In 1985, she fled Iran and became a joint leader of the Mujahedin-e Khalq. Then she married Massoud Rajavi. In 1989, she was elected as General Secretary of the Mujahedin-e Khalq. Ms. Rajavi filled this role until she was elected President of the NCRI in 1993.
Ten books have been authored by Rajavi, some of which are: Tolerant Islam versus Extremism, Women, the Force for Change, and Women Against Fundamentalism. The first two books are compilations of Rajavi’s speeches. In the third book, she describes the experiences of women in the Iranian Resistance in their struggle against Islamic fundamentalism. The topic with which Ms. Rajavi is particularly concerned is gender equality. Today, almost half of the members of NCRI are women. In NCRI, women occupy positions in international, political, social, and cultural affairs.
Democracy
Ms. Rajavi has said that freedom is the most precious value and that it is the very essence of progress. For the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), freedom is an ideal and a conviction. Freedom is the spirit that guides our Resistance. Ms. Rajavi points out that democracy is the main reason for their movement, and for the growth and development of the NCRI.
According to Ms. Rajavi, the reason why Khomeini interferes in all aspects of people’s lives, and leaves them no room to breathe, is because the world of this demon and his heirs is comprised of vengeance, obsession, and hatred.
“We must go among our people with a spirit of compassion and openness,” says Ms. Rajavi. According to her, people should be free and should have the right to vote and elect freely.
Women’s Emancipation
Ms. Rajavi points out that Iranian women must free themselves. She has stated that freedom does not come free, so it will not be delivered on a silver platter by anyone. In Rajavi’s opinion, relationships that are unimpeded by gender-based distinctions and discrimination should be built.
The path to liberation begins the moment you believe that no one can prevent the liberation of a woman who has chosen to be free of all fetters we all know too well. Men will also be liberated and become even more responsible, parallel to the liberation of women.
This is because, men who recognize women’s freedom of choice, and reject gender-based distinctions and discrimination first of all, liberate themselves.
Mullahs and Islam
As it has been stated by Maryam Rajavi, these demagogues commit their crimes in the name of Islam. This is a despicable and horrendous act, one of the mullah’s most heinous crimes.
As a Muslim woman, Rajavi proclaims that the peddlers of religion who rule Iran in the name of Islam, but shed blood, suppress the people, and advocate the export of fundamentalism and terrorism, are themselves the worst enemy of Islam and Muslims. “The day will come when they will be forced to let go of the name of Islam,” says Ms. R
