thousands rally outside of us state department

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News Bulletin of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of IranSpecial Issue September 2011

Thousands rally outside the U.S. State Department:

Delist PMOI (MEK), Protect Ashraf

Policians, former naonal security officials and

thousands of others gathered outside the State

Department on Friday to call for the removal of the

Mujahedin-e Khalq from the list of foreign terrorist

organizaons.

Iranian dissidents gather high-profile support

Maryam Rajavi waves to supporters as sheaddresses the rally via a satellite link from Paris.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (at the podium). From left: Louis Freeh, Col. Wes Martin, John Sano,Gov. Ed Rendell and British MP Brian Binley.

Thousands of supporters of Irans

leading opposion group rallied outside

the State Department on Friday, calling

on the agency to take the group off its list

of terrorist organizaons.

Biparsan US

lawmakers voicesolidarity with the

rally of Iranians

Page 7

McClatchy Newspapers

Page 7Page 6

Washington D.C. - August 26, 2011


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IRAN LIBERATION www.ncr-iran.org SEPTEMBER 20112

Patrick KennedyMember of U.S. House of Representatives (1995-2011)Iranians from 41 states

urge delisting of PMOI (MEK)Iranians from across the U.S. staged a rally in

Washington D.C. outside the State Department on

26 August, 2011 urging immediate removal of the

Peoples Mojahedin Organizaon of Iran (PMOI/MEK),

Irans main opposion movement, from the State

Departments list of Foreign Terrorist Organizaons(FTO). They also asked for ensuring protecon of the

organizaons members in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.

A number of prominent personalies and senior officials

delivered speeches in the rally and asked the U.S.

government to live up to its commitments regarding

3,400 Ashraf residents. They reiterated that no delay in

removing the MEK from the FTO list is permissible.

Patrick Kennedy, U.S. Congressman (1995-2011), and

son of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, moderated

the event.

Speaking at the rally, the Member of Brish the

Parliament Brian Binley announced the support

of 4,000 parliamentarians from across the globe,

including a significant number of members of the

Brish Parliament and House of Lords, for delisng the

PMOI from the U.S. FTO list.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian

Resistance, addressed the rally via a satellite link from

Paris, France.

The future of Iran is right here in front of me: You! You young peopleare the voice of your fellow countrymen who are being oppressed andpersecuted by the mullahs in Tehran, but you are their voice.

To the families of the martyrs and the families of those who are in Ashraf Iwant to say -- on behalf of all of my friends who care about human rights-- that we have not forgoen you, and your cause is our cause, the causeof democracy and human rights.To my friends in the State Department in the building behind us, whoconnue to hold fast to an old policy that is supported by Tehran: You areon the wrong side of history!To Nouri Al-Maliki: Your brutal and deadly assaults on Ashraf will land you

in the internaonal criminal court whereyou will be held accountable.To the mullahs in Tehran while all of usare waing for the storm of hurricaneIrene bearing down on us, you themullahs in Iran have much bigger storm

clouds gathering around you. The windsof change are blowing stronger than everand the de of democracy and freedomis engulfing you. Theres a new daydawning for the future of Iran and theterrorists in Tehran beer wake up andtake note that the Arab Spring is in theair. And to my Iranian-American friends:Keep up the struggle for human rights.A few blocks from here there is a newmonument in Washington DC dedicatedto Dr. Marn Luther King. Dr. King waslabeled a lot of things during his fightfor freedom; many of his detractors and

crics called him names. Sounds familiar?They called him names and they labeledhim, a communist, MEK was labeled acommunist; MEK is labeled a terrorist.Dr. King knew that injusce anywherewas a threat to jusce everywhere.So lets look at history. People tried to

undermine Dr. King by calling him names. They are trying to undermineyou by calling you names.Right now as we speak were seeing change throughout the Middle East.But how are we going to have permanent democracy and freedom whileIran remains a threat to the whole region and a threat to democracy andpeace itself?You are taking on the worst of the worst. Assad is awful, Qaddafi wasawful, theyre all awful, but Ahmadinejad and Khamenei have a specialplace in the rogue gallery of dictators in the Middle East. So, keep up thefight and know that each of you is making a difference and that this is theme to demand the world pay aenon to democracy throughout theMiddle East, and make sure all of the Middle East is free from repressionand tyranny.

