The 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is not just a historical milestone; it is a testament to an unbroken chain of resistance against two successive dictatorships. For six decades, the PMOI has waged a relentless struggle for a free, democratic, and secular republic in Iran, first against the Shah’s monarchy and then against the brutal theocracy of the mullahs. This hard path, paid for with the blood of more than 100,000 martyrs, has forged a legacy of sacrifice that now fuels the defiant Resistance Units inside Iran, bringing the nation to the cusp of liberation.
A legacy forged in fire and blood
The PMOI’s history is one of immense cost. Its members have endured torture chambers, firing squads, and gallows under both regimes. The clerical regime’s deepest fear of the PMOI’s resilience was laid bare in 1988 when its founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa to annihilate its members, leading to the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners.
In a poignant tribute at the Brussels rally on the 60th anniversary of the PMOI’s founding, NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi honored the movement’s martyrs, stating, “Yes, this is the generation of the hundreds of thousands, the generation of the countless, who proudly passed through the torture chambers, the firing squads, and the gallows—from the first martyr, Ahmad Rezaii, to the most recent martyrs, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, whose 40th day of martyrdom was marked yesterday.”
Today, that same fear drives Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to hold sham trials in absentia, issuing death sentences against the resistance leadership. But as international dignitaries noted at the Brussels rally, this persecution is not a sign of the regime’s strength, but its weakness. It reveals that the true threat to the mullahs is not a foreign power, but the organized will of their own people.
The torch passes to the Resistance Units
This legacy of sacrifice is not a historical relic; it is the living inspiration for the current uprisings. Today, the torch is carried by the PMOI’s Resistance Units, a network of activists inside Iran who are the modern embodiment of the movement’s struggle. Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence described them as the “the beating heart of hope for the Iranian people, and an inspiration to the world. They are the driving engine of change, igniting uprisings and sustaining protests with courage that inspires the world.”
The Resistance Units are the engine of change. They risk their lives daily to keep the flame of liberty alive, organizing protests, challenging the repressive forces, and demonstrating that the spirit of resistance is more powerful than ever.
Their actions serve as a direct link between the sacrifices of the past and the fight for the future. As Andrin Mohseni, a young activist at the rally declared, addressing the units directly, “Your defiance shakes the regime and echoes the martyrs’ sacrifice.”
Their fire, determination, and faith show that the PMOI’s 60-year struggle is not just surviving but thriving on the front lines inside Iran.
The inevitable path to victory
The PMOI’s 60-year struggle has been about more than just opposition; it has been about building a viable, democratic alternative. This stands in stark contrast to the regime’s lie that the only choices are the current theocracy or a return to the deposed monarchy.
The Iranian people and their resistance reject both forms of dictatorship. The alternative is the NCRI, with Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as its blueprint for a future based on free elections, gender equality, and human rights. This combination of a deep-rooted historical struggle, a globally recognized democratic platform, and an active network of Resistance Units on the ground makes the “Third Option”—regime change by the Iranian people—an achievable reality.
Mrs. Rajavi articulated this path forward, declaring in her speech, “The only solution is the Third Option, neither appeasement nor war, but regime change by the people and their organized resistance!” As she reminded the world, “The Shah fell, and the mullahs will fall as well.”
And former UK House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said, “The alternative is not to appease the regime. The alternative is not to go to war. The alternative is instead to choose freedom.”
A destiny in their own hands
After 60 years of unwavering sacrifice, the PMOI has brought the Iranian people to a historic turning point. The regime’s waves of executions and brutal repression cannot extinguish the volcano of the people’s revolt. The destiny of Iran will not be decided by appeasement deals or foreign intervention. It will be seized by the will of the Iranian people and their organized resistance, who are poised to write the next chapter of their nation’s history. The final victory is within reach, built on the foundation of six decades of selfless struggle. As Mrs. Rajavi declared to the youth of Iran, “You will ignite the uprising! You will liberate Iran! You will achieve victory and build the future!”