A few days after the Free Iran 2024 World Summit, in which dozens of legislative bodies and thousands of parliamentarians in 50 countries worldwide expressed their support for the Iranian people and their Resistance movement, a minor Iranian regime cleric, acting as a judge in the theatrical “trial” of 104 members of the Iranian Resistance, said: “This court declares that if, from now on, Iranians abroad form or attend meetings anywhere in the world at the invitation of the defendants in this case, a red notice will be issued for them in accordance with international conventions; therefore, the head of this court asks the Attorney General and the Foreign Minister to ensure that if Iranians abroad attend any sessions at the invitation of the defendants in this case, it will be considered as support for the [People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)] and they will be subject to criminal prosecution in court, and these individuals will definitely be extradited to the country.”
The mullah judge added, “I ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs that from now on, if Iranians abroad attend any meeting at the invitation of the defendants in this case, it will be considered support for the PMOI, and they will be prosecutable in this court.”
He then added, “The charge against the PMOI is ‘baghi,’ which means armed insurrection with the aim of disrupting the regime’s security.” Another mullah, claiming to be an expert on religious issues, complemented the judge’s discoveries by saying, “This group is baghi, which is higher than mohareb (those who wage war against God); the actions of the PMOI members, in addition to being considered moharebeh (war against God), also constitute baghi. Three conditions have been proposed for the realization of the religious conditions of baghi: First, they must have fortifications that make it impossible to repel their evil without fighting; second, they must be outside the realm of the Muslim Imam and have gathered together; third, their rebellion must be based on a false interpretation of the illegitimacy of the established government and their numbers must be such that it cannot be dealt with except through armed forces. All these conditions apply to the PMOI.”
Finally, in utter helplessness, the mullah judge said, “With complete authority! I declare to the defendants that they have the opportunity to return and defend themselves for the actions they have taken.”
The move was intended to frighten PMOI supporters; however, it essentially uncovered several important realities: First, the regime’s severe irritation over the activities of PMOI supporters abroad, especially at this year’s Free Iran World Summit event and the Berlin demonstrations. Second, the effectiveness of these activities, which, although taking place thousands of kilometers away from Iran’s borders, disturb the regime so much that it considers them a war against itself and a subversive action, issuing a moharebeh sentence, meaning execution, for anyone participating even in a PMOI rally.
The reaction of the freedom-loving Iranians and brave PMOI supporters to these threats was to organize a series of demonstrations on July 13, uniting several cities in various European countries and Canada. These demonstrations were held in cities such as Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Oslo, The Hague, and Toronto. The demonstrators, referring to the farcical court trial of 104 members of the Iranian Resistance, meaningfully introduced themselves as the 105th, 106th, and so on, and passionately chanting slogans against the regime and its sham court and reiterating their commitment to support the PMOI in its struggle to overthrow the regime.
With these demonstrations, PMOI supporters across the globe sent a strong message to the regime and its supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Of course, the conditions the regime has mentioned against the PMOI are entirely accurate. This is the only organized movement that has rebelled against the regime, called it illegitimate, and has stayed true to its course and mission throughout more than four decades.
And the response of the PMOI and its Resistance Units and their supporters across the world is clear: Overthrow the regime.