event in the history of Iran's judiciary. He remarked, "These 200 individuals likely represent only a portion of those who, having firsthand knowledge of the organization’s operations, are ready to provide testimony. The court announces that anyone harmed by the actions of the defendants or with relevant information is invited to file a complaint and testify. This judicial proceeding, given the nature of the charges and the defendants involved, is unparalleled in the history of Iran's judiciary and introduces exceptional developments in the court's processes."
What is the Story Behind the “We Testify” Statement?
Ebrahim Khodabandeh, a former member of the MEK and the director of the Nejat Association, revealed a unique development while testifying during the 22nd session of the MEK trial. He stated: “At the Nejat Association, we issued a statement inviting individuals to testify in court. As a result, 164 former members of the organization in Iran signed this statement, and their names are available here.”
He added: “Unfortunately, the lists from several provinces, including Gilan and North Khorasan, were not collected. These lists could have brought the number of witnesses to over 200. Some individuals raised legal concerns, arguing that if they entered the court as witnesses, they could no longer participate as plaintiffs.”
Khodabandeh went on to read a joint statement signed by several former members of the MEK who managed to escape from the terrorist group. This statement, titled “We Testify” and signed by 164 defectors, states:
“We, former members of the MEK, are prepared to testify against the organization and its leaders, including Massoud and Maryam Rajavi. We, the undersigned, are ready to appear before any court in the world, either in person or via video link, to provide detailed and comprehensive testimonies regarding the following:
1. The direct involvement of the MEK and its leaders in the brutal and widespread massacre of the people of Iran and Iraq.
2. Their close military and intelligence collaboration with Iraq’s criminal dictator during the eight years of Iran’s defense against foreign aggression, targeting Iranian defenders and border guards.
3. Their repeated efforts and plans to reignite war after the Iran-Iraq ceasefire, as openly admitted by the organization’s leader, under the strategy of ‘Spark and Warfare.’
4. Their active military role in collaboration with Saddam Hussein’s oppressive regime during the massacres of Shias in southern Iraq and Kurds in the north.
5. Their blatant violation of the most basic human rights of their members and their families, including the torture, disappearance, and even killing of their own members.
6. Their foreign-managed interference, establishing ‘terror farms’ and cyber armies that jeopardize the psychological and physical security of Iranian men and women through online spaces, spreading terrorism and sabotage.
7. Their systematic intimidation, harassment, and even legal entrapment of former members who refused to continue associating with this destructive and treasonous group in various foreign countries to silence them.”
Therefore, we are ready to testify against the MEK and its leaders on all the above points and to provide sufficient evidence in any court.
Hojatoleslam Dehghani also announced: “According to a petition submitted to the court by one of the witnesses, 164 former members of the first defendant listed in the indictment are currently prepared to appear in court during this stage of the proceedings. They will formally swear an oath as witnesses and provide their testimonies regarding the matters detailed in the petition.”
According to the presiding judge, the list of 164 individuals includes their full names, former positions within the organization, the dates they joined and left the group, and their current places of residence. All of this information has been submitted to the court in compliance with the legal requirements for identifying witnesses. He further noted that the list is being expanded to include 200 witnesses. The court will arrange special sessions solely to hear the testimonies of these witnesses.
He added: “During the criminal proceedings, the court is currently dealing with a substantial number of witnesses—more than 200 individuals—regarding the actions and charges outlined in the indictment issued by the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. These more than 200 witnesses have declared their readiness to testify in the courtroom, as detailed in the list submitted by Khodabandeh. The court will dedicate special sessions to listen to their testimonies.”
Testimony of 200 Former Members Could Serve as the Basis for Judicial Decisions and Rulings
Seyed Mohammad Reza Mousavi Fard, an assistant professor of criminal law and criminology at Azad University and a legal expert who has attended several sessions of the MEK trial, commented on the readiness of 200 former members of the terrorist group to testify against it. He emphasized that such testimonies can be examined from both political and legal perspectives.
He stated: “From a political standpoint, it is not uncommon for groups or organizations whose members have defected to claim that these individuals were coerced or persuaded to testify through political pressure, threats, or incentives. This is the approach the MEK typically takes in response to the positions adopted by its former members who stand against it.”
Mousavi Fard further noted: “However, from a legal and Shia jurisprudential perspective, the testimony of these individuals carries significant weight and credibility. These defectors were present at the group’s headquarters and directly witnessed the organization’s crimes with their own senses. They have a deep understanding of the suffering inflicted on the victims. Legally, this constitutes extremely strong evidence that can serve as the foundation for judicial decisions and rulings.”
He added that, as far as his research shows, this is the first time such an event has occurred globally—where such a large number of remorseful and defected members of a terrorist group are willing to testify against the organization in a competent court for any reason. He described this development as a truly unique occurrence.
The professor also addressed the distinction between collective and individual testimonies in court, clarifying: “From a legal standpoint, there is no difference between collective and individual testimony; this is subject to the court’s decision. However, it is important to note how the court has planned to record the testimonies of these former MEK members—whether collectively or individually. Either way, the legal impact remains unchanged since these individuals are testifying about what they personally saw, heard, and experienced during their time within the terrorist group.”
Testimony of 200 Former MEK Members Presents a Serious Challenge for the Group’s Hosts
Hojatoleslam Ali Sedaghat elaborated on the various dimensions of the testimony by approximately 200 defected MEK members against the terrorist group. He stated: “From the 16th or 17th session of the trial, the topic of testimony from former MEK members was raised. These individuals made claims about the incidents within the group, including torture, coercion, exploitation, and more. These are significant allegations that reveal the vile nature of the MEK’s leaders.”
According to him, the defectors present in court referred to their connections with other former members now residing in Europe and other countries. They stated that these individuals, too, are prepared to testify against the MEK in court, whether online, in person, or through legal representation.
The expert further explained: “Under Iranian law, the testimony of two individuals regarding an event or matter is sufficient in the absence of evidence to the contrary. In some countries, even the testimony of a single person can suffice. Now consider a case where 200 people testify, all with a unified account. These 200 defected MEK members have declared their willingness to testify that the group engaged in terrorist activities and tortured its members.”
Sedaghat emphasized the extraordinary nature of the MEK, stating: “A group that doesn’t even spare its own members is truly unusual in history. It is rare to find an organization that inflicts such cruelty on its own. Typically, terrorist groups exhibit cohesion to commit atrocities against others. However, the MEK has subjected its own members to the worst forms of torture and oppression. In one session of the trial, details were shared about the killing of Majid Sharif Vaghefi—a prominent figure after whom Sharif University of Technology is named. Majid Sharif Vaghefi was brutally murdered, dismembered, and burned simply for objecting to the MEK’s deviation from its original principles. This is how the MEK treated even its high-ranking members, let alone ordinary people.”
He continued: “Now, 200 defected members of the organization, including those based in Europe, have declared their readiness to testify about the MEK’s terrorist activities. In any judicial system, the testimony of this many witnesses in a single case unequivocally establishes the crime in question. Europe is now faced with a historic decision because a landmark trial on the MEK’s crimes is taking place. Europe must decide how to proceed—whether to continue hosting and supporting the MEK politically and financially, or to confront the clear and explicit facts of international law.”
According to Hojatoleslam Sedaghat, it appears that Europe will ultimately be compelled to distance itself from the MEK.