Here's what you need to know about the MEK.
Before 1979 the MEK had some genuine support among Iranian leftists. Shortly after the revolution, when Iraq invaded, they sided with Saddam Hussein because they thought Saddam would win the war and install them as a puppet government over Iran. Their support for Saddam during that war is when the overwhelming majority of Iranians turned against them.
The United States later designated them a terrorist organisation because they had murdered Americans in Iran in the 1970s, carried out attacks abroad, and ran an armed campaign from Iraq. Their founder, Massoud Rajavi, built the group as a mix of Islam and Marxism, then turned it into a personality cult around himself and his wife. Among their supporters he ordered mass divorces, banned family life, and set up a camp in Iraq that their "supporters" were not free to leave. (A 2012 BBC report found many of their members had spent decades trying to escape from the MEK). The cult was built on the fabricated story that the MEK would invade Iran and overthrow the Islamic regime. That never happened. They were far too small. Rajavi vanished mysteriously in 2003 and then his wife, Maryam Rajavi became the leader.
Today the MEK dont want a democracy where Iranians can vote for anyone. They want a dictatorship led by Maryam Rajavi. Under their vision Iranians would not have the right to vote for Reza Pahlavi. Those of us actually fighting for freedom ultimately want a ballot where Iranians decide the country's future. Under that vision Iranians are allowed to vote for a republic, and even for Rajavi if they choose. That's the difference between those of us who support Reza Pahlavi and the very small minority who support the MEK.
Today the MEK are political agitators with money. Almost no one inside Iran takes them seriously. You don't see photos of Rajavi at rallies that aren't theirs. They spend their money lobbying politicians and co-organizing protests so they can pose as Iran's opposition.
Thanks to the Washington Post, we know that in 2011 Rudy Giuliani was given a $20,000 service fee* by this group to deliver a speech. In 2012 they were taken off the terror list. While this is a corruption problem for America, it does not make them legitimate, no matter how much they pay him or any other greedy, corrupt politician.
If you support democracy in Iran, your fight should be for a ballot box where Iranians vote for the future of their nation. That's what Reza Pahlavi and his supporters are fighting for.
*Bribe
🚨 MUST WATCH VIDEO: It is a great honor to join the thousands of Iranians who are raising their voices in opposition of the murderous Regime.
We are gathered outside the United Nations HQ in support of
@Maryam_Rajavi’s 10-point-plan for a
#FreeIran.
#UNGA26