Robab Farahi-Mahdavieh ( fa, رباب فرحی مهدویه) is a member of the
People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) who was arrested by Canada in 1992, and in 1993 she was
deported from Canada back to the United Kingdom on the grounds of national security. She was arrested under one of only 28
security certificates ever issued in Canada.
Activities
Canada
Believed to be the leader of the MEK's
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
n operations,
(CSIS) identified her as their "chief fundraiser and recruiter" in Canada
and a "leading female member".
She was alleged to have organized the
flash mob that attacked the
Embassy of Iran in Ottawa, following Iranian
airstrike
An airstrike, air strike or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighters, heavy bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters and drones. The offic ...
s against MEK camps.
19 MEK members were pleaded guilty to various charges for the attacks that injured the Iranian ambassador and two other employees.
Her lawyer, Phil Rankin, told the press that "It’s a gross exaggeration to call this woman a terrorist. All she did was mastermind a demonstration that got out of hand". Pierre Denault, designated judge at the
Federal Court of Canada ruled that Farahi-Mahdavieh's testimony lacked credibility and "It is enough that Mahdavieh admitted to being an active member of the MEK, and there is little doubt the group was involved in this specific attack".
She was deported on 26 March 1993.
, who filled her role leading the civilian wing of the MEK, was later deported from Canada in 2000 for acts of terrorism.
The case is notable among security certificate cases in Canada for how "civil or criminal rules of evidence are not applicable", and the judge decided to consider any evidence deemed reliable.
United States
She continued to act as a member of the MEK network in the United States. After the MEK has listed a
Foreign Terrorist Organization
Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) is a designation for non-United States-based organizations deemed by the United States Secretary of State, in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (INA), to be involved ...
(FTO) in 1997, she funneled money to American politicians.
One of the first MEK contributions to
Robert Torricelli
Robert Guy Torricelli (born August 27, 1951), is an American attorney and former politician. A Democrat, Torricelli served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 9th district from 1983 to 1997 and as a United States sen ...
came from her bank account in 1993, made out a $1,000 check to the Torricelli campaign. She listed her occupation as "Physician."
References
External links
Farahi-Mahdavieh, Re (1993), 63 F.T.R. 120 (TD)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farahi-Mahdavieh, Robab
People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran members
Living people
People imprisoned on charges of terrorism
Prisoners and detainees of Canada
Iranian refugees
Refugees in the United Kingdom
People deported from Canada
Year of birth missing (living people)