Victims of Terrorism Blast MKO Leader's Presence in French Parliament

Families of the Iranian victims of terrorism condemned the French lawmakers for allowing the leader of the notorious terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK, NCR and PMOI) Maryam Rajavi to take part in their session at the parliament.

The Habilian Association, a human rights group formed of the families of 17,000 Iranian terror victims, sent a letter of protest to the French Parliament, reiterating that the MKO is a group with dictatorial structure which is at odds with democracy. "The MKO not only is undemocratic, but also has a complete autocratic structure which is at war with manifestations of democracy. The blast in Islamic Republic Party on June 27, 1981 is a clear example in this regard," the letter wrote. The Habilian Association referred to the MKO terrorist attacks which have claimed the lives of 12,000 Iranians so far, including the murder and assassination of dozens of parliament members, and asked whether such a group which has never expressed regret over its terrorist operations in the past can introduce itself as a supporter of democracy? French lawmakers invited Rajavi last Wednesday in a move to give credibility to the terrorist group. Speaking to the members of a French parliamentary committee on Iran, Rajavi hailed the western sanctions imposed against Iran over the country's civilian nuclear program, and claimed, "International sanctions are positive steps. But they will only be effective if the West changes its policy vis-à-vis the resistance." The MKO is behind a slew of assassinations and bombings inside Iran, a number of EU parliamentarians said in a recent letter in which they slammed a British court decision to remove the MKO from the British terror list. The EU officials also added that the group has no public support within Iran because of their role in helping Saddam Hussein in the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988). Many of the MKO members abandoned the terrorist organization while most of those still remaining in the grouplet are said to be willing to quit but are under pressure and torture not to do so.