Why it matters:
This landmark judicial process not only prosecutes dozens of former MKO members for acts of terrorism and crimes against civilians but also seeks to determine the organization's legal responsibility as a corporate entity for decades of terrorist activity against the Iranian population.
What he's saying:
Hojjatoleslam Masoud Maddah, legal representative for the families of victims, presented detailed accounts of terrorist acts carried out by MKO members. He argued that after losing public support, the group resorted to systematic terror in a desperate bid to sustain its political relevance. He emphasized that their methods mirrored those of ISIS, including executions, bombings, and even targeting ordinary civilians such as shoemakers and grocers.
Maddah recounted confessions from former MKO operatives, including:
Parvin Partovi (alias Maryam), who admitted the group ordered its members to fire at civilians to provoke chaos and gain followers.
Sohrab Sepehri (alias Maziar), who described throwing a grenade into a crowded chandelier shop under orders despite civilian presence.
Mohammad Kalantari (alias Manouchehr), who confessed to killing multiple civilians, including a cobbler and a dry-cleaning worker, under direct orders to kill anyone resisting “revolutionary confiscation.”
Maddah also cited a 1982 massacre near Qaemshahr, where a 7-member MKO team allegedly stopped vehicles, separated religious-looking individuals, and opened fire, killing three civilians.
What they're saying:
According to testimonies presented in court, several ex-MKO members who defected from the organization offered insight into the group’s internal orders and its embrace of brutal tactics:
Afshin Baradaran described a squad formation where each member was equipped with four firearms and 500 rounds of ammunition.
Hussein Sheikh-al-Hokama stated that MKO’s operations aimed to instill fear in Islamic Republic supporters to force them to abandon the state.
Go deeper:
MKO's Rajavi Confederate of Shah Regime's Intelligence: Ex-Member
ahmad shirzadian
