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August 4, 2011

Experts Warn Delisting Iranian Terror Group Would Carry Damaging Repercussions

For Immediate Release
Contact: 202-386-6408

Washington, DC – An expert panel convened today to discuss the potential repercussions of an pending decision by the State Department regarding the terrorist designation of the Iranian Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) organization.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to issue her decision on the group’s designation imminently.

Human rights defender and filmmaker Maziar Bahari explained that delisting the MEK would have serious negative implications for Iran’s peaceful democratic movement. 

“The MEK, with its violent history, is exactly what the Iranian regime needs to legitimate its violence against the peaceful opposition,” stated Bahari.  He said that, by delisting the group, the U.S. would send a message to young Iranians who have embraced nonviolence in their struggle for democracy that they are wrong.

Center for American Progress national security expert Brian Katulis agreed that support for MEK would contradict the Obama Administration’s support of Iranian human rights.  He discussed the negative consequences that support for MEK would portend for U.S. policy. 

“I personally oppose the notion of providing active us support to MEK,” he said.  “If we have a rewind of the Iraqi liberation act of 1998-we have learned from our mistakes.  Been there done that.”

Iran expert and Atlantic Council Non-resident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin highlighted the MEK’s lack of support in Iran, noting that, in her travels to Iran as a journalist, she had only met a single individual who was a supporter of the group. 

Slavin highlighted the MEK’s deceptive recruitment practices and abuses against its members.  “The MEK is not a democratic organization.  They make Ahmad Chalabi’s Iraqi National Congress look like a paragon of democracy in comparison,” she  said, referencing the exile organization that was instrumental in taking the U.S. into war with Iraq.

Bahari and the rest of the panels stressed the humanitarian concern for individuals based in Camp Ashraf, the MEK compound in Iraq, where a RAND study indicates up to 70 percent of the inhabitants are kept against their will.  “These individuals are victims of the Iranian government and they are victims of the MEK leadership,” Bahari said.  Delisting the MEK, he said, would empower both camps.

High ranking former-U.S. officials have acknowledged receiving cash to advocate in support of the MEK. The panelists at Thursday’s event noted that they did not receive any compensation for their participation. 

For video, images, and further information regarding the event, please contact NIAC at (202) 386-6408.  Further information regarding MEK can be found at www.mekterror.com.

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Experts Warn Delisting Iranian Terror Group Would Carry Damaging
Repercussions

Thursday, August 4, 2011 

For Immediate Release

Contact: 202-386-6048

Washington, DC – An expert panel convened
today to discuss the potential repercussions of an imminent decision by the
State Department regarding the terrorist designation of the Iranian Mujahedin-e
Khalq (MEK) organization.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to issue her
decision on the group’s designation imminently.

 

Human rights defender and filmmaker Maziar
Bahari explained that delisting the MEK would have serious negative
implications for Iran’s peaceful democratic movement. 

 

“The MEK, with its violent history, is
exactly what the Iranian regime needs to legitimate its violence against the
peaceful opposition,” stated Bahari.  He said that, by delisting the group, the U.S. would send a
message to young Iranians who have embraced nonviolence in their struggle for
democracy that they are wrong.

 

Center for American Progress national security
expert Brian Katulis agreed that support for MEK would contradict the Obama
Administration’s support of Iranian human rights.  He discussed the negative consequences that support for MEK
would portend for U.S. policy. 

 

“I personally oppose the notion of
providing active us support to MEK,” he said.  “If we have a rewind of the Iraqi liberation act of
1998-we have learned from our mistakes.  Been there done that.”

 

Iran expert and Atlantic Council Non-resident
Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin highlighted the MEK’s lack of support in Iran,
noting that, in her travels to Iran as a journalist, she had only met a single
individual who was a supporter of the group. 

 

Slavin highlighted the MEK’s deceptive
recruitment practices and abuses against its members.  “The MEK is not a democratic organization.  They make Ahmad Chalabi’s Iraqi National Congress look like a
paragon of democracy in comparison,” she  said, referencing the exile organization that was instrumental
in taking the U.S. into war with Iraq.

 

Bahari and the rest of the panels stressed the
humanitarian concern for individuals based in Camp Ashraf, the MEK compound in
Iraq, where a RAND study indicates up to 70 percent of the inhabitants are kept
against their will.  “These individuals are victims of the Iranian government
and they are victims of the MEK leadership,” Bahari said.  Delisting the MEK, he said, would empower

both camps.

 

High ranking former-U.S. officials have
acknowledged receiving received cash to advocate in support of the MEK. The
panelists at Thursday’s event noted that they did not receive any compensation
for their participation. 

 

For video, images, and further information
regarding the event, please contact NIAC. 
Further information regarding MEK can be found at www.mekterror.com.

 

 

 

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