Why U.S. Lawmakers Must Rethink Their Support for the MEK/MKO/NCRI

Recent reports indicate that 150 U.S. lawmakers are aligning themselves with the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an organization with a well-documented history of terrorism, betrayal, and political opportunism. While some may view the MEK as a viable alternative to the Islamic Republic, the reality is far different. The group has been overwhelmingly rejected by Iranians and has proven itself to be an extremist organization that serves its own interests—not those of the Iranian people or the United States.

A History of Terrorism and Betrayal

The MEK’s record speaks for itself. Founded in 1965, the group has carried out numerous assassinations, bombings, and attacks, including the killing of American and British personnel in Iran. Some of the most notable attacks carried out by the MEK include:

Lt. Col. Lewis B. Hawkins (June 2, 1973): MEK operatives assassinated U.S. Army Lt. Col. Lewis Hawkins in Tehran. He was shot outside his home by two assailants.

Col. Paul Shaffer and Lt. Col. Jack Turner (May 21, 1975): The MEK ambushed and killed these two U.S. Air Force officers, both serving in the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Iran.

Rockwell International Employees (August 28, 1976): Three American contractors working for Rockwell International—Robert R. Krongard, William C. Cottrell Jr., and Donald G. Smith—were assassinated when the MEK ambushed their vehicle in Tehran.

During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), the MEK openly sided with Saddam Hussein, fighting against their own countrymen. While Iranians—regardless of their stance on the regime—defended their homeland, the MEK collaborated with Iraq’s forces, further cementing its status as a traitorous organization. The MEK also assisted Saddam Hussein in crushing Kurdish and Shiite uprisings, proving that it had no moral compass beyond serving those who provided it with political and financial backing.

A Cult, Not a Political Movement

Despite its claims of being a democratic opposition group, the MEK operates as a cult. It enforces absolute loyalty to its leader, Maryam Rajavi, and subjects members to strict ideological control. Former members have revealed that those in the organization are forced to renounce marriage and family, live under constant surveillance, and undergo psychological conditioning to ensure obedience.

The MEK tolerates no dissent. Those who question its leadership are punished, often through psychological abuse, isolation, or forced confessions. This is not the behavior of a pro-freedom movement—it is the behavior of a totalitarian organization seeking power for itself.

A Security Risk to the United States

For decades, the MEK has shifted allegiances to gain influence. It has worked with radical groups hostile to Israel and has repeatedly demonstrated that it will partner with whoever offers it protection and funding.

The MEK was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department until 2012. While it was removed for political reasons, its fundamental nature has not changed. It remains a dangerous group with a history of violence and deception.

The MEK’s Washington Rally: A Disgraceful Spectacle

The MEK has been granted permission to hold a rally in Washington, D.C., on March 8—International Women’s Day. This is a group that denies its own female members the right to marry or have families, controls every aspect of their lives, and forces them into blind obedience to its leader. That such an organization would be allowed to march under the guise of advocating for women’s rights is an insult to those who genuinely fight for liberty.

A Legacy of Undermining Iranian Sovereignty

The Islamic Republic, which has held Iran hostage since 1979, did not rise to power in isolation. It was supported by the MEK and other communist-leftist groups that helped overthrow Iran’s last legitimate government. This regime was further emboldened by the political advocacy and interference of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—all of whom failed to recognize the long-term consequences of empowering an Islamist dictatorship.

For over four decades, the Iranian people have suffered under this regime—stripped of their freedoms, subjected to brutal repression, and forced to endure the consequences of Western miscalculations. The MEK was part of the problem, not the solution.

Conclusion: Stand with Iranians Who Want a Free and Secular Iran

The world must stand with the Iranian people—not with religious fundamentalists, not with extremist groups, and certainly not with the MEK. The Iranian nation is fighting for its future, for a government free from both theocratic oppression and radical alternatives. A secular, democratic Iran is the only path forward, and it is the duty of the free world to support this vision.

American lawmakers must stop repeating the mistakes of the past. Supporting the MEK today is as dangerous as supporting the Islamic Republic in 1979. The Iranian people are demanding change—real change, not another failed ideology disguised as opposition.

It is time to stand with those who reject both the Islamic Republic and its former allies like the MEK. It is time to support Iranians in restoring their country’s rightful place in the world—a strong, independent, secular and democratic Iran.

The following letter is drafted by various activist Iranian advocacy groups. The letter highlights serious concerns regarding the MEK/NCRI and the implications of their upcoming rally in Washington, D.C. We strongly urge publication to inform policymakers and the public about the broader security and human rights considerations at stake.

Given the critical nature of the issues addressed, we believe it is essential for this message to reach a wider audience as soon as possible.

To Whom It May Concern,

With the utmost respect, we present this letter on behalf of the global Iranian community—individuals committed to the pursuit of truth and lasting democracy in Iran and beyond. In this critical time, we feel compelled to address our serious concerns regarding certain questionable support for the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) or the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an armed and extremist group.

The MEK has a documented history of crimes against foreign advisors, particularly American and British personnel, as well as numerous terrorist attacks against civilians in Iran and Iraq. This group not only sided with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War but also played a significant role in human rights violations, alongside the Islamic Republic regime, causing immense suffering for the Iranian people. Such a background demands that we issue a strong warning against any form of support for this organization.

The vast majority of Iranians despise the MEK, and this sentiment is deeply ingrained in the national consciousness of a people seeking positive change—not a repeat of past disasters. Not only Iranians, but people in other nations are well aware of this organization’s notorious history. Any alliance with or support for this group constitutes a betrayal of the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom from both religious dictatorship and Islamic fundamentalism—whether from the MEK or the Islamic Republic. Iranians seek neither an Islamic Republic nor a return to extremism; they want a true democracy rooted in their culture, civilization, and secular principles.

Furthermore, the MEK has not only acted against the Iranian government but has also collaborated with radical groups hostile to Israel. This contradiction undermines the stated objectives of the United States and could have severe security consequences for both Israel and America.

Our concerns have escalated upon learning that this terrorist organization, responsible for murdering American advisors in Iran, has been granted a permit to hold a rally in Washington, D.C., on March 8—International Women’s Day. It is deeply troubling that a fundamentalist, anti-woman group that denies its own members the right to marriage, family, and personal lives is being allowed to march in Washington at such a crucial time. The Iranian people, who are closer than ever to overthrowing the oppressive mullahs and the IRGC, will not forget this dark moment.

Given these facts, we respectfully urge you to:

1. Increase maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic and explicitly affirm the U.S. government’s commitment to its removal. This pressure must aim to improve human rights and democracy in Iran while amplifying the true voice of the Iranian people on the world stage.

2. End all support for the MEK in both media and political lobbying. Cutting off this organization is not just a matter of human rights and democracy but a moral obligation to the Iranian people and the memory of past victims. According to American democratic values, our objective is to restrict MEK leadership and institutions—just as we do with the Islamic Republic’s leaders—without targeting individual supporters.

3. Shut down MEK-affiliated offices and organizations on U.S. soil, just as was done with the terrorist IRGC.

4. Recognize the Iranian people’s rejection of MEK and other discredited factions tied to the 1979 revolution while supporting the unity of legitimate, trusted opposition forces.

We sincerely hope that you will stand with the Iranian people and uphold the principles of democracy and human decency.

Respectfully,

Iranian Students Without Borders

Secular Iranian Human Rights Activists

A Group of Survivors and Political Prisoners Inside Iran’s Borders

Secular Freedom-Seeking Iranian Students