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| Europe |
| Paris police target Iranian opposition groups |
| 2003-06-17 |
| French police have launched a massive raid in the Paris region on the Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahideen [Mujaheddin e-Khalq]. More than 150 people are reported to have been arrested during the operation by 1,300 police officers, on the orders of the anti-terrorist judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere. It follows a long running investigation into the activities of the People's Mujahideen, a group which has in the past been declared a terrorist organisation by Iran, the United States and the European Union. Police sources said the operation targeted some 150 people who they believe were "preparing to commit or finance acts of terrorism". French news agency AFP said police had arrested Maryam Rajavi, wife of the group's leader, Massoud Rajavi. She is seen by the People's Mujahideen as the "future president of Iran". Her brother, Saleh Rajavi, is also reported to have been arrested when police stormed the European headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran's main political opposition umbrella group. A large quantity of money and computer equipment is also reported to have been seized in the raids in the Val d'Oise region north of Paris and in the Yvelines region to the west. Spokesman for the People's Mujahideen, Ali Safavi, told AFP the "allegations are absolutely preposterous". He said People's Mujahideen personnel had been living in France for many years "and there has been no problem. Wherever they are, they are absolutely not involved in illegal activities in their host country." He accused France of "trying to curry favour with the Islamic government in Iran" and said the arrests were part of a "concerted conspiracy" between the two governments. "Currying favor" with brutal dictatorships is a French tradition. Look at Zim-Bob-Wee. The EU declared the People's Mujahideen a terrorist organisation in May last year, but this is the first time that the French authorities have moved to detain its members. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #6 The MEK uncovered the existence of the Iranian nuke facilities last year in Natanz and Arak. Just last month they discovered two small nuke labs connected to the facility in Natanz. Also, Iran told the Australians last month that they would not be willing to hand over any Qa'ida boys, much less identify exactly who they have in custody, to the US, including Saif al-Adel, unless the US delivered Massoud Rajavi to them. |
| Posted by: Robert 2003-06-17 18:47:39 |
| #5 I just want to know if they smiled as they were rounding them all up? Don't want to jeopardize that Iranian tourist buck."Bonjour!Into ze wagone wit you..." |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-06-17 15:44:17 |
| #4 What, did they run out of crippled, 80-year-old Bitish veterans? God forbid they might zap a striking socialist or two. (Not that I'm a fan of the zapees in this case, just tired of the French in general.) |
| Posted by: Hodadenon 2003-06-17 15:29:02 |
| #3 Why is it that a dictatorship has to label a group as terrorists before France will do anything? Don't get me wrong, they've done the right thing in this case. But, they'll take down these guys, and try to justify Hamas. Does that make sense to anyone but the French? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-06-17 09:12:51 |
| #2 The MEK uncovered the existence of the Iranian nuke facilities last year in Natanz and Arak. Just last month they discovered two small nuke labs connected to the facility in Natanz. Also, Iran told the Australians last month that they would not be willing to hand over any Qa'ida boys, much less identify exactly who they have in custody, to the US, including Saif al-Adel, unless the US delivered Massoud Rajavi to them. |
| Posted by: Robert 6/17/2003 6:47:39 PM |
| #1 Why is it that a dictatorship has to label a group as terrorists before France will do anything? Don't get me wrong, they've done the right thing in this case. But, they'll take down these guys, and try to justify Hamas. Does that make sense to anyone but the French? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 6/17/2003 9:12:51 AM |