May 25th marks a powerful and enduring chapter in the history of Iran’s struggle for freedom—the anniversary of the execution of the founders of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). On this day in 1972, Mohammad Hanifnejad, Saeed Mohsen, and Asghar Badizadegan, along with Central Committee members Mahmoud Asgarizadeh and Rasoul Meshkinfam, were executed by firing squad on the orders of the Shah.

Though intended to crush a burgeoning resistance, the execution of these five young revolutionaries became a turning point. Rather than silencing the movement, it galvanized a lasting legacy of defiance that remains vibrant more than half a century later.

A Living Legacy of Resistance

Fifty-three years after their martyrdom, the spirit of the PMOI founders continues to guide a new generation of resistance fighters. On this year’s anniversary, PMOI Resistance Units carried out more than one hundred acts of defiance across cities such as Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kermanshah. Through bold slogans, powerful imagery, and symbolic actions, they reaffirmed their commitment to a free Iran.

Placards, banners, and graffiti bore unmistakable messages of defiance:

  • “May 25th is the day for Mojahedin and Resistance Units to renew their pledge to fight until the end to overthrow the evil clerical regime.”

  • “Death to Khamenei, Viva Rajavi.”

  • “The only path to liberation is resistance and overthrow.”

  • “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader (Khamenei).”

These messages echoed the foundational principles of the PMOI and underscored a refusal to accept either monarchical or theocratic dictatorship.

Symbolic Tributes and Public Solidarity

In a moving tribute, images of Mohammad Hanifnejad were projected onto buildings in his hometown of Tabriz, as well as in Tehran and other major cities—illuminating his legacy for the public. Resistance Units also visited the graves of the PMOI founders, laying flowers and renewing their vows to carry on the fight for freedom.

These commemorations weren’t just symbolic. They served as acts of courage in the face of brutal repression, carried out in an environment where any dissent is met with harsh retaliation. Yet the Resistance Units press on, proving that the flame kindled by the PMOI founders has not dimmed.

A Vision for a New Iran

Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), honored the memory of the founders by calling them “three great men of contemporary Iranian history” who founded the organization not just in opposition to tyranny, but in pursuit of a just and democratic future. “They rose up against obsolescence and deadlock,” she said, “to create a new world.”

The Struggle Continues

The actions of the Resistance Units on May 25, 2025, are not isolated expressions of dissent. They represent a living continuation of the struggle begun in 1972—a fight for justice, democracy, and national sovereignty. The legacy of Hanifnejad, Mohsen, Badizadegan, and their comrades lives on in every act of resistance carried out under the banner of the PMOI.

As long as oppression persists in Iran, their legacy will remain a rallying cry for freedom.

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