Iran: Information on the logo appearing on the video distributed by the Mujahedine's Toronto office

The following information was provided during a 21 August 1996 telephone interview with a representative of the National Council of Resistance (NCR) in Paris. The NCR is an umbrella organization of Iranian opposition parties, including the People's Mujahedine Organization of Iran (PMOI), which acts as a parliament-in-exile.

The source stated that the PMOI does not distribute videotapes in Canada, although sympathizers may circulate them. The source added that the PMOI does not have an official office in Canada. Any PMOI sympathizers would be able to describe or recognize the PMOI logo.

The source stated that PMOI members do not claim political asylum on an individual basis. The PMOI makes such representations to various governments for its members. The NCR office would be aware of any PMOI member claiming refugee status in any given country. PMOI sympathizers can apply for political asylum on an individual basis.

The source stated that a logo bearing a lion and a sun was on the Iranian flag during the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century the Shah's father added a crown behind the lion and the sun. This emblem was present on the Iranian flag until 1979. In 1993, the NCR decided to use the lion and the sun as its official logo, and this logo can be seen on material distributed by the NCR. The lion and sun is not the logo of the PMOI.

For a copy of the PMOI logo, please consult the attached document.

Another copy of the PMOI logo can be found in the attached NLA Journal (Nov. 1991, p. 27).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

National Council of Resistance (NCR), Paris. 21 August 1996. Telephone interview with representative.

Attachment

New Liberation Army (NLA) Journal. November 1991. "Riding High."

National Council for Resistance (NCR), Paris. 21 August 1996. Fax of the PMOI logo sent to the DIRB in Ottawa.

Additional Sources Consulted

Middle East Focus [North York, Ont]. Quarterly.

Middle East International [London/New York]. Bi-monthly.

Monde arabe Maghreb-Machrek [Paris]. Quarterly.

Middle East Report [Washington]. Bi-monthly.

News From Middle East Watch [New York]. monthly.

Mideast Mirror [London]. Daily.

Oral Sources (2)

Note on oral sources:

Oral sources are usually contacted when documentary sources have been exhausted. However, oral sources must agree to be quoted in a publicly available Response to Information Request. If they refuse, the Response will read "no information currently available." Contacting oral sources is also subject to time constraints; for example, periods of the year when academics are unavailable.

Note on media on-line searches:

Please note that on-line searches, which require delays and involve significant costs, are not performed for every Response to Information Request. The nature and subject of the request will determine whether an on-line search of sources can be performed.

Note:

        This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific books available in the Resource Centre are not included.