By IANS,
Tehran : A large group of people, including students, held a rally in front of the British Embassy here Wednesday to protest against a decision by the European Union to remove Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from its list of terrorist groups.
Students from various universities in Tehran and representatives of several student organisations were among the demonstrators who chanted anti-European slogans, condemning the move, the official IRNA news agency reported.
On Monday, foreign ministers of the European Union countries decided to remove MKO from their list of terrorist organisations.
Iran’s foreign ministry strongly criticised the move and said the decision demonstrated that the EU has decided to “make friendship and cooperation with terrorists” who have been involved in several terrorist operations and killings of innocent people.
It accused the EU of pursuing a double standard towards dealing with terrorism.
The EU decision followed a ruling by the European Court in Luxembourg, which in December said the EU was wrong to keep the MKO’s assets frozen after it was taken off a British list of terrorist organisations.
Founded in 1965, the MKO, which is also known as the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI), operated a military wing in its early years. It however claims to have renounced violence since June 2001 and now advocates overthrowing of Iran’s current government.
Iran considers the organisation as a terrorist group which was involved in the assassinations of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including the president and prime minister in 1980.