In the 54th session of the trial concerning the charges against 104 members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), also known as the Monafeqin, held on February 17, 2026, at Branch 11 of the Criminal Court of Tehran Province, the court continued its examination of the group’s terrorist activities. Presided over by Judge Amirreza Dehghani, with advisors Morteza Turk and Amin Naseri, the session focused on the MEK’s role in arming groups and inciting violence during recent unrest in Iran. The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Hojjatoleslam Madah, presented evidence and witness testimonies detailing the organization’s long history of terrorist operations, including the “Eternal Light” (Forough Javidan) operation, during which thousands of civilians and security personnel were killed or injured.
The session highlighted the MEK’s systematic production and dissemination of fake news, hate speech, and terror-inducing propaganda aimed at creating public fear and instability. Madah emphasized that the group’s actions, ranging from assassinations and bombings to armed attacks on hospitals and civilian areas, constitute organized terrorism and crimes against humanity. He argued that even members in supportive roles, such as media or logistics, were complicit due to their awareness of the organization’s criminal objectives. The lawyer stressed that the MEK’s claim of “political motives” cannot justify the massacre of innocent civilians, including children, and called for the application of charges such as moharebeh (waging war against God) and ifsad fil-arz (corruption on earth) under Iranian law, as well as relevant international conventions.
Expert witness Mortaza Simiyari provided a detailed political-security analysis, linking the MEK’s activities in the recent unrest to a broader foreign-backed strategy involving psychological operations, armed sabotage, and efforts to fragment Iran. He noted the group’s limited grassroots support inside Iran and its reliance on external sponsors. The court also heard from defected members who testified about internal control mechanisms, brainwashing tactics, and the group’s collaboration with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War. The session concluded with the judge scheduling the next hearing for March 3, 2026, while emphasizing the need for precise documentation of victim numbers and the MEK’s command structure.
Overall, the court proceedings portrayed the Mujahedin-e Khalq as a persistent terrorist organization whose ideological claims mask a long record of violence against Iranian civilians. The session reinforced the plaintiffs’ demand for full accountability, framing the MEK not as a political opposition but as a criminal entity responsible for systematic terror.