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‘Terrorists Allowed to Recruit Members in Dutch Refugee Camps’

Undated photo of refugees taken by Muhammed Muheisen, AP

Saeed is among those who have joined the MKO terrorist cult in Europe. He emigrated from Iran, and, due to lack of awareness and negligence, joined the MKO in Europe before finally ending up in Camp Ashraf, the former MKO base in Iraq.

Tasnim News agency has conducted an interview with him. Due to security concerns, his real and full name as well as his photo are not published here.

– First, introduce yourself.

I’m Saeed. I’m 50 years old and continued my education up to the level of high school diploma. I’m single.

– How did you get familiar with the terrorist MKO group?

In 1992, I met some of my friends abroad. A [human] trafficker took me to the Netherlands where I first entered a refugee camp and stayed there for around 4 months. Then I left the camp.

As I had learned the language there very well, the refugee camp officials asked me go to the camp a few hours every day to work as a translator and help Iranians there. At that time, MKO members kept visiting the camp. They came to recruit new members from the migrants. I was only 25 years old at the time and had no information about political groups. It was the first time I had met them.

They would bring some pamphlets and movies with them and distributed them among the refugees to get familiar with the MKO. When a new individual or group entered the camp, MKO members would immediately know and come over to get familiar with the new comers.

Another thing they did was to take with them some individuals as volunteers to take part in MKO demonstrations and meetings in European countries. Those who wanted to go with them were people who had been tired of the atmosphere in the camp and wanted to go to another city free of charge or wanted to see another country or a new place for variety. They would also receive a free meal, which was an incentive, too.

‘Terrorists Allowed to Recruit Members in Dutch Refugee Camps’The individuals who talked to us were very experienced. I was easily influenced by their words and I was attracted.

They would show us footage of Maryam and Masoud (Rajavi), and the way they would speak about these two people made me so interested that I really wanted to see Masoud even for a second.

In those days, whoever went to Europe had to start financial-social work. In other words, we had to walk in the streets and collect money from people for the organization. Of course, this was not done in the name of the organization. The MKO was running a few charities in Europe, and we worked under their names. Under regulations related to charities in the Netherlands, anyone who helped us would get a receipt which he or she could use to get tax exemption.

I had been brainwashed in those classes, so much so that we even spent our own money for the organization. I received salary as an asylum-seeker. I gave part of that to the organization, and I thought I was serving my country.

Not only did Iranians not help us, but they even confronted us.

After that period when I was in Europe to have a better life, I volunteered to go to Iraqi deserts. In there, we spent a major part of our time taking part in speeches, meetings to discuss the current affairs or performing weekly ablutions. In fact, we had to make confessions about our thoughts from morning until night. We had to criticize ourselves from morning till night, saying, for example, that I haven’t done enough for such and such task, I have had inappropriate thoughts on that occasion, etc. We spent the rest of the day doing parades and tough work.

– How did you defect from the organization and come to Iran?

Another individual and I had come to Iran to carry out a terrorist operation, but we were arrested very soon. My companion took his cyanide pill and died. I took the pill, too, but they rushed me to hospital and I survived. They managed to resuscitate me.

I fell victim to this terrorist group. Part of my life was wasted in this group and part of it in jail. I lost my life. I thank God that I failed to carry out the terror operation because If I had done that, it was only the organization and Masoud that would have benefited from it. Moreover, I would have been held accountable.

Of course, the Netherlands is an accessory to it all. I had sought asylum in the Netherlands and was seeking a better life, but they would open the doors of refugee camps to let in a bunch of terrorists who would deceive and recruit people.

They even deceive the people of their own country and swindle them out of their money allegedly to give it to orphaned children. In the Netherlands, they would show me the pictures of children. It was not clear in which countries the pictures had been taken. Later when I went to Camp Ashraf, I found out that there were no children at all, and that the money that was raised was only used to cover the cost of Maryam and Masoud’s debauchery.

Europe, which claims to be and advocate of human rights and claims to be fighting terrorism, has practically paved the way for a terrorist group such as the MKO, so that they are able to do anything from recruiting members to raising money. People like me are the victims of the irresponsibility of the likes of the Dutch government.

