Washington Examiner Every few months, the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization, an Iranian exile organization that fancies itself the foundation of a government-in-exile, marches in front of the White House. Its members wave portraits of Maryam Rajavi, the group’s leader, and banners singing her praises. The marchers subordinate their entire identity to the group. Members live together and forward their paychecks to the group’s coffers. They blindly accept every revision to history, from the group’s murders of Americans to its alliance with Saddam Hussein. Simply put, the MKO is a cult. That the State Department does not label it one both enables the MKO to lie as it seeks to corrupt politicians and buy endorsements and exposes a hole in American diplomacy that goes beyond one group.
Perhaps it is time for Congress to demand the State Department designate such cults.
Designations are standard practice for the State Department, often carrying with them mandatory sanctions. The annual terrorism and human rights reports may be the highest profile, but there is also an annual Trafficking in Persons report . Countries that fall into its lowest tier are subject to aid restrictions. Another report tackles money laundering . Even when designations only shame rather than sanction, they are important for two reasons.
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Caravan to Midnight
