Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, February 9, 2021—The network of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) inside Iran, known as the Resistance Units, organized various activities commemorating leaders of the MEK, Mousa Khiabani, and Ashraf Rajavi, killed by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on February 8, 1981.
In addition to different parts of Tehran, various cities across Iran such as Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, Karaj, Urmia, Lahijan, Neyshabur, Malekan, Bonab, Lahijan, Borujerd, Kerman, Qazvin, Kuhdasht, Shahre Kord, and Rasht, they installed, posters and images of the Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi and NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi, marking the memory of the martyrs fallen in February 1981.
The Resistance Units, echoed slogans, “Ashraf and Moussa are immortal and unforgettable heroes for the Iranian people,” “Hail to Ashraf and Mousa and their brave companions.”
In Tehran, the Resistance Units also installed a huge banner of MEK martyrs fallen for freedom.
They also spread handwritten slogans in various places that read, “We’ll continue the path of Ashraf and Mousa until the regime’s collapse. Their blood is our torch in this way,” “Ali Khamenei will be overthrown,” and “Ashraf and Mousa are alive in our hearts inspiring the young generation with the highest motivations.”
A member of MEK Resistance Units also bravely visited the place where Ashraf and Moussa were assassinated. “Here is where on February 8, 1981, MEK leaders, Moussa Khiabani and Ashraf Rajavi were killed. We are here to commemorate this day on behalf of all Resistance Units and Massoud and Maryam Rajavi,” he said.
Political prisoners commemorate MEK martyrs
In a statement, a group of female political prisoners supporters of the MEK in Evin prison commemorated Ashraf and Moussa. “The blood of Ashraf and Moussa flowed from the streets and alleys of Tehran in the heart of history. This path continued by 30,000 executed political prisoners in 1988, and later in protests of brave uprisings of 2018 and 2019,” their statement read. The statement also addressed that no matter how much the regime killed and imprisoned and terrorized it failed to destroy the MEK.
Also, in another statement a group of MEK supporters imprisoned in Rajai Shahr prison of Karaj pledge to continue the path of those fallen for freedom.
“On February 8, 1981, many prisoners paid their respect and tribute to the bodies of Ashraf and Moussa and other martyrs at the cost of their own life. The regime executed the day after hundreds of prisoners who refused to disrespect the bodies of the martyrs,” their statement said.
The Rajai Shahr political prisoners also emphasized that these martyrs are still an inspiring source of motivation for the members of the Resistance Units and those struggling for freedom across Iran.
Also in other prisons such as Gohardasht Karaj and Urmia prison, the political prisoners commemorated the two epic MEK leaders, Ashraf and Moussa.
Background
Ashraf Rajavi and Moussa Khiabani were two prominent political prisoners in the Shah era. Both were MEK’s candidates for the first legislative elections after the 1979 revolution. Then regime’s supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini prevented even one MEK member from reaching the Parliament. The MEK constantly warned against the abuses of the new regime, including the repression of women, minorities, and all opposition forces.
On June 20, 1981, the MEK tested the democratic environment a final time by launching a demonstration to remind the Khomeini regime of its responsibilities to respect the fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people. In Tehran, more than 500 thousand people attended the demonstration, which hadn’t been publicly declared in advance.
A banner brandished during the 1978 anti-monarchist demonstrations calling for the release of political prisoners, including Massoud Rajavi and Moussa Khiabani.
On the morrow of the June 20 demonstration, the Iranian regime launched a ruthless crackdown against all opposition forces, especially the supporters and members of the MEK. The regime’s forces chased and executed many of the Mojahedin’s members in the streets, and thousands were dragged into the regime’s prisons, where they were subjected to inhuman tortures and later executed. Women, children, elderly—no one was spared.
Following the banning of all opposition forces, the Khomeini regime executed and murdered some 120,000 people, most of whom were affiliated with the MEK. In Khomeini’s prisons, his guards and executioners resorted to the most vile and brutal tortures. Khomeini’s fatwas gave his torturers free rein to do anything they wanted to torment the Mojahedin, including rape, severing body organs, gouging eyes, etc. On some accounts, the regime’s guards extracted the blood of MEK members before executing them so they could use it for the medical needs of their own guards and soldiers. Pregnant women were tortured and executed. Young girls were raped before their execution. These are just some of the brutalities that the Iranian regime imposed on MEK prisoners.
