In a Wednesday meeting with the visiting head of the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Élisabeth Guigou, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who chairs the Iranian Parliament’s (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, criticized the European Union (EU) for removing the MKO from its list of terrorist organizations, Press TV reported.
Boroujerdi further said the EU decision has enabled the terrorist group, which has the blood of thousands of innocent Iranians on its hands, to “freely operate” in European countries.
The Islamic Republic expects France to blacklist the anti-Iran terror group and end its activities in the European country, added the top Iranian parliamentarian.
The MKO has carried out numerous terrorist attacks on civilians and government officials in Iran over the past three decades. Out of the nearly 17,000 Iranians killed in terrorist attacks since the victory of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, some 12,000 have fallen victim to the acts of terror carried out by the MKO.
The group was viewed by the EU as terrorist until January 2009, when the EU Council lifted the designation under immense pressure from political lobbies. The decision was followed by United States in September 2012.
Boroujerdi further highlighted the need for more efforts at the international level for fighting terrorism in the Middle East, saying the activities of the terror groups in countries like Iraq and Syria pose a huge threat to the global peace and security.
The French lawmaker, for her part, warned against the growing wave of terror threats in the region.
Guigou called Iran a stable country in the Middle East which can play a big role in the fight against terrorism, adding that Tehran and the international community can increase their concentration in this regard.
It is noteworthy that Imam Khomeini the founder of the Islamic Republic used to strongly condemn the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) for its crimes and acts of violence.
The group is also believed to be responsible for the killing of thousands of Iraqis during dictatorial era of Saddam when the MKO also operated as mercenaries
The terrorists were responsible for numerous bombings and assassinations against high ranking officials as well as fighting Iranian troops from Iraq standing side by side Saddam in his eight year war with Iran.
In 1981, the group was held responsible for bombing the offices of the ruling Islamic Republic Party. The attack killed over 70 high-ranking officials, including President Mohammad Ali Rajaei, Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar, and judiciary chief Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti.
“In this great tragedy the Iranian nation lost 72 innocent martyrs as many martyrs as those in Kerbala.”
Some phrases from Imam’s historic message comes as under:
“…The Iranian nation is proud to produce people who devoted themselves to serving Islam and Muslims, while the enemies of people martyred a group who had come together to consult for the interests of the country. The dear nation, these blind-hearted people who claim that they are fighting for the people (It refers to the hypocritical terrorist organization, which has called itself People Mujahidin Organization, took the lives of active and friendly servants of the people. Let us suppose that you were bitter enemies of martyr Beheshti, who lived innocently and who died and who was a thorn in the side of the enemies of Islam and especially a thorn in your side, what enmity did you have with 27 innocent people many of whom were the best servants of the people and who were staunch opponents of the enemies of the country? Under the pretext of people, you are opposing the nation and paving the way for the Eastern and Western plunderers…”