Iranians from all over the world held demonstrations and meetings on Sunday to commemorate the Day of Martyrs and Political Prisoners. This day recalls the June 20, 1981 uprising, which marked the start of a widespread anti-theocratic regime movement that continues to this day.

Half a million people marched through Tehran

More than half a million people marched through Tehran on that day 40 years ago to show support for the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), and its vision of a democratic and free Iran.

The gathering and march were peaceful, but Ruhollah Khomeini, the regime’s founder, and then-Supreme Leader ordered forces to open fire, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests and injuries.

 

 

The events of 1981

The events of 1981 established a pattern that has reappeared throughout Iran’s history and has gained newfound familiarity in recent years as Iranian civilians have staged multiple anti-regime protests alongside other actions that demonstrate a renewed collective desire for regime change and democratic governance, with the MEK playing a leading role.

 

 

The 1988 Massacre

Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1988 declaring opponents of the theocratic regime to be God’s enemies. As a result, “death commissions” were established in jails around Iran, and political inmates were thoroughly interrogated. Those who refused to kneel to the supreme commander were often sentenced to death, typically after brief “trials” lasting only a few minutes.

This resulted in the deaths of almost 30,000 people, including elderly activists, young teenagers, and pregnant women. Despite the fact that the MEK survived the purge and even grew faster as a result of it, its activities were mostly driven underground.

 

 

Legal challenges in the US and Europe

For a time, the MEK was even labeled as a terrorist group, but legal challenges in the United States and Europe found no evidence of criminality and overturned the decisions urged by Iranian lobbyists.

Years later, when the 2018 revolt erupted, Khamenei publicly stated that the MEK had “planned for months” to promote anti-regime slogans and set the stage for dozens of simultaneous protest actions by Iranians from all walks of life, undermining Tehran’s own narrative.

 

 

November 2019 uprising

The announcement of an increase in government-set gas prices in November 2019 sparked spontaneous protests in around 200 cities and towns across the country. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps led the way in opening fire on masses of protesters across the country, killing almost 1,500 peaceful protesters in just a few days.

Moreover, throughout the turmoil, at least 12,000 people were detained. Many of these individuals were tortured to months of brutal interrogation.

 

 

1988 key role for Ebrahim Raisi

This came as no surprise to those who were familiar with the circumstances of the massacre, which included a key role for Ebrahim Raisi, the clerical judge who was appointed to head the whole Iranian judiciary just months before the revolt in November 2019.

 

 

The results of a rigged election

Raisi’s appointment was confirmed by the results of a rigged election, in which she was declared the supreme leader’s preferred choice. Crucially, however, the vast majority of the Iranian populace boycotted the election, which was mostly organized by the MEK and touted as a way of “voting for regime change.”

 

 

Raisi and other top regime officials must be accountable

The National Council of Resistance of Iran has already begun working to persuade the international community to adopt policies that hold Raisi and other top regime officials accountable for previous misdeeds, thereby warning that further repression of dissent would not be permitted.

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook)

and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTube