Judge Poe's Statement on the U.S. Court of Appeals Ruling

June 1, 2012

IACNT- Today Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) issued the following statement on the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on the MEK. The court ruled that the State Department has four months to decide if IT will continue to designate the MEK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). If the State Department fails to make a decision within the four month period, the MEK will automatically be removed from the FTO list:

“Today’s decision is a victory for the Iranian freedom fighters. For years, the MEK has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. State Department. Since then, the MEK has given up all its weapons, forsworn violence, and provided key intelligence on Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Despite the evidence, the State Department has been dragging its feet, continuing to delay making a decision on whether or not to keep them on the FTO list. After much waiting, the court has finally said enough is enough and set a deadline.

Both the European Union and the United Kingdom have removed the FTO designation for the MEK. As Iran defiantly marches toward nuclear weapons, the best hope for peace is for the people of Iran to lead a peaceful regime change of their own government. The longer we keep freedom fighters on the FTO list, the less likely it is that the light of liberty will have a chance to shine in Iran.”