Mek- State Dept. Vs Rule Of Law

The FTO-List Analysis: US State Department Appeasing The Mullahs By: Soharb safavi If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve the Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. Thomas Jefferson Christopher Hitchens once said: A sure sign of ineptitude and malice is manifested when one's attacker is willing to cover himself with mud in order to try and make some of it adhere to his target. We have been witnessing the same repellant tactics in a smear campaign against MEK- US official supporters only to provide cover for the failed Policy of the US State department towards the Iranian crisis. The core argument behind the current smear campaign against the MEK and its US supporters is that this main Iranian opposition group to the clerical tyrants in Iran is still in the US black list. The term “terrorism” can be double standard unless defined by rule and established by the rule of law. It is to distinguish any group or persons that choose to challenge an establishment: “A person, usually a member of a group, uses or advocates terrorism, or;A person who terrorizes or frightens civilians. A popular saying that “One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter” simply indicates the struggle between good and evil and right and wrong. But the moral question remains, literally speaking: who are the terrorists, and who are the freedom fighters? The list of "Foreign Terrorist Organization" is a designation for non-United States-based organizations declared terrorist by the United States Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the U.S.Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). read more at : http://bit.ly/HJ1Xpz

Framing The Core Issue: MEK Court Appeal Against US State Department

By Sadegh Sistani, on March 27th, 2012 Foreign Policy is putting out cheap journalism by Josh Rogin demonizing the Iranian opposition. Josh Rogins’ mystery series in Foreign Policy, with a recent one titled “Terrorist group's supporters throw party in U.S. Congress |”repeat the Iranian regime’s stale allegations against the main organized opposition group People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) and do a disservice to the Foreign Policy’s record of unbiased journalism. They are part of an effort by Iran’s intelligence ministry to demonize the supporters of the Iranian resistance. Some 22 courts in the UK, Europe and the US have ruled that the MEK is not involved in terrorism; furthermore, the European Union de-proscribed the group in 2009 after the courts rejected the very allegations that the articles have yet again brought up. The piece represents a desperate, albeit futile attempt to block, in contravention of the Rule of law and the statutory requirements, the removal of the MEK from the State Department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Rogins’ shedding of crocodile tears for Justice over crime, appears disingenuous given the absence of a mere criticism, let alone condemnation, of the Ayatollahs vicious collective hangings ongoing and the last two blood lead attacks on the victims of an “inhumane massacre in Camp Ashraf.” As far as his concern for complications provided for US MEK supporters in “providing material” support is concerned, Mr. Rogin does not have a clue what these “material” supports are in the legal context and conceals his ignorance by assuming it may include “advocacy”. In a previous reply to similar salivated suggestions Former Trustee of President Bush and High judge Michael Mukasey had this to add: Suggestions that our conduct raises a question under the material-support statute is undone by the text of the law itself. The statute barring material assistance to organizations on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations (“FTO”) says that although “material assistance” includes “personnel,” and although “personnel” may include the person providing the assistance — here, the four of us — the “personnel” have to be working “under that [FTO’s] direction or control.” And then, just to make explicit what is already obvious, the law continues: “Individuals who act entirely independently of the [FTO] to advance its goals or objectives shall not be considered to be working under the [FTO]’s direction and control.” As a result, we felt quite secure, thank you, in relying on the protection Congress placed in the statute, backed up by the First Amendment. As far as Rogins mystery series are concerned “Things are not what they appear to be”. This hypothesis mediated by Mr. Rogin is to lure readers into anti-MEK sentiments. Thereafter; the wave of sentiments and the “much ado about nothing” would cleverly cover US – UNAMI dogged obligations in face of any humanitarian tragedy for the 3400 of Camp Ashraf. It would be a far more “crime” to accomplice readers into a “Crime against Humanity” and “sin” than any alleged financial controversy. The main issue which is being submerged under this entire anti-MEK blitz is that the Washington appeals court on Monday gave the US government until March 26 to examine quickly a request by the main Iranian opposition group to be taken off a US terror blacklist, which is causing immediate threat and deaths to their families and members. In a conference recently Governor Tom Ridge had this to say: “You will not silence us. Whoever is responsible has a moment of quiet reflection, I suggest that they just take a look at the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and particularly take a look at that first amendment. It’s called freedom of speech, the same freedom of speech that the men and women of MEK aspire to under the leadership of Mrs. Rajavi, the same freedom of speech that democratic opposition throughout Iran aspire to. at the end of the day we will continue to stand on the right side of history with the people of MEK, the freedom-loving people of MEK at Liberty and Ashraf until they are resettled. Mayor Rudi Giuliani reacted to the hsosh posh of the “treasurey” hunt : “Speaking for myself and so many of my colleagues, that anonymous, cowardly sources in the State Department or elsewhere who unknowingly are doing the bidding of the mullahs don’t frighten me, won’t stop me, won’t stop any of us, ever.” Former High Judge Michael Mukasey also commented on the “anonymous” comments recently used in mysterious press campaigns: “It’s a funny thing about anonymous sources, what are they afraid of? They must be afraid of something. They’re afraid to have their names used. Look at the timing. The MEK tells the State Department and the Justice Department, “You know, you’ve been dragging your feet long enough with this designation. We’re going to go into court.” They gave them not only advanced notice that they’re going to do it, they gave them an advanced copy of the papers they were going to file. And they disclosed the names of the people. Mayor Giuliani, Tom Ridge, others, many others, who would have also filed paper in court as friends of the court, telling them on the basis of our experience and our knowledge—many people on that brief directly involved in national security affairs—that there is no basis, no reason for that designation. They were told that in advance. And lo and behold a couple days later subpoenas get served on the speaker agencies that send those people out to express their views.” To be used or allowed to mislead the public into bogus issues in order to cover the main highlight is unethical and unprincipled modus operandi by Foreign Policy, which boasts of “FP's award-winnings” only, serves to pave the way for another massacre of the residents in satisfaction of the Iranian clerical fascists. Annotations: Sin : http://news.yahoo.com/bipartisan-political-leaders-urge-removal-mek-terrorist-list-043208692.html Washington Appeal Court : http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jst73NnEgd_19BuKsuM85Ag1OBYg Michael Mukasey: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/256689/mek-not-terrorist-group-michael-b-mukasey-tom-ridge-and-frances-fragos-townsend Gov.Tom Ridge: http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/ashraf/11831-governor-tom-ridge-we-cant-be-silenced- Mayor Giuliani : http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/ashraf/11830-mayor-rudi-giuliani-anonymous-cowardly-sources-who-unknowingly-are-doing-the-bidding-of-the-mullahs-dont-frighten-me-

