This petition is voicing outrage against the recent article published by the National Post “Tony Clement: Iran's Pro-Democracy Resistance Deserves The West's Support”. In the article, the former Canadian federal politician and former Member of Parliament claims to have issued a statement along with eighteen other former government ministers from Canada and the European Union urging Western Powers to recognize the MEK’s as a legitimate alternative to the current regime, and for Rajavi to install a provisional government as a transitional president. 

On September 16th 2022, Jina (Farsi name: Mahsa) Amini, a 22-year old, Kurdish woman was murdered by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s forces (I.R.I.) in Tehran. Her death sparked protests all across the country. Grassroots protests have inspired Iranian and non-Iranians around the world to march in solidarity with the Iranian people, who have been fighting for their basic Human Rights for over fifty days. The people of Iran have shown that they are no longer in protest, but are in a revolution seeking to overthrow their oppressive dictators.

Since the beginning of the uprising, Iranian people who are being systematically silenced have asked the international community to be their voice. As Iranian and non-Iranian Canadians who stand in solidarity with their cause, we are committed to echoing their voice. We urge the leaders of Canadian political parties to practice their solidarity and advocacy by listening to the demands of Iranian people who are not demanding a reformist government, let alone a deeply problematic group such as the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). 

So, what is the MEK?

MEK is a political-militant organization, described by critics as a ‘totalitarian cult’, currently led by Maryam Rajavi who’s primary mission is to overthrow the I.R.I. According to an estimate by the United States Department of Defense in 2011, the guerrilla group has between 5,000-13,000 members, the majority of whom live in Europe and the US - with currently no support or relevancy in Iran.

MEK was designated as a terrorist organization by the US in 1997. The group has taken responsibility for many acts of terrorism over its inception in 1960s, including:  

• Involvement in the killing of 6 US citizens in Iran in the 1970s 
• Staged attacks against civilian and military targets across the border in Iran for over two decades
• Involvement in Sadam Hussein’s genocide against the kurds in 1991
• Attacking Iranian embassies in 13 countries including Canada and the US in 1992
• Assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists in 2012

After years of intense lobbying, MEK managed to reverse its designation as a terrorist organization across the western world. By rebranding itself as a pro-democratic group that advocates for gender equality, the MEK does little to hide its ties to the ultraconservative and autocratic government of Saudi Arabia. As Britain removed the group of its terror list in 2008, the European Union followed suit in 2009, followed by Canada and the United States in 2012 - allowing for MEK to lobby freely. 

We urge the leaders of Canadian political parties to practice their solidarity and advocacy by listening to the demands of Iranian people; to condemn Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) and all of its fronts and campaigns; and to recognize that MEK is NOT the voice of Iranian people.

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-news-protests-lastest-death-toll-sentences-arrests-mahsa-amini/​

https://iran-interlink.org/wordpress/maryam-rajavi-cult-leader/​

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/tony-clement-the-west-needs-to-support-irans-pro-democracy-resistance​

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/07/world/middleeast/john-bolton-regime-change-iran.html​

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/an-iranian-cult-and-its-american-friends.html?smid=tw-share​

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/nov/09/mek-iran-revolution-regime-trump-rajavi