To my friends

in the State

Department in the

building behind us,

who continue to holdfast to an old policy

that is supported by

Tehran: You are on

the wrong side of

history.

Dr. Martin

Luther King was

labeled a lot of

things during

his fight for

freedom; many

of his detractors

and critics called

him names.

Sounds familiar?

They called him

names and they

labeled him,

a communist,

MEK was labeleda communist;

MEK is labeled a

terrorist.


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IRAN LIBERATION www.ncr-iran.org SEPTEMBER 2011 3

(Excerpts)It has been more a year since theruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals in

Washington, which ordered the StateDepartment to review the terroristlisng of the Peoples MojahedinOrganizaon of Iran (PMOI/MEK).The terror lisng in the U.S. is openlyused as a jusficaon to legimize suchbloodleng, both by the cruel mullahs in Tehran as well as their proxygovernment in Iraq. Therefore, the Iranian people are asking the UnitedStates, Why are you not annulling the license to kill our children?Today, this disgraceful lisng separates the two camps of the regimessupporters on the one hand and those defending freedom and democracyin Iran on the other.On the one hand is the camp inspired by the mullahs themselves,which includes those serving and siding with religious dictatorship,

those who jusfy the massacre of polical prisoners, defend the Iranianregimes nuclear drive, oppose sancons against the ruling religiousfascism and broker appeasing the central banker of terrorism; theyall endeavor to maintain the PMOI on the list. With their Iranian orAmerican passports in hand, they are the ones who have for all theseyears jusfied the suppression of the Iranian people while uploading theproverbial ammunions for the destrucon of Ashraf and massacre ofits residents.In reality, they are the plainclothes agents and paramilitary Bassij forcesabroad, billed as experts, acvists, and academics. This is the campthat is defending the religious fascism.On the other side, consider the camp that is defending freedom anddemocracy in Iran and defending Ashraf. Thousands of parliamentariansand human rights advocates in the Arab world and in Europe, joined by

a large number of members of the U.S. House of Representaves andSenate, forming a great global voice in defense of the freedom-lovingIranian Resistance.In the U.S., especially over the past year, everyone was able to see thatunder the most intense pressures, members of Congress exhibited greatcourage in their defense of Ashraf and in rejecng the terrorism label.Dozens of the most honorable former senior officials serving in thecountrys administraons over the last two decades have taken a clearstance in the course of their mulple internaonal conferences inWashington, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, London and Rome, leaving absolutelyno credibility for this lisng.We have seen how the mullahs regime and the insignificant faconsdirected by Tehran ulize cruelty and insolence to aack and avenge thesedignified personalies. But, these officials have shown extraordinary

courage by placing their credibility and polical reputaon in support ofthis Resistance.The evil forces that have laid a siege on your sisters and brothers in CampAshraf seek to destroy and annihilate Ashraf and its freedom-seekingresidents. But, you have spread the flames of Ashraf in your gatheringand hoisted its flag. Hold onto this flag more powerfully, because this isthe banner of freedom and democracy in Iran.Clearly, the U.S. bears special responsibility for ensuring the proteconof these residents on the basis of its agreements with every single one ofthe residents in Camp Ashraf.As stressed by members of Congress, the U.S. government would beresponsible for any future humanitarian catastrophes in Ashraf.We urge the U.S. to listen to Congress and the resoluon passed by theHouse Foreign Affairs Commiee and leave aside the idea of displacingAshraf residents within Iraq. We call on the U.S. to support the Europeansoluon instead of this dangerous idea which will have no results otherthan a humanitarian catastrophe.Similarly, we want the United Naons to rise up to its irrevocableobligaons in ensuring the protecon of Ashraf.

