CONTRARY TO IRAN LOBBY CLAIMS, REGIME CHANGE DOES NOT END IN WAR
One
of the great falsehoods of the Iran lobby and the appeasers of the clerical
regime in Tehran is that any effort at regime change would inevitably lead to
war. This by-line can be seen in every article by the Iran lobby and the
appeasers attempting to underscore the growing global support for the Iranian
opposition (MEK/PMOI) and the Iranian people’s quest for regime change.
History
teaches us though that the longevity of any regime born out of violent conquest
is ultimately short-lived.
The
Iranian regime that was born out of a revolution overthrowing the Shah, which
was in turn hijacked by the mullahs and turned into a religious oligarchy. The
original aim of the revolution was the formation of a secular, pluralistic
democracy. That dream still exists in the hearts and minds of the overwhelming
majority of the Iranian people and resonates in the various forms of protest in
Iran, despite the repressive measures by the regime. Therefore, the call for
“regime change” is primarily the Iranian people’s demand.
Since
the early days after the 1979 revolution, the mullahs have relied on the
typical tools of oppression to keep their grip on power, including the creation
of a paramilitary and judiciary system so vast, it touches nearly every sector
of Iranian society. At the same time, the Iranian regime and its apparatus
(including the regime lobbies and appeasers) have been quick in attacking any
publication or personalities who dare speaking about the Iranian people’s quest
for freedom and particularly “regime change” in Iran. It goes without saying
that those more in line with the regime have targeted MEK/PMOI, since MEK/PMOI
is the most dedicated and the organized opposition with extensive routes and
support at home, that can materialize the regime change. The people’s Mojahedin
Organization of Iran, PMOI (usually referred to as MEK) has therefore been the
subject of dubious propaganda campaigns by the Ministry of Intelligence and
Security (MOIS) at home and by the regime lobbies and appeasers abroad. The
idea is to say that there is no democratic alternative to this regime. Hence,
the only option is to put up with the dictatorship in Iran, otherwise there
will be war!
A
look at the back ground of the MEK/PMOI, Iran’s democratic opposition can be
helpful in shedding light on the reasons for sometimes unprecedented campaigns
against them. The People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is the oldest, largest,
and contrary to the mullahs’ propaganda, the most popular resistance
organization in Iran. The PMOI/MEK was founded in September 1965 by three
Iranian engineers, who sought to replace the Shah’s repressive monarchy with a
democratic government.
The
PMOI/MEK enjoys broad popularity in Iran because of its longstanding support for democracyand
its modern interpretation of Islam. The MEK/PMOI believe Islam is inherently
tolerant and democratic, thus fully compatible with the values of modern-day
civilization. This vision is in fact the cure to the growing expansion of
Islamic extremism funded and supported by the mullahs in Iran.
The
MEK/PMOI participated in a united front against the Pahlavi monarchy, which
violently opposed democratic reforms and had one of the worst human rights
records in the world. After the Shah fled Iran, the MEK/PMOI worked to
establish a democratic government, but Ayatollah Khomeini hijacked the
Revolution and instead created an Islamic theocracy.
The
MEK/PMOI shifted course and directed its opposition against the Ayatollah,
continuing its struggle to restore democracy in Iran. In June 1980, the
PMOI/MEK organized a rally in Tehran to protest Khomeini’s escalating
despotism. More than 200,000 people participated in the demonstration.
With
each passing day, the PMOI/MEK gained strength and, in July 1980, Khomeini
openly considered the possibility of defeat, stating, “Never have I so much
feared the Islamic Revolution end in failure.” He lashed out at the PMOI/MEK,
declaring the resistance organization as the main enemy. Khomeini said, “Our
enemy is neither the United States, nor the Soviet Union, nor Kurdistan, but
sitting right here in Tehran under our nose [the PMOI/MEK].”
Revolutionary
Guards escalated their attacks on the PMOI/MEK, which continued to promote its
pro-democracy campaign. The turning point came on June 20, 1981. The MEK/PMOI
organized rallies across Iran to protest Khomeini’s oppressive rule. More than
a half million Iranians attended the demonstration in Tehran.
On
direct fatwa by Khomeini, the Hezbollah blocked off streets and fired weapons
into the growing crowds, killing hundreds of Iranians and injuring many more,
with thousands arrested. The reign of terror had begun. The following day,
Khomeini’s henchmen executed hundreds of PMOI/MEK supporters who had been
arrested, including young girls.