Washington’s Smear Campaign Against MEK Vs. Death In Camp Liberty

Council of Europe Siding With The MEK And Its US Supporters
by Fabian Mahmoudi

As Washington’s smear campaign fires away at MEK, Bardia Amir-Mostofian, a 44 year old engineer and resident of Ashraf, dies of cardiac arrest due to fatigue following a 48-hour-long transit inspection after entering Camp Liberty.

Bardia was one of 700 residents who volunteered to go to the Camp described to be a “prison” by a recent statement by the Council of Europe. (Full statement of Council of Europe)

International pleas by the opposition (MEK) alerting the US,UNAMI and international community of a plot to fail the relocation and blame it on the opposition has not been heeded when most needed.

The statement released by the opposition blames Baridas’ death on his extreme fatigue and stress cause by the rush imposed by Iraq and UNAMI to relocate before the Iranian New year.

The MoU does not allow residents the freedom to transfer their movable belongings.

Why are American MEK supporters targeted now?

Why are American MEK supporters targeted now? Anything to do with the recent court ruling in DC in favor of the MEK?

By Sam Azizi
March 15, 2012

After the US court decision about the mandamus of the MEK (the main Iranian opposition movement known by their Farsi name, Mojahedin-e-Khalq) on their unjust designation as a foreign terrorist group, came an orchestrated campaign against US dignitaries, military and political personalities who have expressed their support for the MEK.