Maryam Rajavi

President-elect of the NationalCouncil of Resistance of Iran

We are here today for tworeasons. One is to ensure thatthe residents of Camp Ashrafget the protecon they deservein the US. And secondly to seethat we can delist the MEK

today. And those things arerelated, but lets take them oneat a me.To me its a disgrace that theUnited States of America wentback on its pledge. A pledgethat was signed by us and byevery single member of CampAshraf when they gave up theirweapons, that we would protectthem. Did we protect them backin 2009? No. Did we protectthem this year? No. In factAmerican troops were called off

the scene before the aacks took place. The American democracy,this great democracy, reneged on its word when its troops werecalled to retreat and not protectthe residents of Camp Ashraf, andworse, many of the members thisyear were killed by Iraqi forcesusing weapons supplied to themby the United States of Americaand vehicles supplied to them bythe United States of America. Thathas to end. It is me for us to liveup to our promise to the residentsof Camp Ashraf.We have a sworn duty, a duty as

Americans, a duty as a countryto live up to our word. So, Mr. President, Ms. Secretary, lets movenow to either tell the Maliki government were taking back theresponsibility of protecng the residents of Ashraf or that the UNwith NATO support will oversee Ashraf and make sure that no onegets touched again.The two issues are related because what did the Maliki governmentsay to try to excuse their reprehensible acons in Ashraf? They saidwell, theyre on the United States Terrorist List, theyre on the FTO

list. Well, first of all, that doesntexcuse slaughtering innocentpeople, including eight defenselesswomen but lets look at the secondissue. Should the MEK be on the listas a foreign terrorist organizaon?Is there any evidence to supportthe MEK being on that list?Madame Secretary! Mr. President!The FBI, the CIA, the US military, thebase Commander of Ashraf. Whatmore evidence can we give you?But the good news is there is sllmore because our brethren in theUnited Kingdom, our good friends

in the European Union, the wonderful naon of France, they haveall looked at this same issue and they have said theres no reason tokeep the MEK on a terrorist list and they have all delisted the MEK.The evidence is overwhelming. The me is now! The White Houseand the State Department must ensure that the evidence is followed.The White House and the State Department must ensure that jusceprevails. The White House and the State Department must ensurethat the basic principles of the American democracy are followed.The White House and the State Department should follow the worldcommunity. Delist the MEK and do it now!

Ed RendellFormer Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and

Governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011)

The White

House and the

State Department

should follow the

world community.

Delist the MEK

and do it now!

Madame

Secretary! Mr.

President! The

FBI, the CIA, theUS military, the

base Commander

of Ashraf. What

more evidence can

we give you?

Message to the rally by


4/8


The main perpetrators of theconnuing pressure to keep theMEK on the foreign terroristorganizaons list is the Ministryof Intelligence and Security, theMOIS, in Iran.I have experience in dealing with

them, and I am familiar to a degree with some of their methods. TheMOIS is not restricted in its efforts to undermine the credibility of theIranian opposion. They view the MEK quite clearly, as a severe threatto the connued existence of their regime.The MOIS conducts, what we call in the intelligence business false

flags in other words theypose as someone other than

their true affiliaon. They haveposed as members of the GreenMovement most recently, theyhave posed as members of theMEK, and they do that so thatthey can sr up problems, so thatthey can sr up difficules forhost naons, around the world.Create bad publicity for the MEKand blame it on the MEK.Ive looked at the declassifiedintelligence that was usedthroughout the past severalyears to maintain the MEK on the

FTO. Everything I saw in those reports based on my nearly 30 yearsof experience none of them indicated to me, even as director Freehhas pointed out, none of that indicated even a very slight degree thatthere was any credibility to the terrorist linkage to MEK, none. So whyare we sll doing it? Why are we sll keeping them on the list? Itsappeasement.Appeasement never works, and what Tehran sees in the United Statesis kindness and it is me to be strong and it is me to stand up and dothe right thing. Delist the MEK.

