Biography of Massoud Rajavi

Massoud Rajavi was born in 1947, in the small town of Tabas. His town is located in the north-eastern province of South Jorasan. He graduated at the University of Tehran and obtained his law degree. Rajavi joined the Iranian People's Mujahideen Organization (PMOI / MEK Iran) in 1967. Then, he became involved in discussions of religion, history and revolutionary theory, influencing MEK Iran's modern interpretation of Islam. Later, Massoud became a member of MEK’s Central Committee.

The founders and members of the MEK’s Central Committee, including Rajavi, were arrested by SAVAK, the famous Shah secret police. In 1971, they were sentenced to death.

An international campaign for saving Massoud Rajavi was organized by his brother, Dr. Kazen Rajavi. The campaign included top French officials. The death sentence of Massoud was commuted to life in prison. After spending seven years in prison, he was released on January 21, 1979, as a result of the uprising against the Shah's dictatorship.

In January 1980, Khomeini vetoed Rajavi's candidacy for Iran's first presidential election. According to various estimates if Khomeini had not vetoed his candidacy, Mr. Rajavi would have won several million votes.

On July 29, 1981 Rajavi announced the formation of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the democratic alternative to the terrorist religious dictatorship.

Representatives of many of the opposition groups from different parties with different points of view were included in this organization. It has been the longest-running political coalition in Iran's history.

Massoud was forced to leave Iran, because the imprisonment and executions of MEK Iran members started increasing. He traveled to Paris in an Iranian plane from a military base in central Tehran. MEK sympathizers within the Iranian Air Force organized this historic flight.

Mr. Rajavi started a peace campaign during the war between Iran and Iraq. His tough decision was supported by the Iranian people.

In 1986, the French government participated in negotiations with the Iranian regime over the fate of the French hostages in Lebanon. Rajavi was under pressure, so, on June 1986, he decided to travel to Iraq. At that time, the government of Iraq gave formal assurances that it would recognize MEK’s political, financial and military independence.

Massoud Rajavi handled NCRI affairs. He was instrumental in his expansion and resilience. Rajavi devoted most of his time to nurturing the organization and supporting efforts to topple the Khomeini regime.

On July 8, 1992, a statement in support of the National Council of Resistance (NCRI) was signed by 219 members of the United States Congress.

Massoud Rajavi has concentrated all of his efforts on the NCRI, since its formation. He has earned the trust of the members of the coalition. In August 1993, the wife of Massoud Rajavi, Maryam Rajavi was elected as NCRI’s president-elect.