Zahra Merrikhi’s Speech, Secretary General of the PMOI, on the 58th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) – September 2023
In her speech marking the 58th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), Zahra Merrikhi, the Secretary General of the PMOI, celebrated the organization’s unwavering commitment to the overthrow of Iran’s oppressive clerical regime. Merrikhi emphasized the pivotal role the PMOI played in the September 2022 uprisings, which were marked by immense sacrifice from the Iranian people, including the loss of 750 lives and the imprisonment of thousands. She argued that the regime’s harsh repression, rather than quelling dissent, has only strengthened the resolve of the PMOI and the broader Iranian resistance.
Merrikhi highlighted the organization’s ability to adapt and lead, as evidenced by the establishment of Resistance Units that have carried out over 10,000 acts of defiance against the regime, solidifying the PMOI’s position as the principal opposition force. She stressed the regime’s desperation in combating the influence of the PMOI, citing widespread attempts by the government to suppress its growing support, particularly among Iran’s younger generation. The speech underscored the PMOI’s continued fight for freedom, democracy, and equality in Iran, with Merrikhi vowing to intensify efforts to overthrow the regime and achieve these goals. This determination, she argued, stems from the group’s long-standing principles and leadership, and she predicted the eventual collapse of the clerical regime, much like the Shah’s dictatorship before it.
Excerpts from Zahra Merrikhi’s speech on September 6, 2023, follow:
In contemporary Iranian history, “the struggle for overthrowing oppressive regimes” has become synonymous with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), and being “steadfast” has also become their defining feature. This movement is known for its unwavering resistance, committed to the overthrow of this regime at any cost.
On the eve of the great uprising that began on September 16, 2022, and shook the foundations of the clerical regime for months, we honor the 750 martyrs of that movement, the thousands wounded, including hundreds of women, men, and teenagers who lost their eyes due to the crimes of the Revolutionary Guards, the mothers and fathers of the martyrs, the tens of thousands of rebellious youths who were imprisoned and endured torture, abuse, and insult, and the students and professors who were deprived of education or employment.
The 2022 uprising was a test in which our people rose proudly, paying the price for freedom with their sacrifices.
The mullahs’ regime, which had nothing to offer but its perpetual policy of repression, became disgraced, weakened, and crisis-ridden, adopting a policy that only strengthened the resolve of the people to overthrow the entire regime.
In other words, the regime itself laid the groundwork for an even larger and more fiery uprising.
The remnants of the Shah’s dictatorship, the defectors from the clerical regime, and the regime’s allies, who sought to profit from the blood and sacrifices of the people, failed in their project.
In this great trial, thanks to the firm and principled positions of Massoud Rajavi in drawing a clear line against deviant paths, the PMOI raised the flag of a revolutionary solution, despite paying the heaviest price.
They strengthened the boundaries of the people’s front and exposed and discredited the counter-revolutionary factions.
They inscribed the slogan of a democratic republic on the uprising, solidifying the line of “neither Shah nor mullah.”
Through the combat and sacrifice of the resistance units, they spread the core tactics of the uprising, steering it toward direct confrontation with the regime and its eventual overthrow.
In this regard, the speaker of the regime’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, summarized the regime’s assessment by stating that “the PMOI played the most significant role in organizing and leading these events.”
Due to this “significant role,” the slogan “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader” became widespread.
Opportunists, enemies of the people, and their foreign backers failed to reduce the uprising to mere theatrics, misleading slogans, or passive methods, and their attempt to hijack the movement was thwarted.
As a result, the 2022 uprising became a platform for the PMOI’s leap forward, a revolutionary solution, and a democratic alternative.
A new generation turned to the PMOI, and thousands of brave Resistance Units and PMOI supporters conquered Khamenei’s prisons across the country.
In Iran’s cities, a fighting force emerged, supported by the unwavering backing of the people, guided by the PMOI’s slogans, strategy, and methods.
Regime theorists now admit: “Today, we are facing a second organization, but it is even more dangerous, certainly more dangerous.”