Who is it that opposes the proposion that the MEK is not a terroristorganizaon? Well, there are a couple of contenders: there is theregime in Tehran, and theres a serious lisng, I call it a mis-lisng, inthe US Department of State. Have you heard one former respected, orunrespected government official anywhere in the United States or anyplace else get up and say publicly that the MEK has terrorist tendencies?Is it a coincidence that no one of that tenure has approached you? No, ofcourse not. No one except the regime in Tehran has taken the oppositeposion.The Court of Appeals, which youve heard about, over a year ago told theSecretary of State that they had violated the due process rights of thePMOI, the MEK, by not giving them access transparency, and the courtfound that the sources that the Department of State was using to arguethat this group belongs on the FTO list were unqualified, uncorroboratedand not credible. We have not heard anything in response to thatdecision by the Department of State except theyre reviewing it. Well,review becomes an abuse of process aer a certain point. In the worldof the law, non-response to a court becomes contemptuous at a certainpoint. It is me for the Secretary of State to act and to act decisively andimportantly to delist the MEK.Every moment this organizaon is classified by the United Statesgovernment, the United States of America as a terrorist organizaon,gives the brutal regime in Tehran the license to arrest, detain, tortureand kill its own freedom fighters at home and the people in Ashraf whoare boldly leading the freedom fight outside of its borders. This licenseto kill will only abate, will only be removed once that the lisng stops.That has to be done, and has to be done now.

Louis FreehFormer FBI Director

John SanoFormer First Deputy

Director of Central

Intelligence Agency

National Clandestine

Service

In the world of the

law, non-response

to a court becomes

contemptuous at a

certain point.

It is time for the

Secretary of Stateto act and to act

decisively and

importantly to

delist the MEK.

The MOIS conducts,

what we call in theintelligence businessfalse flags in otherwords they pose assomeone other thantheir true affiliation.

They have posed asmembers of the GreenMovement mostrecently.


5/8


The rumor is the people of Ashrafare being held against their will.Just like before we stood up heretoday I took a walk through thecrowd and met with many of you,that was always done in Ashraf

and the shaking hands; if anybody wished to leave, all they had to dowas keep hold of my hand and they could walk out with me. Yet everymember of Camp Ashraf stayed because thats where their mission was,they were very loyal to it, they were not being held against their will.The rumor is being spread the MEK has no influence in Iran. If that is true

then why is Khamenei and Ahmadinejadspending so much effort trying to keep theMEK on the list and trying to get Maliki give

them the MEK.When our founding fathers built theConstuon they put the legislavebranch of the government first, becausethat represented the will of the people,the execuve came second to carry outthat will, State Department wasn't evenmenoned in the Constuon, and the

judicial branch was menoned was statedthird is to ensure that jusce was done.Yet the State Department has ignored the Congress. Recently atcongressional hearings they were too busy to even send a representaveand they are now six months overdue in complying with the judicialbranch. Its like they have become the law upon themselves and we'veyet to see the State Department aggressively condemn the aacks of2009 and 2011. If you want to see who the terrorists are watch thevideos; theyre the ones wearing Iraqi Army uniforms killing innocentunarmed people.We have three acons for soluon. One: let's get the MEK off theterrorist list; they never should've been there in the first place. Two: let'shave the MEK secured by US forces and I'm willing to put a uniform backon and head back over there and lead those forces, and let's move theMojahedin out of Iraq to a secure locaon.

Colonel Wesley Martin(Ret.)

