Factors Responsible for Women’s Attraction to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (1981-1988)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of History, Research Institute of Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution, Tehran, Iran

2 MA Student, Department of History, Research Institute of Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Mohammad Hanif-Nejad، Saeed Mohsen and Asghar Badiazadegan founded the
People’s Mujahidin Organization in 1965. The name of this organization was the
People’s Mujahedin Movement. In the early stages, the organization was opposed
to the recruitment of women; but from 1969 on, women’s recruitment was approved
as a security cover against the Iranian Intelligence and Security Organization
(SAVAK) as well as a measure not to lag behind the political competitors. With
the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the organization was able to attract some
Muslim women and girls who had a sense of responsibility towards the revolution
and their society. The objective of this article is to investigate how women were
attracted to and recruited by the People’s Mujahedin Organization from 1979 to
1981. The findings of the research show that the People’s Mujahedin was able to
attract a number of girls and women by publishing pamphlets, statements, carrying
out activities in universities and schools, as well as publishing their viewpoints in
the Mujahed magazine. The attraction of women to the organization was not only
the product of their activities, but the weak performance of rival Islamic parties
was also considered as another factor responsible for the women’s interest in
joining the organization.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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