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

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.