Hezbollah Chief Praises Iran Leader’s Role in Regional Stability

Speaking in a meeting with the visiting Hossein Amir Abollahian, special aide to Iran’s parliament speaker, in Beirut, Nasrallah said, “As the Leader has said, America is not able to impose war on Iran.”

He added, “The White House knows that if a war breaks out with Iran, the entire region will be engaged, and it will not be America which would bring about the end [to that war].”

Speaking about Palestine, the Hezbollah leader said resistance is the only powerful way to counter the crimes of Zionists.

Regarding the American-proposed “deal of century”, Nasrallah said, “We have no problem with the Jews. But the Zionists are the root cause of corruption and insecurity in the region. The Jews should not fall in for the expansionist Zionist policies.”

Nigeria Urged to Send Shiite Cleric Sheikh Zakzaky to Iran

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri in a letter to judicial authorities of Nigeria has condemned the military men’s measures against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) asking them to send the Shiite leader to Iran for medical treatment.

He also mentioned that the Islamic Republic has submitted its objection to the international judicial bodies.

The Iranian top judicial authority further called on international legal organisations to cooperate in pursuing this issue.

Sheikh Zakzaky, who is in his mid-sixties, lost his left eyesight in a 2015 raid by security forces that left more than 300 of his followers and three of his sons dead. His wife also sustained serious wounds.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), based in London, said earlier that the cleric’s health condition has further deteriorated, since he was reportedly poisoned in prison.

The cleric’s son, Mohammad, says his father was in dire need of medical treatment, as “large and dangerous quantities of lead and cadmium have been found in his blood.” He said that the authorities intended to murder his father since they refuse to take any measures.

In 2016, Nigeria’s federal high court ordered Zakzaky’s unconditional release from jail following a trial, but the government has so far refused to set him free.

Iran Says US Source of Instability in Persian Gulf

Iranian People to Survive Latest of US Cruelties: Zarif

Speaking upon arrival in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, Zarif said wherever the United States sets foot, it creates insecurity, instability, and prepares the ground for the rise of extremism and terrorism.

He also noted that one cannot find a place in the world where the US presence has brought stability.

Iranian foreign minister also slammed Washington for meddling in Venezuela’s internal affairs. However, he underlined that the Venezuelan people know how to live without America’s interference.

Zarif has travelled to the South American country for a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

He is going to make a speech at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement.

He is also scheduled to meet Venezuelan officials including President Nicolas Maduro and the country’s Parliament speaker.

His visit to Venezuela comes after his trip to the United States where he attended the annual session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Nicaragua and Bolivia are the next destinations of the Iranian top diplomat during his Latin American tour.

UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran

UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran

Head of Ports and Maritime Organisation in southern Hormozgan province, Allahmorad Afifipour, said on Saturday that the UK oil tanker was in an accident with an Iranian fishing boat whose distress call it ignored.

The oil tanker has now been taken to the port city of Bander Abbas, situated on Iran’s southern coast and facing the Strait of Hormuz.

UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran
Iran Seizes British Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf

“All its 23 crew members will remain on the ship until the probe is over,” Afifipour said. The 23 crew comprised 18 Indian nationals and five others of other nationalities including Russia, the Philippines, and Latvia, he said.

Afifipour earlier said that the UK vessel had switched off its GPS locator, in contravention of international regulations, and was sailing into the Strait of Hormuz in a wrong traffic pattern.

The British tanker was entering the strait from the southern route which is an exit path, increasing the risk of an accident

Moreover, Stena Impero had not heeded any of the warnings from the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization.

An informed source said the UK oil tanker was also polluting the Persian Gulf water heavily by dumping crude oil residue.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy captured the British oil tanker on Friday evening at the request of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran’s office in the province of Hormozgan.

Yazdi Coffee; Delicate Drink Indigenous to Central Iran

The history of making this type of coffee dates back to the Qajar period. The 400-year history of making this coffee – which is a localized version of an old non-Iranian beverage – is a witness to the cultural interactions of Yazdi people who adapted new elements to their own taste and made a new kind of beverage.