Former Coalitions counterterrorism commander inIraq and US commander forprotection of Ashraf

Its a privilege to be with you. Could I also say what an honor it isto speak on the same plaorm as the great men youve listenedto this morning, and the gentlemen you will listen to if I only sckto five minutes. What a privilege to stand in the capital of thisgreat democracy; to be able to speak to you as free individuals in ademocrac society. Salam Camp Ashraf! We are with you! Let me tellyou that I represent about 400 parliamentarians from what I considerto be the mother of parliaments, the Brish Parliament. And can I

say to you that they stand with you too.You may know that I was one of the 35 parliamentarians who puthis name amongst others to the peon to remove the PMOI fromthe Brish prescribed list. It was a bale that we succeeded, and wesucceeded because one of the most senior judges of our land saidthat prescripon was perverse. It was one of the most remarkablestatements made in a Brish courtto call a decision of governmentperverse.Now let me tell you that for a naon that Ive always looked up to,the great United States of America, to uphold a lisng which mycountry the legal jurisdicon of my country described as perverseis unacceptable of this naon.So let me say to Mrs. Clinton, and I pray to the almighty that she listens

to these words: My parents were around in 1939 when it became vitalthat we stood up against the Nazi aack on our society and yours. Iwas there when I saw the troops go to Iraq. But I did not see thosetroops give their lives in support of a government which supports Iran.But what I say to Mrs. Clinton is send a message to that government.Send a message to al-Maliki: We in free and democrac sociees willnot put up with what youre doing. Let her, as a first step, de-proscribethe MEK.

Brian BinleyMember of British Parliament

For the U.S.,to uphold alisting which mycountry describedas perverse isunacceptable.

Lets get theMEK off theterrorist list;they nevershould havebeen there inthe first place.


6/8


To remove residents of Ashrafand the Peoples MojahedinOrganizaon of Iran (MEK/PMOI) from the U.S. terrorlist - just as our European allies have done ... wemust convince Secretary of State Hillary Clintonand President Barack Obama to listen to thedemands included in House Resoluon 60 assoon as possible.

Mike Coffman (R-CO)Member of Congress

The House Foreign Affairs Commiee unanimouslyadopted an amendment to H.R. 2583, the FY 2012Foreign Relaons Authorizaon Act, which would urgethe government of Iraq to uphold commitments to theUnited States for ensuring the connued well-being ofthose living in Camp Ashraf and prevent their involuntaryreturn to Iran or forcibly relocate from Camp Ashraf. Thisincludes, but is not limited to, the physical security andprotecon of all residents from any oppression. I commend you all on yourdedicaon and courage and I will connue to closely monitor the treatmentand condions at Camp Ashraf.

Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Member of U.S. Senate

Myself, and members of the United States Congressare with you. I join you and my colleagues in Congressin calling on the Department of State to act. The UnitedStates cannot ignore its promise to protect the people ofAshraf nor should it give Iran or Iraq any pretext for moresuppression.

Edolphus ED Towns (D-NY)Member of Congress

You are asking that our government do what the Courthas ordered it to do: that is to put forward a decisionregarding the unfair FTO designaon of the MEK.The United States Congress is with you. I join you incalling for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to listen tothe demands included in House Resoluon 60 as soonas possible.

Judy Chu (D-CA)Member of Congress

I am happy to be among about 100 co-sponsorsof House Resoluon 60. The resoluon asks ourgovernment to do what the United States Court ofAppeals has also suggested: to remove residents ofAshraf and the Peoples Mojahedin Organizaon ofIran (MEK/PMOI) from the U.S. terror list - just as ourEuropean allies have done.

Daniel Lungren (R-CA)Member of Congress

You are here to ask why theSecretary of State has notyet ordered the removal ofthe residents of Camp Ashrafand the MEK from the listof terrorist organizaons. Itremains a source of wonder and deep regretthat the MEK was ever placed on that list by aprevious American administraon.

Lacy Clay (D-MO)Member of Congress

I join you in calling forSecretary of State HillaryClinton to expediouslycomplete the departmentsreview of the MEK as orderedby the Federal Court of Appeals. Any furtherdelay would be irresponsible, will endager thelives of the people in Ashraf, and embolden thedictators in Iran and their friends in Iraq.

