In the 28th session of the trial addressing the crimes of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), historian and researcher Safaoddin Tabarraeiyan presented compelling testimony, based on declassified intelligence reports, historical records, and eyewitness accounts. His remarks provided a comprehensive overview of the organization's long history of violence, espionage, and internal purges, highlighting its deep-seated ties with Iraq’s Ba'athist regime, its role in terrorist attacks against Iran, and its transformation into a cult-like entity under the leadership of Massoud Rajavi.
The MEK’s History of Assassinations and Terrorism
Tabarā’iyan began by detailing the systematic assassinations and bombings carried out by the MEK, which he described as a merciless terrorist campaign against Iranian civilians and officials. The organization specifically targeted judges, military commanders, government officials, and even ordinary workers, killing anyone they deemed an obstacle to their objectives.
He emphasized that no segment of society was safe from their violence—from high-ranking officials to ordinary pedestrians caught in their bombings. These attacks, he argued, were not acts of political resistance, but rather calculated acts of terror designed to spread fear and destabilize the country. The MEK’s infamous bombing in 1981, which killed 72 senior officials, was cited as a pivotal act of treason that irreversibly marked them as a foreign-backed terrorist organization.
The MEK’s Collaboration with Saddam Hussein
A critical aspect of Tabarraeiyan’s testimony revolved around the MEK’s alliance with Iraq’s Ba'athist regime during the Iran-Iraq War. He revealed that classified intelligence documents prove that the MEK was not merely seeking refuge in Iraq, but had actively offered their services to Saddam Hussein’s intelligence agencies.
The organization provided military intelligence to Iraq, engaged in reconnaissance missions, and even participated in armed operations against Iranian forces. In exchange, Saddam granted them financial aid, military equipment, and training facilities, effectively turning them into a proxy militia against Iran.
One of the most damning revelations was that the MEK played a direct role in the brutal suppression of the 1991 Sha’bāniyah Uprising in Iraq, in which the Iraqi military and MEK massacred thousands of Kurdish and Shia dissidents who had risen against Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Espionage, Sabotage, and Intelligence Sharing with Foreign Powers
Tabarraeiyan provided evidence that the MEK engaged in extensive espionage operations against Iran, particularly during and after the Iran-Iraq War. Iraqi intelligence reports indicate that the MEK was involved in leaking sensitive information about Iran’s nuclear program to Western intelligence agencies.
The organization also spread false intelligence to justify international pressure on Iran, including fabricating allegations about Iranian military capabilities and internal affairs. Their goal, he argued, was to position themselves as useful informants to foreign powers in order to secure long-term financial and logistical support.
Additionally, the MEK attempted to sabotage Iran’s infrastructure, carrying out attacks on oil pipelines, power grids, and key transportation hubs to weaken the country internally.
Internal Brutality – Executions, Torture, and Suppression of Dissent
A particularly gruesome aspect of the testimony centered on the MEK’s internal brutality against its own members. According to Tabarraeiyan, the organization routinely tortured and executed its own members who were suspected of disloyalty.
He detailed the case of Javad Saeedi, one of the earliest victims of the MEK’s internal purges. In 1973, when Reza Rezaei was leading the organization, Saeedi was accused of being “problematic” and lured into a trap by MEK operatives. He was shot from behind by Bahram Araam and his body was mutilated and burned to prevent identification.
These tactics of eliminating members through brutal executions were not isolated incidents but part of an ongoing pattern in the organization’s history.
The MEK as an Extension of Saddam’s Military Operations
Tabarraeiyan emphasized that by the mid-1980s, the MEK was fully integrated into Iraq’s military structure. They had access to exclusive military bases, intelligence networks, and advanced weaponry, provided directly by Saddam Hussein.
During this time, the MEK carried out attacks deep inside Iran, targeting military installations, government offices, and even civilian populations. They also conducted spying missions against Iranian military movements, passing on critical intelligence to the Iraqi military, which resulted in significant Iranian casualties during the war.
Tabarraeiyan cited documented meetings between Massoud Rajavi and Iraqi intelligence officials, where Rajavi assured Saddam that the MEK’s sole mission was the violent overthrow of the Iranian government. In one such meeting, Saddam is quoted as thanking Rajavi for his loyalty, promising him unlimited resources to achieve their common goal.
The Failure of Justice – 43 Years of Delayed Accountability
One of Tabarraeiyan’s strongest criticisms was directed at the Iranian judicial system, which he accused of waiting 43 years to prosecute these crimes.
He argued that if legal action had been taken sooner, many of the later atrocities committed by the MEK—including their involvement in foreign-backed military campaigns—could have been prevented. He stressed that justice delayed is justice denied, and the Iranian people deserve to see those responsible held accountable for their actions.
The MEK’s Cult-Like Transformation and Forced Divorces
In his final remarks, Tabarraeiyan described how the MEK ceased to function as a political organization and transformed into a cult. He cited firsthand accounts from former members, revealing how Massoud Rajavi imposed strict authoritarian control over the group.
A key moment in this transformation was the forced divorce policy in 1985, when Rajavi ordered all married members to separate from their spouses in order to prove their absolute loyalty to him. Those who resisted were imprisoned, tortured, or executed in secret MEK-run detention centers.
By 1986, Rajavi and his wife Maryam were personally flown to Baghdad in a private jet provided by Saddam Hussein, where they were received as honored guests by the Iraqi government. One year later, the MEK officially established its own paramilitary force under the name "National Liberation Army", launching an all-out war against Iran with full Iraqi backing.
A Warning to Future Generations
Tabarraeiyan concluded by warning that the crimes of the MEK should never be forgotten. He urged historians, legal scholars, and researchers to document these atrocities thoroughly, ensuring that future generations understand the true nature of this organization.
He reminded the court that the MEK has always served foreign interests—first the Ba'athist regime of Saddam Hussein, and now Western intelligence agencies—and that its history of violence, treachery, and internal suppression must never be erased from public memory.