The
bloodbath was unrelenting. In the months and years that followed, more than
120,000 PMOI/MEK members and supporters were killed by Khomeini and the ruling
mullahs. In only one occasion in summer of 1988, over 30,000 political prisoners
(mainly members and supporters of the MEK/PMOI) were
mass murdered in Iran, based on a direct fatwa of the mullah’s Supreme Leader,
Khomeini. The savagery removed any legitimacy the Islamic Republic may have
once had. The regime is now viewed by the people of Iran as fascist,
maintaining power through fear and brutality.
Members
and supporters of the PMOI/MEK have suffered greatly in their struggle to
restore democracy to Iran. Iranians respect the many sacrifices made by the
MEK/PMOI and revere its martyrs.
Through
the years, the MEK/PMOI has been steadfast in its battle to rid Iran of the
mullahs’ nightmare regime, overcoming severe hardships and setbacks. Contrary
to the Iranian lobby’s claim, the support by the Iranian people for the
PMOI/MEK is also steadfast. The resistance organization has earned their
respect and trust and it gives voice to their aspirations for a free and
democratic Iran. This can be seen in the latest activities of the supporters of
the MEK/PMOI, in Tehran and other major cities across Iran, during the election
show and in solidarity with the Free Iran gathering in June and July 2017.
Hundreds
of video clips and photos of banners and placards hanging from pathways over
highways and auto routes on billboards, or in the shape of graffiti on walls in
Tehran and other major cities, are published on various Telegram and YouTube
channels, showcasing the vast magnitude of these activities. This is while
activists have been prosecuted and some even executed for far less “crimes” in
the past decades. To an extent that the regime’s supreme leader had to change
plans and give in to a second term for Rouhani as president to end the
spreading protest and infightings in fear of a similar 2009 uprising that could
sweep his regime, was the result of the MEK/PMOI’s presence and their
activities.
Activities seen
in cities across Iran during the election season, were all following a call
made by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),
who spread the slogan “My
vote is regime change” across the country. This
brought the mullahs to the conclusion that the dangerous consequences of
deepening divides amongst the regime’s senior elite were paving the path for
nationwide uprisings similar to those seen in 2009. As a result, the mullahs’
ruling elite decided to quickly bring an end to the election farce in the first
round and prevent any further opportunities for protests and possible
uprisings.
Dr.
Rafizadeh, a leading Iranian-American political scientist, president of the
International American Council on the Middle East, and best-selling author in
an opinion piece in Huffington post publishing 8 video clips of
MEK/PMOI activities inside Iran, wrote: “The
activists of the network of the Iranian opposition movement, the National
Council of Resistance of Iran and its group the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI),
inside Iran have been engaged in an extensive campaign nationwide, calling on
Iranians to boycott the elections.
Their
activities involved hanging huge portraits of the Iranian opposition leader,
Maryam Rajavi from overpasses or bridges in major freeways in Tehran and other
cities, posting her pictures on walls in different streets and other public
locations, such as in the bazaar or outside the paramilitary Bassji
headquarters, or placing them on the windshields of cars, and distributing
flyers and T-shirts with the MEK/PMOI emblem and calling for government
change.”
He
concludes: “Finally, from my perspective, it is critical to point out that
Iranian leaders fear the soft power of oppositional groups more than the
military and hard power of foreign governments. That is why Iranian leaders and
media outlets normally react forcefully and anxiously to activities by the
opposition, such as the recent critical move where Senator John McCain (R-AZ),
Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently met with Mrs. Maryam
Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
(NCRI), in Tirana, Albania. Iran’s oppositional groups can be a very powerful
tool to counterbalance the Islamic Republic.”
Some
of the MEK/PMOI affiliates activities reflected on the opposition media outlets
include:
In Tehran: Haghani cross section, activists
of PMOI/MEK put up a poster in a major cross section reading: “My Vote Overthrow,
Big No of the People of Iran to Election Farce in Clerical Regime. Down With
Khamenei, Hail to Rajavi (the leader of Iran opposition).”
Iran, Tehran and Azarbaijan, in the
run - up to the sham presidential election, activists of MEK/PMOI in the
capital Tehran, and Azarbaijan province Notrh in Western Iran put up posters against
Iran regime's sham election written: Our vote is for Maryam Rajavi.
Iran, Uremia , in
the run - up to the sham presidential election, activists of MEK/PMOI in Uremia
Azarbaijan province North- West Iran put up posters against Iran regime's sham
election written: Our vote is for Maryam Rajavi.
Iran, Marvdasht, in the
run - up to the sham presidential election, activists of MEK/PMOI in Fars
province Central Iran put up posters against Iran regime's sham election: “No
to Rouhani the imposter , No to Raisi the murderer.”
Supporters
of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK) have filmed and
photographed themselves holding up photographs of
Iranian Resistance President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and slogans in support of
the 'Free Iran' rally.
Another
hallmark for understanding the extent of activities of MEK/PMOI and its
popularity among youth, is the recent expressions of
concerns followed by crackdowns on the
youth under the pretext of cybercrimes. Recently,
Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, regime’s deputy public prosecutor said that cyberspace
have become extremely worrisome for Tehran. Referring to “Telegram”, by far the
most popular social media platform in Iran with over 20 million users, he said:
“More
than 30% of these Telegram channels are involved in criminal activities against
the country’s security and disrupting the entire nation.”
“The
MEK Telegram channel inside Iran is very active… all the regime’s opponents are
providing the people all their books and written material through this online
platform. If you sought to purchase them you have to pay huge amounts of money.
If you wanted to publish a book, it would be very demanding, but on the
Internet it is quite easy,” added the regime’s deputy public prosecutor.
The
Iranian regime has time and again negotiated with Telegram’s managers to block
the MEK/PMOI website and associated channels, only to be rejected each time.
This has left Tehran facing an impasse.
Either
accept the MEK/PMOI’s vast network with all its grave consequences or pay the
ultimate price of blocking Telegram. The latter, however, will raise even more
dissatisfaction that can even trigger a protest.
The
2009 uprisings and massive protests that were viciously put down sent shivers
down the mullahs’ spines and served as a sharp reminder that their hold on
power is tenuous at best. Hence, they actively repress a free press,
continually arresting and imprisoning journalists, editors, photographers, and
now bloggers, who voice, print, transmit or illustrate any hint of dissent.
Dictatorships
that stand on fragile ground are always more oppressive. The Iranian regime
fits that bill to a T.
In
addition to using blunt force on people, the regime invests heavily in the
massive propaganda effort it mobilizes through state-controlled media and via
its lobbies and paid agents abroad, in order to discourage more support for the
MEK/PMOI, which is the main driver for regime change in Iran. The extent of the
anti MEK/PMOI propaganda has increased, particularly after the July 1, 2017 gathering in
Paris, which had a clear message: “Regime change in Iran is within reach”. Some
100,000 Iranian diaspora and supporters of MEK/PMOI gave energy to it. A
nightmare for the criminal mullahs that cannot be avoided.
This
is why it serves the regime’s purposes to continually dangle the threat of war
over the heads of its people. It also helps the Iran lobby’s PR efforts to cast
Iran like some poor, defenseless nation under threat by the big bad U.S. and
its allies, such as Saudi Arabia or the Iranian resistance movement, the
MEK/PMOI.
Trita
Parsi, the head of the National Iranian American Council and staunch advocate
for the Iranian regime, appeared on Bloomberg to beat the war drum again, as
well as attack the Trump administration for not living up to the Iran nuclear
deal, even though Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the renewal of the
compliance certification for another 90 days.
But
the Trump administration also is asserting that Iranian regime’s development of
ballistic missiles; support of terrorism and militancy; complicity in
atrocities by the government of Syrian dictator, Bashar Assad; cyberattacks on
the U.S.; and other actions “severely undermine the intent” of the nuclear
accord.
Based
on those actions, Trump is announcing an additional package of sanctions
against 16 Iranian entities and individuals found to be supporting Tehran’s
activities in the region, according to the Washington Times.
The
real threat to the Iranian regime though lies not within sanctions, but in the
simple acts of defiance that the Iranian people undertake themselves, such as
the hanging of banners on Tehran overpasses bearing the image of MEK/PMOI
leader Mrs. Maryam Rajavi; an act punishable by death if the perpetrators were
caught.
The
regime is also threatened by every protest over low wages or unsafe working
conditions. In many ways large and small, the process of regime change can
happen slowly, methodically, and inexorably.
Mrs.
Rajavi, in a recent speech at the annual gathering of the Iranian resistance
movement and supporters of MEK/PMOI, opined that the movement did not require
outside assistance from governments, such as the U.S., to succeed. It only
needed the recognition by governments to be empowered.
The
heavy lifting of pushing for regime change must come from within Iran from the
Iranian people, said Mrs. Rajavi.
So
long as the Iranian regime keeps trying to place a tight lid on the simmering
pressure for change by the Iranian people, the harder it will be to prevent the
inevitable.
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