Tom McClintock(R-CA)Member of Congress

Dr. Saleh al-Mutlak, Deputy Prime Minister,

General Secretary, Iraqi Naonal Movement al-Iraqia

We had previously discussed the negave impacts of PMOI designaonwith the US ambassadors, but now there is no doubt le that thisblacklisng has provided the jusficaon for bringing harm and injusceto defenseless people inside Iran and abroad and has impeded ourefforts to help the residents of Ashraf and save them from aggressionand misconduct, believing that they deserve a treatment as polical

refugees protected under Genevas

Fourth Convenon and the internaonal law.We call on the US to do what has long been overdue and suggested by ajudicial decision to li the terror tag from the PMOI.I once again commend your determinaon and believe that you willprevail.

August 25th 2011

Expression of Support with the Internaonal Campaign to Delist PMOI

Biparsan US lawmakers voiced solidarity with the rally of thousands of Iraniansin Washington, D.C. outside the State Department

Among those who sent messages of solidarity were: Senator John Boozman (member of Senate Trade, Science and Transportaon Commiee); SenatorClaire McCaskill (member of Senate Armed Forces Commiee); Rep. Bob Filner (Ranking Democrat in House Veterans Affairs Commiee, Co-Chair, IranHuman Rights and Democracy Caucus); Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Chair of the House Subcommiee on Oversight and Invesgaon, Co-Chair, Iran Human

Rights and Democracy Caucus); Rep. Judge Ted Poe (member of House Foreign Affairs Commiee): Rep. Mike Coffman (member of House Armed ForcesCommiee); Rep. Judy Chu (member of Judicial and Terrorism Subcommiee); Rep. Ed Towns (ranking Democrat in Government Oversight Commiee); Rep.William Lacy Clay; Rep. Daniel Lungren and Rep. Tom McClintock. Excerpts from some of the messages are presented below.

We join you in calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton toimmediately complete her review of the MEK status - as ordered lastyear by the United States Court of Appeals in Washington, DC. Weecho the senments of prominent former U.S. officials such as General

James Jones; Governor Tom Ridge, General Hugh Shelton, Mayor RudyGiuliani, Governor Howard Dean, Judge Louis Freeh, Judge MichaelMukasey, General Michael Hayden, as well nearly 100 co-sponsors ofH.Res.60 who have called on her to remove the MEK from the U.S. FTOlist.We warn that failure to do so immediately places the lives of the 3,400unarmed Camp Ashraf civilians in grave danger and prevents peacefuland acceptable selement of these polical refugees to any democracnaon.

Dana Rohrabacher(R-CA)Member of Congress

Bob Filner(D-CA)Member of Congress


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Iranian dissidents gather high-profile support

August 27, 2011 (Excerpts) - Policians, formernaonal security officials and thousands ofothers gathered outside the State Departmenton Friday to call for the removal of theMujahedin-e Khalk, an Iranian opposion group,from the list of foreign terrorist organizaons.

Beethovens Ode to Joy blasted from largespeakers and doves and clouds of confe flewinto the air as former congressman Patrick J.Kennedy (D-R.I.) introduced the groups leader,Maryam Rajavi, to speak by video link fromParis.I salute your protest and gathering, whichsymbolizes an uprising for the freedom of theIranian people, said Rajavi, speaking in Farsi.The controversial group, usually called by theacronym MEK, is made up of exiled Iraniandissidents who organized in the 1960s and noware mounng a polical and legal campaign toend their designaon as terrorists.

