BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, June 24, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
In recent weeks, the surge of misinformation and propaganda originating from Iran against the Iranian Resistance and its key component, the MEK, has significantly intensified. The Resistance and its President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for a democratic and modern Iran have gained substantial global support, including endorsements from the majority of 22 parliaments.
The timing also reveals a familiar pattern from the past and highlights Tehran’s profound concerns as the annual Free Iran Grand Gathering, to be held on June 29, approaches.
A few days ago, Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy for Human Rights in the Judiciary, underscored the crucial role of the Iranian Resistance in the prosecution of convicted murderer Hamid Noury, who was despicably released and returned to Iran by Sweden. Noury was sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners.
Separately, on June 13, numerous state media outlets in Iran reported in unison on a so-called “police raid” on “a MEK base in France,” brazenly alleging that the operation was directly monitored live by Tehran and had led to the seizure of numerous weapons.
On June 15, the IRGC-run website Javan Online published an article that went to great lengths to use excerpts from MEK statements to blame the group for the bloody suppression inflicted upon them by the ruling theocracy.
The clerical regime maintained systemic silence on the organization for over three decades as an undeclared official policy. However, since the onset of nationwide uprisings and the role of the MEK and its Resistance Units, the regime has been compelled to demonize the MEK on its public platforms directly because it is concerned about the increasing appeal of the organization and its strategy among the youth.
This campaign, however, like previous ones, will be futile. The activities of the Resistance Units in Iran are surging, their network is expanding, and the Resistance’s global support is also growing.