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The campaign against the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), which began in the 1980s, is one of the darkest chapters of the Iranian regime’s history of internal oppression. Before Ruhollah Khomeini issued his official crackdown on the PMOI, he laid the groundwork by launching a widespread demonization effort, framing them as “Monafeqin” (hypocrites), a term used to depict them as enemies of true Islam. In Khomeini’s eyes, the PMOI, with its blend of Islamic and pro-democracy ideologies, was a greater threat to his theocratic regime than even “the imperialist powers of the East and West.”
In the early 1980s, Khomeini began labeling the PMOI as dangerous hypocrites who pretended to be devout Muslims while secretly undermining the Islamic regime. This portrayal worked to dehumanize the movement, preparing the population and the regime’s supporters for the brutal crackdowns that followed. Once this narrative was entrenched, it gave legitimacy to the regime’s next steps: the confiscation of PMOI properties, stripping the organization of its assets and resources, and paving the way for the mass executions that were ordered by regime judges.
The mass repression escalated significantly in 1981 and 1982, with thousands of PMOI members and sympathizers arrested, tortured, and executed in a series of purges. These early massacres were justified by the regime as a necessary measure to root out opposition to the newly established Islamic Republic. By 1986, these crackdowns intensified, as the PMOI was seen as the regime’s most organized and determined enemy, both within Iran and in exile.
Joint statement by 45 UN experts & Nobel laureates on Iran's smear campaign against former UN Special Rapporteur @JavaidRehman
"We the undersigned stand shoulder to shoulder with Professor Rehman and vigorously denounce the smear campaign against him"
👉 https://t.co/hHi7Q2GCjN pic.twitter.com/Vs51Ta0kmU
— Justice for the Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (@jvmifoundation) September 9, 2024
The most horrifying episode of this systematic annihilation was the massacre during the summer of 1988. Following a fatwa issued by Khomeini, known as the “Death Commissions” were established. These commissions conducted brief, perfunctory trials of political prisoners, most of whom had already served their sentences. The primary question asked was whether the prisoners remained loyal to the PMOI; if they showed any sign of steadfastness, they were immediately sentenced to death. Over 30,000 political prisoners, the vast majority of them PMOI members, were executed in a matter of months.
In 2017, Khomeini’s successor, Ali Khamenei, decided to elevate Ebrahim Raisi, a loyal surrogate involved in the 1988 massacre, to the forefront of Iranian politics. Raisi was a key member of the “Death Commissions,” and the Iranian Resistance launched a global campaign to expose Raisi’s role in these atrocities. As a result of these actions, Khamenei’s chosen candidate for the presidency faced widespread rejection both within Iran and internationally, earning the infamous title of “the Butcher of Tehran.”
The global push led by Iranian human rights activists, especially those linked to the Iranian Resistance, eventually attracted the attention of international judicial bodies. By the time Raisi was appointed president in 2021, numerous human rights organizations and leading politicians worldwide had condemned his past actions, and he was forced to cancel several international trips due to the fear of arrest or prosecution for crimes against humanity.
Latest @JURISTnews Dispatch on 🇮🇷:
“Paris conference on accountability for notorious 1988 Iran prison massacre highlights challenges to human rights in Iran” @leilasadat1 @chileeboe @jvmifoundation @EboeOsuji @MarkEllisIBA @JavaidRehman @Maryam_Rajavi https://t.co/CzuYsWkbvN
— James Joseph (@James_JosephTDL) September 3, 2024
The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Javid Rahman conducted six years of independent research, gathering evidence on the executions of the 1980s and the 1988 massacre. He compiled a historical report based on factual information regarding these events.
This report exposed the Iranian regime’s genocidal intent in targeting the PMOI and even religious groups, and called for an end to impunity, urging the international community to hold Iranian leaders accountable.
The release of the UN report stunned Tehran, which quickly mobilized to undermine the findings. By attacking the credibility of Rehman and dismissing his conclusions about holding the regime’s leaders accountable, Tehran seeks to justify its own atrocities. This denouncement aligns with a broader strategy of demonizing the PMOI and silencing those who expose the regime’s crimes. This renewed wave of demonization not only sets the stage for further repression within Iran but also paves the way for more acts of terror on the global stage, as the regime seeks to eliminate its opposition through intimidation and violence.
To ensure the impartiality and professionalism of UN staff, uphold honest reporting by human rights organizations, and maintain a global environment where no tyrant evades accountability, everyone must stand up in defense of individuals like Javaid Rehman. These are people who prioritize their duty above all, even when it puts them at risk of retaliation from mass murderers and professional propagandists.
