Thursday, September 27, 2012

News from the Foundation for Democracy in Iran

Www.iran.org

Statement from FDI President Kenneth R. Timmerman on the de-listing of the MEK (Mujahedin-e Khalq) by the State Department

Sept. 26, 2012 (first post)

FDI has long advocated for keeping the MEK on the State Department’s list of international terrorist organizations because of its proven involvement in the murder of U.S. military officers and defense industry officials in Iran in the late 1970s. We also believe that the MEK operates as a cult, and that its brand of Islamic Marxism offers little real change from the Islamic Republic.

That battle is now over. The State Department and the Obama administration have decided to impose a statute of limitations on murdering Americans overseas. This sets a very dangerous precedent and endangers all Americans, not just our diplomats and military.



Delisting the MEK does not mean, however, that the group should get a free pass or that the FBI should abandon ongoing investigations into alleged money-laundering and racketeering charges against MEK members here in the United States.

Going forward, FDI believes that the Treasury Department should also remove the Free Life Party of Iranian Kurdistan, PJAK, from its list of international terrorist organizations.

Unlike the MEK, PJAK has never murdered Americans, has never advocated murdering Americans, and has strongly supported the United States. PJAK is a strongly secular group that stands as a bulwark against Islamist ideology. It also rejects separatism or any assault on Iran’s territorial integrity.

In addition, FDI believes Congress should investigate groups such as the National Iranian American Council, NIAC, to determine whether it is operating as an unregistered foreign agent in its advocacy for pro-Tehran positions.



Kenneth R. Timmerman
President and CEO
Foundation for Democracy in Iran
Www.iran.org

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