Several centuries after is introduction to Iran and Yazd, this drink with the changes made by the people of Yazd during its preparation, has opened its place in the culture, customs and traditions of Yazdis, and has become an integral part of the religious ceremonies of this city.

Yazdi coffee is highly compatible with the interest of people for its raw materials and because it takes long to be brewed. Often used on the third day after the death of the deceased, it has become a longstanding tradition and is part of the culture of Yazdi people now.

Yazdi coffee was recently listed in the intangible heritage of the country. On this occasion, a traditional national coffee festival was held last week at the Grand Mosque of Yazd.

Iran to Host Nations’ Food Festival Next Month

“Iran is hosting the first nations’ food festival from August 11-16,” Jalal Zokaee, the director of the festival, told reporters.

He noted one of the key objectives of the event is to bring different ethnic groups and nations culturally closer together.

“Food is not simply an organic product or a biochemical compound; rather, food is defined as a cultural element for members of each and every society,” he added.

“Food is a common language. More importantly, it is a global right, and, like any other language, it is used for communication with regard to feelings, emotions and excitement,” he said.

“So, food has huge potential as an ideal product to be offered as an attraction in tourist spots,” he said.

Original Iranian Foods Good for Health

A tourism official further said the festival is also aimed at displaying the therapeutic effects of Iranian foods.

Iran to Host Nations’ Food Festival Next Month“Among the objectives of this festival is to have a scientific look at food, commercialize Iranian foods, and showing the medicinal properties of Iranian foods,” said Reza Eslami, the deputy head of the Touring & Automobile Club of Iran.

He said the event is scheduled to be held at landmark Milad Tower in the capital, Tehran.

He noted other countries have been invited to display their cuisine at the festival.

“Moreover, NGOs as well as local and foreign food producers can offer their products at the event,” he added.

The official noted the event has been organized through the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ministry of Communications, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization.

 

Iran Has Not Seized Second British Oil Tanker Mesdar: Sources

The Saudi-bound British-owned Mesdar oil tanker has been shortly stopped to be cautioned about the need for harmless navigation and observing of environmental regulations, and is now resuming its navigation, Nour News has quoted the sources as saying.

Almost one and a half hours after switching its transponder, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker has reportedly switched it back on, and is resuming its navigation.

Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt had expressed deep concern over the seizure of “two oil tankers”, one of which was Mesdar and the other Stena Impero.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said earlier in the day that its naval forces have seized the British-flagged Swedish-owned Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz.

An informed military source later said that the Stena Impero was crossing a route other than the shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz, had switched off its transponders and did not pay any attention to Iran’s warnings when it was seized by the IRGC forces.

Iran Seizes British Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf

Iran Seizes British Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf

The IRGC Navy announced in statement that British oil tanker “Stena Impero” has been captured on Friday evening because of violating the international maritime regulations when crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Seizes British Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf
UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran

The UK oil tanker has been seized by the IRGC Navy forces in the first naval zone at the request of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran at the province of Hormozgan, a statement said.

The British vessel has been taken to the port and delivered to the Ports and Maritime Organization for the legal and judicial processes, it added.

An informed military source later said that the Stena Impero was crossing a route other than the shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz, had switched off its transponders and did not pay any attention to Iran’s warnings when it was seized by the IRGC forces.

Iran Has Not Seized Second British Oil Tanker Mesdar: Sources

 

Iran Releases Drone Footage of USS Boxer to Refute Trump’s Claim

In the footage releases Friday, the drone is seen flying over the US warship at 5:48 GMT or 10:18 local time, which is after the time Trump says it has been shot down (10 am).

The footage also shows the IRGC Aerospace’s drone was carrying out its ongoing mission in the region before the entry of the US warship into the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC, the footage shows the drone successfully transmitted pictures of the US warship before and even after the time when the Americans claim they shot down the UAS.

It also shows the drone returned to its base safe and sound.

The IRGC earlier said it would release the footage in a bid to let the world’s public opinion know the US allegation is groundless and a sheer lie.