But why all these allegations now?

The simple truth is that if the State Department had any logical argument about this group and its links to terrorism, it would have provided it to the court and to the media in order to justify the designation. And that would have been the end of argument.

But as it is very routine, when there is no evidence, allegations and disinformation campaign is used as an instrument to undermine and derive the course of events.

Little by little we are witnessing footprints of well known lobbies of the Iranian regime disguised as a noble U.S. citizens or outfits, yet with a sinister intent and objective.

One of those is an indiviual called Trita Parsi. according to Washington Times, Trita Parsi, who heads the "National Iranian America Council", argues that the money is connected to the MEK and as such is trying to muddy the water for the US dignitaries who support the Iranian resistance and in particular believe terrorism designation must not be a tool of political deal-making, especially deals with the likes of the mullahs’ regime.

According to the Washington Times on March 9: "Mr. Parsi claims that officials from the State Department have privately told him that the MEK sets up 'shell organizations' to raise money. When asked about Mr. Parsi's claim, a State Department spokesman declined to comment."

So even the State Department is reluctant to confirm these allegations!

It is ironic that Trita Parsi is himself subject of an ongoing investigation for his role and function as an influence peddler of the Iranian regime in Washington, DC.

Actually this mud-slinging and slur campaign is nothing new in Iranian politics at all. The Iranian regime's notorious secret service, MOIS , is a master of tarnishing the image of the regime's dissidents.

But there is another side to this experience. Whenever the person who was targeted showed no fear and did not succumb, the MOIS had no choice but to retreat.

In this case, as they have no evidence against the MEK they try to conjure up evidences and as such to neutralize MEK supporters.

This group of U.S. senior former officials represent an impressive, bipartisan group that is a very rare in Washington, DC. They include three Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of FBI, the Attorney General, the State Department’s coordinator of anti-terrorism, the State Department’s director of policy planning, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, two Chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, two CIA Directors, the President’s National Security Advisor and the President’s Homeland Security Advisor, believe the U.S's principles and values are not matters of bargaining, with Baghdad tyrants, their masters in Tehran or anyone to that effect. They are the voice of conscience of the true values of the US.

They are the ones who dared to do the difficult right, instead of going with the easy wrong.

They do not want to witness again that US put MEK off its list after mullahs are gone, very similar to what happened to Nelson Mandela and its organization. He was targeted by the same allegations but nothing could stop him and his movement to restore freedom and democracy in their country.

But this could be a slough for mullahs' lobbies and those at the Foggy Bottom who have gone over the board over the years in their bid to appease Tehran tyrants. It seems they have not noticed that the end game is near and the death bell for the defunct policy of appeasement and all of its by-products, including the inclusion of the dissidents in the terror list is ringing.

Bipartisan Political Leaders Urge Removal of MEK from Terrorist List, Denounce Attempt to Silence State Department Policy Critics

WASHINGTON, March, 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX

With a federal appeals court deadline looming for the U.S. State Department to answer why it has defied earlier court rulings requiring review of a decision to maintain the main Iranian opposition movement, the Mujahedin-e Khaq (MEK) on the terrorist list, top former US officials and Members of Congress are urging the Department to remove the group immediately.

"I believe we will not only get our day in court, I believe we will succeed," former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge told an audience of Members of Congress, staff members, and Iranian-Americans during an event, marking the Iranian New Year, Nowrouz. "Sometimes justice takes a little longer than normal, but sooner or later, righteousness and the law prevail, and we will prevail."

Other speakers included Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and retired Army Col. Wesley Martin, who commanded Camp Ashraf.

At issue is the fate of 3,400 Iranian dissidents now housed at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty in Iraq; their safe relocation has been vastly complicated by the State Department's refusal the make a decision on the Status of the MEK.

In 2010, a three-judge panel in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously ruled that the State Department had violated the due process rights of the MEK and ordered the Obama administration to revisit the issue. Since then, the State Department continues to be in violation of the due process in virtue of its refusal to make a decision based on instructions given by the Court.

