Who are the MEK in Iran?

                      Who are the MEK in Iran?

The Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), also known as the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), is an exiled Iranian opposition group. Founded in 1965, it has evolved from a militant revolutionary organization into a controversial political entity that remains a primary target of the Iranian government. 

Core Facts as of 2026

• Leadership: The organization is led by Maryam Rajavi, its "President-elect," and her husband Massoud Rajavi, whose whereabouts have been unknown since 2003.
• Headquarters: Following its expulsion from Iraq, the group's main operations are now based in a fortified camp in Albania, which houses approximately 3,000 members.
• Political Arm: The MEK is the dominant faction within the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which presents itself as a "parliament-in-exile" and advocates for a secular, democratic republic in Iran. 

Historical Timeline

• 1960s–1970s: Founded by leftist students to oppose the Shah. The group's original ideology was a blend of Islam and Marxism. It carried out attacks against the Shah's government and U.S. targets in Iran, resulting in the deaths of several Americans.
• 1979 Revolution: Supported the overthrow of the Shah but quickly fell out with Ayatollah Khomeini over theocratic governance.
• 1980s Exile & Iraq War: Forced into exile in 1981, the group eventually relocated to Iraq in 1986 under the patronage of Saddam Hussein. They fought alongside Iraq against their own country during the Iran-Iraq War, a move that severely damaged their popularity among the Iranian public.
• Terrorist Designation: The U.S. designated the MEK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 1997. It was delisted in 2012 following a massive lobbying campaign and the group's renunciation of violence. 

Current Standing and Controversy

• In Iran: The Iranian regime views the MEK as its most persistent "existential threat" and frequently executes members for "waging war on God" (moharebeh). In early 2026, reports emerged of MEK-affiliated "Resistance Units" carrying out thousands of acts of defiance inside Iran, though their actual level of domestic popular support is highly debated.
• Western Support: Despite its past, the MEK maintains significant bipartisan support among U.S. and European politicians who view it as a viable counterweight to the clerical regime.
• Critiques: Human rights organizations and former members have described the MEK as a "cult" with a rigid, hierarchical structure. Allegations include forced divorces, psychological abuse, and the isolation of members from their families.