Western MEK support contradicts claim of valuing democracy

By Richard Sudan

The ‘war on terror’ was the catchy slogan that became the central theme behind decades of disastrous military interventions by the West in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in recent years.

Alongside the all-too-familiar terminology pumped out by much of the mainstream media, the idea underpinning what many people actually describe as wars of terror, rather than any war on terror, is the idea that freedom and democracy would somehow be promoted in the aftermath of regime change campaigns.

Millions around the world, of course, increasingly recognize the whole idea of a so-called ‘war on terror’ to preserve and promote democracy, as a fallacy, understanding that oil, resources and geopolitical influences are the main driving forces behind military aggression.

And what’s interesting is that more and more, this reality is being exposed for what it is.  From so-called ‘moderate rebels’ backed by the West to undermine the sovereignty of Syria, to the support of Juan Guaido in Venezuela, across the world, the same pattern of unjust interference in domestic affairs plays out in countries, which have not attacked or violated any other nations borders or integrity.  

And nowhere is this double standard revealed more than in the stance of the West towards Iran on a number of issues, but in particular over the unwavering support for the terror group the MEK.

The MEK, since its inception has sought to undermine the democratic process in Iran while the US, UK and EU continue to demonstrate support for the group, which has countless serious accusations levelled against it, but which nonetheless continues to be given and offered platforms and credibility all across Europe.

The group is presented as some kind of legitimate democratic alternative by the mainstream and political class despite its track record and involvement in terror plots. This should evoke outrage, but sadly it is the norm.

Recently, supporters of the MEK turned out at polling stations in various locations in Britain intimidating Iranian expats going to the polls to cast their votes in the recent Iranian election amid accusations of assault, including the alleged targeting of women and the elderly.  Such accusations and scenes are serious and would not be tolerated elsewhere.

The so-called free Iran campaign backed by the MEK has also allegedly according to some observers been given indirect legitimacy by former MPs like Steve Pound, and others across the political spectrum.

In recent years, an Iranian diplomat was also kidnapped by the group, while the US has apparently removed the group from its terror watch list.

But the West’s ongoing and uncritical support for MEK is consistent with the ongoing hostile policies and attitudes towards Iran that have been in place for decades.

While the West claims to value democracy, many would argue that it does everything it can to undermine democracy and sovereignty.

The CIA-backed removal of former Iranian prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, in the past, serves as a powerful reminder of the lengths that the US, Britain and their allies will go to in order to undermine Iran’s right to self-determination, which is of course the absolute right of any nation.

The support of the MEK remains steadfast and uncritical. And such support is shameful. The ploughing ahead of the so-called ‘Free Iran’ summit of 2021 continues, but the reality is that the UK, US and EU have no interest in supporting a true free Iran or any genuine semblance of democracy.

Many experts would argue that countries like Iran as well as other nations across the Middle East and Africa, the South American continent and beyond, which exercise true freedom, actually present a threat to Western hegemony.

The United States and the United Kingdom at times, have enough problems with the implementation of their own democracies and should focus on getting their own houses in order before interfering with the internal processes of other countries.

Other nations supporting groups like the MEK, which exist with the aim of undermining and ultimately removing legitimate governments, would simply not be tolerated. The double standard is stark.

Groups also operating with the objective of compromising the Iranian democratic process should be met and treated with a policy of zero tolerance, and certainly should not be given political platforms and credibility from countries, which claim to support free and fair democracies, while allowing groups like the MEK and their support base – that exist for precisely the opposite reasons – to operate freely. 

Richard Sudan is a journalist, writer, and TV reporter for Press TV.

(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)

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