Tsarism, a news and analysis site, published an op-ed on the Iranian intelligence minister’s claim that the regime has arrested and “dealt with” 116 resistance units. The announcement came after the US State Department announced the inclusion of the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on its terror blacklist.

The regime has been rallying around its IRGC in recent weeks, with regime officials turning up to a parliamentary session wearing IRGC uniforms in a gesture of solidarity. It has also attempted to downplay the listing, asserting that the foreign terror organization (FTO) listing would not impact the group.

Dealing with 116 MEK Resistance Units

In an attempt to boost the morale of the IRGC and other repressive units, the Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced during Friday prayers last week that the regime had arrested and “dealt with” 166 resistance units as part of “national security efforts”.

Alavi (#Iran regime's Intelligence Minister)’s choice to focus on the #MEK is in keeping with the regime’s strategy of placing the blame 4the FTO designation or #IRGC on the resistance organization.#IRGCTerrorists #BlackListIRGC #BlackListMOIS @USAdarFarsi https://t.co/YSbBp37rFm

— MEKIran (@MEK_Iran) April 21, 2019

He said: “Over the past year, we have confronted 116 [resistance] units affiliated with the Mujahedin-e Khalq organization [the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK / PMOI)].” He claimed that this crackdown had come from the regime’s Supreme Leader Khamenei himself.

An Underestimation

Following the announcement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran(NCRI), the umbrella organization of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK), claimed that Alavi’s estimate was an underrepresentation of the true figure. It asserted that the number of arrests was far higher than those Alavi claimed, suggesting that he may have omitted units and MEK members arrested by the IRGC’s Intelligence and Information Protection branches.

#Iran: The Names of 28 Political Prisoners Arrested in 2018
.@Maryam_Rajavi Call for the appointment of an Int'l delegation to meet with prisoners and visiting prisons of the religious fascism ruling Iran#HumanRights #HRC40 @CFR_org @UN_PGA @ukun_NewYorkpic.twitter.com/f6y3KDxEAE

— IranGathering (@IranGathering) April 24, 2019

The President-elect of the Iranian opposition, Maryam Rajavi called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to arrange for an international delegation to visit the arrested activists currently detained in Iranian regime prisons. Alongside her calls, the MEK and NCRI published a list of prisoners currently in regime custody.

The Iranian opposition and the MEK have long called on the international community to scrutinize the Iranian regime’s arbitrary arrests and torture against political dissidents. Following the nationwide uprisings that broke out at the end of 2017 and early days of 2018, 14 prisoners died in regime custody. Many died during torturous interrogations.

More Determined Than Ever

Despite the daily persecution and constant threat of arrest, MEK resistance units are more committed than ever to confronting the regime and challenging its reign of tyranny and violence. On April 18, resistance units set fire to IRGC bases across Iran.

The op-ed assessed that “the resistance units are one of the most important parts of the Iranian people’s revolution, and they are playing their historical role in various methods.”

It concluded: “By organizing and leading the Iranian uprising in an effective manner, resistance units are injecting hope and new life into society.”

Staff writer

 

On April 19th, Mullah Mahmoud Alavi, the regime’s Minister of Intelligence, made an appearance at Friday prayers in Tehran in which he attempted to raise morale of the country’s military forces in light of the recent designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States. The designation carries significant economic and political consequences for a regime that is already facing crises from all sides.

Arrests of MEK Members

Alavi focused his remarks on the regime’s suppression of the MEK during the last year in the Iranian calendar (March 21, 2018 to March 20, 2019), saying that during this time “116 teams related to the PMOI [MEK] have been dealt with.” He confusingly referred to these suppressive acts as “intelligence epic” and said that the ministry’s actions were due to “major national security reviews in light of Khamenei’s breakthrough guidelines.”

Call for the release of the arrested and sending an international delegation to meet them#Iran #HumanRightshttps://t.co/wPYVVBUS4O pic.twitter.com/KAURYVX9av

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) April 19, 2019

Alavi insisted that these achievements were carried out through Khamenei’s tailoring and said that the details of the suppressive acts should be shared with the public through “national media.” The regime’s state-run media have become widely distrusted by the Iranian people, who view the mullahs’ news agencies as propaganda. It is common for protesters to chant, “Our shame, our shame, our radio, and TV!” Regime leaders have expressed frustration at their inability to stop people from turning to the Internet and social media for unfiltered news.

Subsequent to announcement of mullahs’ intelligence minister that 116 #PMOI affiliated teams been arrested, Mrs.@Maryam_Rajavi emphasized, those arrested are facing torture& execution &called on UNSG, human rights organizations to visit the prisons & act urgently 4 their release

— Mohammad Mohaddessin (@Mohaddessin) April 19, 2019

The Minister of Intelligence has not officially released the true number of MEK members arrested during the last Iranian calendar year. He intentionally omitted arrests made by the regime’s other suppressive agencies, such as the

IRC Intelligence Organization, IRGC Intelligence Protection Organization, State Security Forces (SSF) and the Prosecutor’s Office.

 

Alavi’s choice to focus on the MEK is in keeping with the regime’s strategy of placing the blame for the FTO designation or IRGC on the resistance organization.

Regime must publish the names of all detainees and respect their rights consistent with International law.#Iran #HumanRights

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) April 19, 2019

Maryam Rajavi’s Statement

After Alavi’s Remarks on Friday, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), released a statement calling for the immediate release of MEK political prisoners in Oran. She called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the High Commissioner and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to form delegations to visit the regime’s prisons and meet with the prisoners and to take immediate action to secure their release. She emphasized that the prisoners are subject to torture and execution. Mrs. Rajavi further demanded that the regime publish the names of all of those who have been arrested and honor their rights in accordance with the international conventions it has adopted.

The Iranian regime is notorious for its mistreatment of political prisoners. Dissidents are routinely tortured while in custody, sometimes to the point of death. During the uprisings of December 2017/January 2018, at least 14 people died after being tortured while in custody.

Staff writer