The
Iranian regime has often denied that the People’s MojahedinOrganization of Iran (PMOI / MEK) has a large following in Iran.
Officials have said on numerous occasions that the opposition’s influence in
Iran is minimal and that it is no real threat to the Iranian regime.
The
reality is that it is a threat to the regime and it is clear that the regime
has seen it as one for a long time because it has run sophisticated and
elaborate smear campaigns against the MEK.
At the
end of last year, protests broke out across the country and the people of Iran
were calling for regime change. The protests were organised and the demands of
the people were precise, specific and focused and the MEK played a big role in
the organisation and mobilisation of the protests.
During
the “Free Iran” gathering in Paris at the end of June, the
widespread support inside and outside Iran for the Resistance was evident. A
video from inside Iran showing the protesters holding placards in support of
the Resistance and speaking about the huge role of the MEK shows that it is
highly regarded and valued by a large portion of the population. Furthermore,
it was shown that there is a huge following in every single one of Iran’s
provinces – its support is not just centred around large cities.
Iranian regime officials can
no longer deny that the Resistance is hugely significant and in recent days and
weeks we are hearing about the reality of the situation.
At the
end of July, the regime’s labour minister Ali Rabiei said that the opposition
is an enemy of the regime and referred to its role during recent labour
strikes. He said: “Today our enemies, particularly the MEK, are targeting the
labor issues in the country, something that was very apparent in the issue of
the truckers (…) Various networks were activated to transform this demand as a
protest by the MEK in the shortest possible time.”
At the
beginning of August, a member of Majlis (parliament), Ahmad Salek, who is part
of the pro- faction, said: “The slogans that were chanted in the
demonstration were directed by the MEK through foreign news channels.”
An op-ed
in a media outlet that is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) recently warned about the increasing influence of the MEK. It said that
the protests (which it describes as “illegal”) have evolved. In December and
January, the protests were less focused than the most recent ones.
The publication also showed that the regime is fearful of what is to come next. “Recently, [Massoud] Rajavi gave a call to the so-called ‘resistance units’ and has promised that the turmoil will continue and escalate every day. He claims that the protests are becoming increasingly organized and the government doesn’t have the capacity to stop them. It’s worth reminding that the U.S. government expressed support for the protests in December and Maryam Rajavi stipulated that her organization was involved in the protests. The MEK is more ready than ever and has become directly involved in the chaos.”
The publication also showed that the regime is fearful of what is to come next. “Recently, [Massoud] Rajavi gave a call to the so-called ‘resistance units’ and has promised that the turmoil will continue and escalate every day. He claims that the protests are becoming increasingly organized and the government doesn’t have the capacity to stop them. It’s worth reminding that the U.S. government expressed support for the protests in December and Maryam Rajavi stipulated that her organization was involved in the protests. The MEK is more ready than ever and has become directly involved in the chaos.”
The MEK
is an organisation that has been, and continues to be, a great support to the
people of Iran. It is not responsible for starting the protests in Iran – the
Iranian regime is responsible for that. Without the Iranian regime’s
corruption, neglect, mismanagement and interference abroad, the people in Iran
would have no reasons to take to the streets.
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