Earlier this month, attorneys for the MEK filed a writ of mandamus seeking the court's intervention in light of State inaction. The court did so expeditiously, and gave the government a deadline of March 26 to respond to the mandamus.

In the meantime, in a move which some observers believe is tied to the court developments, the Treasury Department is apparently contemplating a "potential" investigation into the source of funding for events where a number of senior former federal law enforcement, intelligence and national security officials had urged that the MEK be dropped from the State Department's terror list and the residents of Ashraf be protected.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, has called this inquiry "a travesty," adding that it is "a sin that our government is going after these people trying to support the people of Iran."

"It seems that the method to silence those who are in favor of the liberation of the MEK from the foreign terrorist organization... is to attack them personally... That is not going to work. Whoever is behind the attacks on these good men and women with unbelievable credentials, who believe in the de-listing of the MEK, it will not succeed," emphasized the Texas Republican, Rep. Ted Poe.

Since the Court ruling, nearly 130 members of Congress, including House Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI), Oversight and Government Reform Chair Darrel Issa (R-CA) and Armed Services Committee Chair Howard McKeon (R-CA), have co-sponsored resolutions calling for the delisting of the MEK

SOURCE California Society for Democracy in Iran

Death In Camp Liberty vs. Washington’s Smear Campaign Against MEK

IviewIRAN

As Washington’s smear campaign fire away at MEK, Bardia Amir-Mostofian a 44 year old engineer and resident of Ashraf dies of cardiac arrest due to fatigue after 48-hour-long transit inspection after entering Camp Liberty.

Bardia was one of 700 residents who volunteered to go to the Camp described to be a “prison” by a recent statement by the Council of Europe. (Full statement of Council of Europe) International pleas by the opposition (MEK) alerting the US,UNAMI and International community of a plot to fail the relocation and blame it on the opposition has not been heeded when most needed.

The statement released by the opposition blames Baridas’ death on his extreme fatigue and stress cause by the rush imposed by Iraq and UNAMI to relocate before the Iranian New year. Reports of harassment, attacks, physical threats by Iraqi SWAT teams, who speak Iranian, on the residents at Liberty, have caused serious concerns on the “good will” of the Iraqi side.

The presence of numerous Iraqi police forces, their invasion in the “women’s quarters”, deliberate sabotage on the sewage system and spying instruments improvised around the camp all point to this necessity.

As reported by the opposition, Bardia’s death was caused by prolonged inspection and harassment: “The inspection of belongings began at 8 am on Sunday March 18 and went on until midday on Monday March 19, following which inspections of individuals began. At one point during this offensive inspection, the Special Forces known as SWAT attacked the residents and beat them with electric batons.

The Legal representative of the residents has released a report by Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill in a statement points the blame on Iraqi forces;

“After arriving at Camp Liberty, Iraqi officials under the command of Sadeq Mohammad Kazim (one of the commanders of the July 2009 and April 2011 massacres), sought to conduct yet a further thorough search. During the 48 hour process of search and transfer to Liberty, the residents were constantly subjected to insults. Many of their items were confiscated with no justification. All these matters were reported to representatives of UNAMI at the scene.” (read report at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/86521542/First-Legal-Report-transfer-Of400-Ashrafresidents18-Feb)

Mahin Saremi, relative of the Camp residents, former political prisoner and leading activist in the 2009 protests in Iran, reacted to allegations that the Camp leadership and residents are over exaggerating the harassment. While blaming the US FTO list as a pretext for such violations of rights by Iraqi forces she said:

“"Hawks will not pick out hawks eyes." Some pro-Ayatollah pundits have gone over the edge to accuse the MEK of imposing hardship and suffering over the residents. The smear campaign against nobel US officials who protect the truth about the Camp is working against the interests of the US. They are defending promised values by Washington only to keep a good face for it among Iranian people. Accusing the victim of self torture and harassment is not a new tactic. the first sponsor of such propaganda was Khomeini when he accused the MEK of killing its supporters in prisons and in public meetings during the 1980s.
The question is why do the "devils work " for him? Why side with the Ayatollahs against their victim?
"The MEK is not worried of the truth and when ever there has been an iota of justice, the MEK has been the first to out spur the truth. What Washington is doing is giving the Ayatollahs the best gift this new year: Keeping its main opposition as pawn in an illegal FRO list."