They acknowledge that the PMOI, by adhering to its principles and goals, “completely rebuilt its public image in the 2000s and took center stage in the 2010s,” and in assessing the uprising’s developments, they explain: “The PMOI played a central role last year” and had a “special presence on the ground.”
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A key event confirming this victorious position is the continued existence of the Resistance Units and their activities under the constant pressure of the regime’s security and intelligence forces.
The 10,000 acts carried out by the Resistance Units, presented this year at the Free Iran Summit in Paris, demonstrated the PMOI’s elevated status as the regime’s principal adversary.
We all remember that at the height of the uprising, in November 2022, the IRGC Intelligence Organization asked the public to report any contact or messages from the PMOI at the earliest opportunity.
One month later, on December 6, the Ministry of Intelligence claimed to have identified and dismantled several operational cells affiliated with the PMOI in the provinces of Tehran, Isfahan, and Kurdistan.
These numerous reports and statements published across the regime’s media reflect its fear of the PMOI’s expanding base in Iran’s cities and the growing attraction of the younger generation to this movement.
According to the information obtained, including the regime’s own admissions, the most critical security and political institutions have each established special units to counter the PMOI.
Internal documents from the regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which were exposed last spring, revealed that seven out of the ministry’s 13 directorates are dedicated to studying ways to discredit the PMOI in their activities.
Gholamhossein Mohseni-Eje’i, the head of the regime’s Judiciary, announced that a task force had been established to address the cases of PMOI members.
His deputy explained that they intend to utilize all available resources to combat the PMOI.
Regime experts ask, “Why did these protests impose such a cost on the security forces, and why did they go in this direction?” They answer themselves: “Because of the PMOI’s field forces,” further explaining, “In any security incident you see in the country, whether at the borders or in international sabotage, you will surely find traces of the PMOI.”
Regime theorists, in an attempt to draw their forces’ attention to the main danger, explicitly state: “Our main issue in the country is the PMOI, and we must focus on them,” adding, “The PMOI is not just a historical issue, but it is our issue today,” … and “We must prevent the younger generation from joining the organization.”
Yes, this is the core danger: the youths who have joined the PMOI and those who are seeking to join it.
The regime’s desperation in dealing with the PMOI’s position, especially inside Iran, has reached such a point that they are staging court trials and issuing indictments against 104 MEK officials and cadres.
Could there be a greater admission of the PMOI and the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI) status as the regime’s principal adversary?
Regarding the so-called crimes of the PMOI that the regime claims to have formed a “massive file,” the PMOI informs them that it has never stopped committing those crimes in the past four decades and plans to increase them a hundredfold from now on.
Yes, a hundredfold struggle, a hundredfold sacrifice, and becoming a hundredfold more devoted to serving the people of Iran.
Our crime is being steadfast.
Our crime, as regime experts say, is “overthrowing the regime at any cost.”
Our crime is abandoning our homes and livelihoods to save Iran.
Our crime is following the unique and anti-exploitative leadership of Massoud Rajavi.
Yes, our crime is fighting for the elimination of oppression, repression, and exploitation.
But another crime that drives the clerics to madness is the liberation and leadership of women.
We confess that we have trampled on the most sacred beliefs of the clerics and the core of their reactionary religion—namely, the enslavement of women and the patriarchal order.
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Today, rebellious youths are repeating this line from Maryam Rajavi’s speeches: “If fighting for freedom is a crime, then we are proud of our crime.”
Yes, we too are proud of all our crimes that are aimed at liberating Iran and Iranians.
One of the IRGC commanders has stated: “The PMOI, as long-time and deeply wounded enemies, have remained committed to their enmity with the state and have never deviated from the path they took.”
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This historic and uncompromising Resistance movement will settle for nothing less than the complete overthrow of the mullahs’ regime and nothing short of establishing freedom, democracy, and equality.
The Shah’s dictatorship, with all its hollow grandeur, was defeated by the will of the uprising people. Khamenei’s dictatorship will also not survive against the Resistance Units, the Liberation Army, and an organized people.