As President of the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), which enjoys the support of 4,000 lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic, I find it necessary to address a concerning development regarding the coverage of the main Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). It has come to my attention that freelance journalist Andreas Holzapfel is planning to publish an article laden with baseless and discredited allegations against the PMOI/MEK in your magazine….
I speak not only as an advocate for truth and justice but as a direct victim of such falsities. The Iranian regime placed me at the top of its terror list, a forewarning to the subsequent assassination attempt against me on 9 November 2023, in Madrid. Miraculously, I survived being shot in the jaw at point-blank range after enduring more than two weeks in a hospital, recovering from this violent act, with doctors planting steel plates in my jaw. The attack, for which seven individuals have since been apprehended, with law enforcement pointing directly at Tehran for orchestrating it, serves as a harrowing reminder of the dangerous power of misinformation.
With more than fifty years of academic and political experience, particularly a quarter-century dedicated to Iranian affairs and the opposition movement, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the complexities within the region. My role as Vice-President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2014 included significant efforts to delist the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) from the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. This responsibility provided me with profound insights into the Iranian regime’s relentless disinformation campaigns. Often, what appears to be credible information can, upon closer examination, be traced back to sources manipulated by the Iranian regime.
I am intimately familiar with the type of allegations presented by this journalist. In 2008, I led a delegation of the European Parliament to Ashraf, Iraq, where I engaged directly with hundreds of individuals. My investigations into similar accusations at that time revealed no truth in the claims against the organization. My numerous visits to Paris, Washington, Brussels, Madrid, and Ashraf-3 in Albania, including meetings with the organization’s leadership, members, and supporters, have shown me that there is no substance to even a fraction of the journalist’s slanderous allegations. No informed journalist or politician in Western countries would repeat these claims in good faith…
Moreover, the context within which these allegations are resurfacing is alarming. On 10 September, Tehran’s “Revolutionary Court” decreed the seizure of assets from 104 PMOI leaders and officials, citing “Baghi” (rebellion), punishable by execution. This action coincides with increased accusations against detained supporters of the PMOI, clearly illustrating the regime’s reliance on defamation to justify severe human rights abuses, including torture and executions. Three were sentenced to death this week.
The misuse of journalism as a tool for state propaganda not only endangers lives but also compromises the integrity of the press. Assadollah Assadi, an operative of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and formerly stationed as a diplomat in Austria, was convicted for orchestrating a bomb attack at a PMOI gathering in June 2018. Similarly, another MOIS agent was arrested by Albanian police for planning a bombing at a PMOI event in Tirana in March of that year, showcasing the regime’s broad campaign against its organized opposition…
These examples highlight the critical role the media must play in verifying facts and resisting the spread of misinformation. It is imperative that Datum Magazine assesses the credibility and implications of publishing Mr. Holzapfel’s piece, given the potential for such narratives to incite further violence and terrorism against Iranian dissidents and politicians who support them in Europe.
As a survivor of an assassination attempt linked directly to such defamatory allegations, I urge your editorial team to prioritize accuracy, fairness, and ethical journalism. Our collective commitment to these principles is vital in safeguarding human rights and maintaining the integrity of the press.
Sincerely,
Prof. Alejo Vidal-Quadras
President
cc:
– Mr. Sebastian Loudon
– Mr. Thomas Winkelmüller