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Other Names
Mujahedin-e Khalq
the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA, the
militant wing of the MEK)
People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)
National Council of Resistance (NCR)
Organization of the People's Holy Warriors of
Iran
Sazeman-e Mujahedin-e Khalq-e Iran
Muslim Iranian Student's Society (front organization
used to garner financial support)
Description
Formed in the 1960s by the college-educated children
of Iranian merchants, the MEK sought to counter
what it perceived as excessive Western influence
in the Shah's regime. Following a philosophy that
mixes Marxism and Islam, has developed into the
largest and most active armed Iranian dissident
group. Its history is studded with anti-Western
activity and, most recently, attacks on the interests
of the clerical regime in Iran and abroad.
Activities
Worldwide campaign against the Iranian Government
stresses propaganda and occasionally uses terrorist
violence. During the 1970s the MEK staged terrorist
attacks inside Iran and killed several US military
personnel and civilians working on defense projects
in Tehran. Supported the takeover in 1979 of the
US Embassy in Tehran. In April 1992 conducted
attacks on Iranian embassies in 13 different countries,
demonstrating the group's ability to mount large-scale
operations overseas. The normal pace of anti-Iranian
operations increased during the "Operation
Great Bahman" in February 2000, when the
group claimed it launched a dozen attacks against
Iran. During the remainder of the year, the MEK
regularly claimed that its members were involved
in mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids on Iranian
military, law enforcement units, and government
buildings near the Iran-Iraq border. The MEK also
claimed six mortar attacks on civilian government
and military buildings in Tehran.
Strength
Several thousand fighters based in Iraq with an
extensive overseas support structure. Most of
the fighters are organized in the MEK's National
Liberation Army (NLA).
Location/Area of Operation
In the 1980s the MEK's leaders were forced by
Iranian security forces to flee to France. Most
resettled in Iraq by 1987. In the mid-1980s the
group did not mount terrorist operations in Iran
at a level similar to its activities in the 1970s.
In the 1990s, however, the MEK claimed credit
for an increasing number of operations in Iran.
External Aid
Beyond support from Iraq, the MEK uses front organizations
to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian
communities.
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