13 Facts About Massoud Rajavi

Massoud Rajavi is an Iranian politician and revolutionary who became the leader of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran in 1979.

Massoud Rajavi went missing shortly before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, leaving his then wife and co-leader Maryam Rajavi as the public face of the MEK.

Massoud Rajavi was released from prison during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

When Iran's first presidential election took place in 1980, Massoud Rajavi nominated himself and his own People's Mujahedin of Iran.

Massoud Rajavi was endorsed by the People's Fedai, the National Democratic Front, the Democratic Party of Kurdistan, Komala and the League of Iranian Socialists.

Massoud Rajavi was disqualified in the elections by Ayatollah Khomeini on the grounds that 'those who did not endorse the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran could not be trusted to abide by that constitution'.

Back in 2005, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan official asked for arrest and trial of Massoud Rajavi based on his organization's documentary evidence of the involvement.

Massoud Rajavi received a degree in political law from Tehran University.

Massoud Rajavi's brother was Kazem Rajavi, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva who held doctoral degrees from Universities in Paris and Geneva.

Massoud Rajavi married fellow MEK member Ashraf Rabiei in summer 1980.

Massoud Rajavi was surrounded and killed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982.

Massoud Rajavi has a son from his first wife, named Mostafa.

Massoud Rajavi married Maryam Qajar Azodanlu in 1985.