Apologies to US Supporters of MEK: Never Support Democracy

Monday, 19 March 2012, 2:45 pm Article: Steffen Hues Apologies to US Supporters of MEK: Never Support Democracy and Freedom Side with Mullahs and Tyrants for Immunity in US Elections by Steffen Hues March 15, 2012 What could be the reason for Nazi style defamation against certain line of US politicians who have spoken for basic American values: Democracy and Independence? They are either driven by expedient actions guided primarily by self-interested motives for election or misguided policy steered from Tehran. President Obama’s campaign mottos included “Organize for change and "Help me take back America". These embrace values embedded in the American Revolution for independence and democracy from British “Illegitimate tyranny” during the 17 century. If “change” and “American values” are still watchwords of the Administration, then it is unequivocal to presume any person “friend or foe” advocating and paying the price to promote them is a staunch. Read article

MEK- Liberty :Council of Europe Condemns Camp Prison

The Council of Europe has issued a statement on the lack of lack of humanitarian and human rights standards in Camp Liberty and has urged the Iraqi government to implement the minimum guarantees demanded by the residents, including the removal of all armed units from the interior of the Camp. The text of the statement reads:

•          [15/03/2012]  PACE’s Political Affairs Committee has repeated its call to the Iraqi authorities to stop turning Camp Liberty – a site near Baghdad where around 800 members of an Iranian opposition group are now living – into a prison. In a statement adopted yesterday, the committee called for armed units and surveillance to be removed from the camp, as well as free movement for its residents and improved conditions, including access to medical services, lawyers and UN monitors. The complete text of the Council’s statement:

Following the statement made in January and owing to the fact that

unfortunately no improvement has been made, the Committee on Political Affairs

and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calls on

the Iraqi authorities to stop turning Camp Liberty into a prison. It also calls on

the UN Secretary General to ensure the minimum guarantees required by the

camp residents.

In spite of the lack of humanitarian and human rights standards, to date, 800

Ashraf residents have been moved to Camp Liberty in order to find a peaceful

solution. But this camp is suffering from a serious shortage of drinking water and

electricity. Open sewage has made the area terribly polluted and the danger to

human health and many of the trailers are extremely badly damaged, making

them unusable. Liberty residents are not allowed to leave the camp. They have

no direct access to medical services nor to lawyers. There is a police station and

nearly 150 armed Iraqi forces equipped with machine guns in this very limited

area of half a square kilometre in which 3400 people have to live. Several

surveillance cameras and eavesdropping devices have been installed in the

camp, the output of which has been passed to the Iranian authorities to threaten

the residents and their families.

The Committee urges the Iraqi government to implement the minimum

guarantees demanded by the residents, including the removal of all armed units,

surveillance cameras and eavesdropping devices from the camp; resolving the

infrastructure problem, particularly regarding water, electricity and sewage;

providing direct access to medical services, lawyers and UN monitors; allowing

free movement or at least increasing the camp area; and providing the security

of all residents until they leave Iraq preventing the arrest of even one resident.

We call on Council of Europe member and observer states to respond positively

and rapidly to resettlement demands of Liberty and Ashraf residents.

• Increasing police stations in Liberty and bringing them closer to residential areas

In the afternoon of Monday March 12 and the morning of Tuesday March 13, Iraqi armed forces opened up a 5-meter wide section of Camp Liberty wall and stationed police forces there. These points are at 10-meter distance from living and rest area of the residents. Therefore the number of police posts have been increased to seven. This is a clear threat to the residents and paves the way for attacking the residents.

Earlier on February 27^th, residents of Ashraf and Liberty in separate letters signed by all of the residents to UN Secretary General, his Special Representative and the US Secretary of State had stated their minimum assurances for the transfer of the remaining residents from Ashraf to Liberty, the most important of which was the withdrawal of police and Iraqi armed forces from Liberty