Stephen Harper criticized for speaking at 'Free Iran' event hosted by dissident group
Critics call the exiled Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) 'cult-like'
Former prime minister Stephen Harper is being criticized for his decision to speak at a "Free Iran" rally in Paris, organized by a group once listed as a terrorist organization that critics say "has all the characteristics of a cult."
The exiled opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) was previously classified as a terrorist organization by Canada, but it was dropped from the list in 2012, following the lead of the United States and the European Union.
However, many Iranians have reservations about the group, including Mason Ghafghazi. The associate professor at the University of Toronto does not condone former or current politicians to be associated with the group but says MEK has been very successful in attracting Western politicians.
Proud to stand up for freedom and democracy for the people of Iran. While the Iranian regime poses a threat to us all, the most oppressed are its own citizens. Freedom, dignity and self determination are universal values. <a href="https://t.co/ImcByvdlyp">pic.twitter.com/ImcByvdlyp</a>
—@stephenharper"A Conservative former prime minister of Canada would be the last person who [would] want to associate with this. MEK has participated in assassinations inside Iran. It's collaborated with Saddam Hussein in attacking Iran. It is accused of helping Saddam Hussein oppress the Iraqi people and this group has only become an unarmed group because the U.S. disarmed them in 2003," Ghafghazi told The Current's guest host Mike Finnerty.
"Mr. Harper is the highest ranking Canadian former politician as far as I know who has attended the rallies. But these things have been going on forever."
Harper wasn't the only Canadian politician at Saturday's rally. Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen, former foreign affairs minister John Baird and Liberal MP Judy Sgro were also in attendance. The Current requested interviews them and other MPs who have attended MEK events in the past, but no one was available.
On its website, the MEK says it "seeks to replace Iran's religious dictatorship with a secular, pluralistic, democratic government." Ghafghazi calls the group "an Islamist-Marxist cult."
"You don't have to go further than their logo, their name and their slogan to see these things. Their logo is a circle and machine gun," he said. "It's formed around a cult of personality around the Rajavi couple, Maryam Rajavi and Masoud Rajavi, who disappeared in 2003."
Shahram Golestaneh, president of Iran Democratic Association, supports the group's goals and says criticism surrounding the MEK is unwarranted.
He argued the group was placed on the terrorist list as an appeasement by the then-Iranian president Mohammad Khatami in 1997 to adhere to the constant demands from the Iran regime and Tehran government.
Golestaneh says, however, that the de-listing in 2012 wasn't strictly a political move.
"It was ordered by the courts across the globe. Every court that they have gone into … ruled in favour that they should not be listed as a terrorist entity. And all of those rulings were unanimous," Golestaneh told Finnerty.
"How can nine judges on the bench of a high court of the European Union, be all … wrong?"
Listen to the full conversation near the top of this page.
This segment was produced by The Current's Pacinthe Mattar and Kristian Jebsen.