The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), a central member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stands as a vanguard in the battle for women’s liberation. Below are excerpts from a speech delivered by Ms. Zahra Merrikhi, the Secretary General of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, in September 2023:
Challenging Oppression: A Bold Declaration of Resistance
Our crime is the fight against oppression, tyranny, and exploitation. Yet, what truly incenses the mullahs is our commitment to the empowerment and leadership of women.
We boldly confront the most sacred tenets of the mullahs and the core of their reactionary beliefs: the subjugation of women and the enforcement of patriarchy.
The emergence of a spirited generation of revolutionary young women joining the PMOI following the 1979 Revolution marked a profound social rebellion against misogynistic regression. Our esteemed sisters, who eventually rose to become the Secretaries General of the PMOI, were the trailblazers of that era.
Women at the Forefront: Defying Regressive Ideologies
I vividly remember how, during the early years of Khomeini’s treacherous regime, young female supporters of the PMOI ventured into the political and social arena—stretching from major cities to the most remote towns—causing the very foundations of the mullahs’ rule to tremble.
The mullahs were on the brink of suffocation witnessing these young women advocating for freedom and women’s right to conscious choice and defending the goals of the 1979 revolution. These women, proudly Muslim, wearing hijabs, countered the mullahs’ regressive ideology with their vision of a democratic and progressive Islam. They were revolutionary, freedom-seeking, and Muslim all at once.
A Revolutionary Shift: The Impact of Maryam Rajavi’s Leadership
To Khomeini, this was blasphemy upon blasphemy, a force capable of dismantling centuries-old reactionary dogma. When he condemned the PMOI as worse than infidels, he was, in effect, acknowledging his own impotence against a power that had struck at the heart of his archaic ideology.
The extreme brutality inflicted upon female PMOI prisoners by Khomeini, Lajevardi (the Butcher of Evin), and Khamenei—where nearly all, except one, executed women were from the PMOI—reflects more than mere vengeance. A female PMOI warrior, with her unwavering convictions and symbols, symbolized a profound threat to the outdated ideology sustaining their oppressive regime.
Enduring Torture, Enriching Beliefs: The Resilience of PMOI Women
Examine the accounts of female PMOI members who endured the horrors of Lajevardi’s torturous chambers, solitary confinement, residential units, cage, coffin, death corridors, and execution halls. Within these very chambers of torment, our liberating beliefs, rituals, and values have not only been preserved but also enriched.
A Legacy of Liberation: Maryam Rajavi’s Lasting Influence
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s appointment as Joint Secretary General of the PMOI in 1985 marked a transformative era in our struggle for women’s liberation. Her relentless dedication over more than three decades has ushered in a new era for the Iranian struggle, propelling women within the PMOI from achieving equality to assuming significant roles in political leadership and establishing the prominence of revolutionary women. A new generation of PMOI men, committed to noble human values, has embraced this leadership with enthusiasm and awareness.
This represents a new level in human relations. Throughout this journey, Mrs. Rajavi has been more than a mentor; she has exemplified extraordinary perseverance, leading us forward. Her selfless dedication, without any expectation of reward, epitomizes true responsibility. We, in the PMOI, owe her an immense debt of gratitude. May future generations extensively document and reflect upon her remarkable legacy.
