The American-Canadian writer, referring to the history of the Mujahedin’s terrorist actions, said: The fact that their main target has always been Iran does not mean that, in the event of a dispute with a host country, they will not turn their deadly objectives toward the people and government of that country.
After years of lobbying and paying large sums, the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq group managed to have its name removed from the terrorist lists of the United States and European countries. Although the U.S. and other European countries hosted this terrorist group with specific objectives in mind, provided it with platforms for exaggeration and Iran-bashing, made space available for its satellite networks on their soil, and announced implicit support by attending its events…
At the same time, Hojjatoleslam Amirreza Dehghani, the judge in the Mujahedin trial, citing international law, called on host countries of this group and its members to extradite these individuals to Iran within the framework of fulfilling their obligations.
He explained: According to extradition treaties and the quadripartite convention against terrorism — of which many European countries are members — when suspects in a terrorist case of this magnitude are subject to complaint, the treaties obligate extradition to Iran. One of the unique features of this court, which distinguishes it from similar courts dealing with terrorist actions, is precisely this issue.
At the same time, the peremptory norms governing the fight against terrorism, enshrined in global legal documents, stipulate that any country that becomes aware of the commission of acts listed in international treaties against terrorism by an individual or group is obligated either to prosecute the accused in its own jurisdiction or to extradite them to the requesting country.
In other words, international conventions against terrorism state that perpetrators of terrorist crimes should not enjoy immunity from extradition, and member countries are obligated to prosecute suspects found in their territory or hand them over to the requesting country.
At the United Nations level, the fight against terrorism is recognized as a common priority for all countries. For years, the UN Security Council has, through resolutions such as Resolution 1373, obligated member states to cooperate in combating the financing of terrorism and the recruitment of terrorist forces.
Similarly, principles contained in the UN Charter obligate countries to guarantee security and prevent terrorist threats, while preserving the right to law enforcement and state intervention only within the framework of respect for human rights and due process for their own citizens.
In other words, countries’ international legal obligations include establishing effective legal mechanisms to prosecute individuals who create a threat to the security of others through acts of violence.
Consequently, European countries are not only obligated to protect individual rights but also to respect anti-terrorism resolutions and participate in judicial cooperation in accordance with international agreements and the principle of “extradite or prosecute.”
Robert Fantina, a researcher and scholar from New Jersey, USA, who is currently teaching and researching at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, emphasized in this regard that European governments have accepted anti-terrorism commitments, and their silence or continued support for the Mujahedin weakens the legal standing of these countries.
Referring to the fact that European governments have always been obligated to restrict the movement of the Mujahedin and ensure that they do not reside in these countries, he said: These governments have simply ignored international laws, often encouraged by the U.S. government, which supports and finances many terrorist organizations worldwide, including the Mujahedin. Several international laws — all binding for UN member states — require countries hosting members of the Mujahedin to expel them.
This American-Canadian scholar emphasized that terrorists, wherever they are, create security risks, and the Mujahedin have proven that they have no respect for human life, the sovereignty of the people’s will, or property. He said: The fact that their main target has always been Iran does not mean that, in the event of a dispute with a host country, they will not turn their deadly objectives toward the people and government of that country.
Fantina further noted that European governments do not have a good record of respecting international law. This situation has worsened since Donald Trump came to power as U.S. president. America’s support for the Mujahedin has made many European countries concerned about the consequences of acting against them.
He continued: European countries allow Mujahedin members to remain within their borders despite the dangers they pose. These are terrorists who have no respect for law, justice, or ethics and therefore endanger people wherever they reside. They are also a ready force for the U.S. to use if the host country deviates too far from American orders.
This American-Canadian scholar stressed: It is necessary for European countries to stop all support for Mujahedin members. Those who can be identified should be arrested and deported. If they are suspected of committing crimes in the host country, they should be imprisoned and then, like any other person accused of criminal activity, face the laws of the country, have their charges addressed, and be dealt with accordingly.
By By Robert Fantina, Researcher and Scholar from New Jersey, USA