From Zahedan to Tehran: PMOI Resistance Units honor February 8 martyrs

2026-02-08 - 15:46

On February 6, PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan, southeast Iran, resumed their anti-regime activities to commemorate a defining anniversary in the history of the Iranian Resistance. The brave youths of Zahedan organized these activities to honor the anniversary of February 8, 1982, the day the clerical regime attacked the headquarters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Tehran, killing key leaders Ashraf Rajavi and Moussa Khiabani along with 18 other members. Holding placards in public places, the Resistance Units reiterated their commitment to the fight for freedom and the establishment of a democratic republic that rejects all forms of dictatorship. Their message was clear: the regime’s attempt to extinguish the flame of resistance four decades ago has failed. One placard read, “Today, Ashraf and Moussa have multiplied in thousands of Ashrafs in the young generation,” while another declared, “The blood of Ashraf and Moussa and their companions is a blazing torch lighting the path to the freedom of the nation and the people.” February 6—Zahedan, southeast Iran PMOI Resistance Units resume anti-regime activities, commemorating the anniversary of February 8, 1982, when the regime murdered Ashraf Rajavi, Moussa Khiabani, and 18 other PMOI members in Tehran. The Resistance Units also reiterated their... pic.twitter.com/JDqYJjSVoK — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2026 The historical weight of February 8 The events of February 8, 1982, were a desperate attempt by the regime to crush the opposition following the mass repression that began in 1981. Ashraf Rajavi and Moussa Khiabani were prominent political figures who had been political prisoners during the Shah’s reign. After the 1979 revolution, both ran as PMOI candidates for the first parliamentary elections, but the newly established regime under Ruhollah Khomeini systematically blocked the organization from political participation. When the PMOI held a peaceful demonstration in Tehran on June 20, 1981, attracting more than 500,000 participants to demand basic democratic freedoms, Khomeini ordered the Revolutionary Guards to open fire. This marked the beginning of a reign of terror that saw thousands executed in summary trials. Despite the subsequent murder of Ashraf and Moussa, the Resistance Units in Zahedan emphasized that “Ashraf and Moussa are eternal and unforgettable symbols of Iran’s people.” The blood of Ashraf and Moussa and their companions is a blazing torch lighting the path to the freedom of the nation and the people pic.twitter.com/Ulhwcumt72 — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2026 A victory born of sacrifice This year’s commemoration carries unique significance following a major diplomatic victory for the Iranian people. On January 29, 2026, the European Union unanimously designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision, which places the IRGC alongside entities like ISIS, signals that the era of appeasing the clerical dictatorship is finally over. The designation comes on the heels of a nationwide uprising that shook the foundations of the regime. During the uprising, the regime killed thousands of protesters to desperately maintain its hold on power. The Resistance Units in Zahedan drew a direct line between the sacrifices of Iran’s youth this political breakthrough. Their placards stated, “The terrorist designation of the IRGC is the result of the sacrifices of martyrs and the long-standing campaign of the Iranian Resistance.” This designation was compelled by the sheer brutality of the regime’s crackdown on the recent nationwide uprising in late 2025 and early 2026, during which the regime killed thousands of civilians. "The terrorist designation of the IRGC is the result of the sacrifices of martyrs and the long-standing campaign of the Iranian Resistance" pic.twitter.com/qJReyL1VRn — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2026 “No to Shah, no to mullahs” A central theme of the activities in Zahedan was the firm rejection of all dictatorships, past and present. The Resistance Units displayed slogans such as, “As with the SAVAK, the people demand the dissolution of the IRGC,” drawing a parallel between the Shah’s secret police and the mullahs’ guards. They emphasized that the Iranian people will not accept a return to the monarchy, holding signs that read, “No to shah, no to mullahs,” and “Khamenei you disgrace, get lost and join the Shah.” This demarcation is vital, as the resistance seeks a democratic republic, asserting that “neither the people nor the regime will not return to the conditions before the uprising.” While the EU designation is a monumental victory that validates the PMOI’s decades-long campaign, it is not the final step. The IRGC has been recognized as a transnational engine of repression that has monopolized Iran’s industries and slaughtered protesters. If the IRGC is a terrorist organization killing civilians, then the civilians fighting back—represented by the Resistance Units—are the first line of defense against terrorism. 'No to shah, no to mullahs' is the demarcation against all kinds of dictatorship and dependence. Like the shah, the fate of the mullahs' regime is inevitable overthrow. pic.twitter.com/JSiAOLZ00g — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2026 As the Resistance Units in Zahedan declared, “The only path to freedom is uprising and regime overthrow.” The international community must now bridge the gap between legal condemnation and political reality by explicitly recognizing the right of the Iranian people to legitimate self-defense.