The group violently opposed the rule of theshah and inially supported the Islamist regimethat came to power in 1979, but they becamedisillusioned with the theocracy and eventuallyfled amid growing hoslity.Some went to Europe, and others went to Iraq,where they built a heavily forfied base, calledCamp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad.The U.S. designated MEK a terrorist group in1997 aer blaming it for aacks on Iraniangovernment instuons in which dozens werekilled, including Americans working in Tehran.Kennedy said the group does not now commitacts of terrorism or pose a threat to the UnitedStates. He and others hailed the group asa legimate alternave to Irans repressivegovernment.How much worse can we do than the mullahsin Tehran now? Kennedy asked. Does it makesense to shackle the primary opposion groupinternaonally? You may not like them. Theymay not have a lot of support. . . . But we oughtto be on the opposite side of what Tehran favorsas a maer of principle.Rered Army Col. Wesley Marn said: Theopposion in Iran has been sent to the gallows

or prison. [MEK is] the only external organizaonwith influence.A growing number of high-profile figuressupport removing the MEK from the list ofterrorist groups. Those who have spoken insupport of the move include rered Army Gen.

Hugh Shelton and rered Marine Gen. PeterPace, both former chairmen of the Joint Chiefsof Staff; rered Marine Gen. James L. Jones,who was President Obamas naonal securityadviser; and former Vermont governor HowardDean.Lawmakers from both pares have cricized theObama administraon for not moving swily toclear MEKs name or to facilitate a move to acountry outside Iraq...Aer the 2003 invasion, MEK members wereoffered American protecon in exchangefor giving up their weapons.... About 3,400members sll live at Camp Ashraf, where therehave been clashes with Iraqi governmentforces.Speaking at the event Friday, former FBI directorLouis J. Freeh called for American support forthe group as U.S. troop levels decline in Iraq. He

WASHINGTON, August 26, 2011 (Excerpts) Thousands ofsupporters of Irans leading opposion group rallied outside theState Department on Friday, calling on the agency to take thegroup off its list of terrorist organizaons.Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and several otherpolicians addressed the mostly Iranian-American crowd,which gathered at midmorning in support of the PeoplesMujahedeen of Iran, commonly referred to by the inials of itsFarsi name, MEK...The evidence is overwhelming, Rendell, a Democrat, told thedemonstrators Friday as he called on the State Department todelist the MEK. The me is now.Demonstrators decked in the MEKs blue and yellow hearda similar message from Patrick Kennedy, a former Democraccongressman for Rhode Island.

Protesters hope to end terrorist label for Iranian groupMcClatchy Newspapers

said abandoning MEK to Iraqi Prime MinisterNouri al-Maliki, whom he accused of collusionwith the Iranian regime, could lead to amassacre worse than Srebrenica, a referenceto a notorious 1995 atrocity during the war inBosnia.

I think the U.S. should be willing to takeat least some of these people, because wehave agreements with them, said Rep. DanaRohrabacher (R-Calif.), who in most cases is ahard-liner on immigraon issues. He said thegroup had provided intelligence on Iran to theUnited States...Many other officials, including Freeh, havereceived money for speaking at eventssupporng MEK. Freeh said he received nocompensaon for aending Fridays event.The issue is whether the group should beon the list, he said. Are these people beingpaid to say something they do not believe in?Absolutely not.MEK says it receives money largely fromwealthy Iranian American families who supportits cause, but it does not disclose the names ofdonors.

The future of Iran is right in here in front of me, Kennedy said.Your cause is our cause, is the cause of democracy and humanrights.The State Department is reviewing the MEKs designaon, butno final decision has been made, spokesman Mark Toner saidlast month at a news briefing. Reached late Friday aernoon, adepartment spokesman declined to comment about the daysprotest.The rally brought Iranian-Americans to Washington from acrossthe country. Hoora Mostashari, 50, flew in from Orange County,Calif., to protest what she sees as American appeasement ofIrans leaders.Its a failed policy from Neville Chamberlain unl now, shesaid, in reference to the former Brish prime minister whofavored appeasement over confrontaon with Adolf Hitler.

A huge crowd of Iranian- American demonstrate

in front of the US Department of State

A huge crowd ofIranian Americandemonstrators

protest during a rally

in front of the USDepartment of Stateon August 26, 2011 inWashington, DC. Thegroup was demandingthe removal of thePeople's MojahedinOrganization of Iranfrom the list of terroristorganizations by theState Department.


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thousands rally outside of us state department

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