BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, November 13, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
On November 12, 1985, Iran’s sole democratic alternative to the clerical regime, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), adopted its Plan on the Provisional Government’s Relations with Religion in response to the rise of religious fascism under the banner of Islam in Iran.
The principal member of the NCRI coalition and Iran’s most organized opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), espouses and practices a modern, tolerant interpretation of Islam, presenting a clear antithesis to the reactionary ideology epitomized by Khamenei and his regime.
It is worth recalling that in the fall of 1979, just months after the anti-monarchic revolution, the MEK boycotted the referendum for the regime’s new Constitution, as it was religious-based and granted sovereignty solely to a Supreme Leader. The MEK’s rejection of the Velayat-e Faqih system of governance came at great political cost, with its leader subsequently being the only candidate barred from running in the first presidential elections in Iran.
The NCRI’s historic plan stipulates that “under no circumstance is any religion or denomination recognized as enjoying special privileges or rights,” while simultaneously respecting “freedom of religion and belief.”
The plan emphasizes guaranteeing individual and social rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to freedom of religion and belief, and prohibits any form of ideological scrutiny, which is essential for preserving human dignity and respect.
In this way, the NCRI addresses one of the most complex social and political issues in Iranian society by committing to equal social and political rights for all members of the nation, regardless of religious affiliation. The NCRI’s proposal opens a path toward a future filled with peace, harmony, and solidarity based on national unity for the people of Iran and followers of all religions and beliefs.