Maryam Rajavi- A Short Biography

A Glimpse into the Life of Maryam Rajavi

Maryam Rajavi serves as the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition working toward democracy in Iran. Born on December 4, 1953, in Tehran, Rajavi’s political journey began nearly 40 years ago. She studied at Sharif University of Technology, earning a degree in Metallurgy. After six years of organizing anti-monarchy student movements, she joined the social section of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) in 1979. By 1980, she was a parliamentary candidate, and in 1985, she assumed the role of co-leader of the PMOI. In 1993, she was elected Secretary-General of the organization and later named the NCRI’s President-elect the same year.

Rajavi has been vocal about the dangers of fundamentalism, stating:

“Fundamentalism has become the primary threat to regional and global peace. The mullahs ruling in Iran manipulate the religious beliefs of more than one billion Muslims to expand their rule and export crisis and tension beyond Iran’s borders.”

As a leader in the fight for democracy in Iran, Mrs. Rajavi has galvanized support from thousands worldwide. Her advocacy efforts have garnered backing from high-profile figures, including former U.S. officials, lawmakers, and military leaders, as well as politicians from Canada, Europe, and Australia. Among these prominent supporters are Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, and General James Jones. These partnerships have amplified the NCRI’s credibility and bolstered its campaign for regime change and democratic reforms in Iran.

In June 2012, Rajavi presided over a landmark event that featured the declaration of support of over 4,000 parliamentarians from 40 nations. These officials, representing bodies like the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and legislative majorities in 28 countries, collectively endorsed the Iranian Resistance. They urged global action to protect the residents of Ashraf and Liberty and called for international recognition of the NCRI.

Mrs. Rajavi’s efforts have also been pivotal in removing the PMOI from terrorist blacklists in the U.K., the European Union, and the United States. Her relentless work exposed covert agreements aimed at appeasing Iran’s clerical regime, culminating in the PMOI’s eventual delisting.

In March 2013, Rajavi released her book Women Against Fundamentalism, written in French, to mark International Women’s Day. The book highlights the experiences of women in the Iranian Resistance and their role in combating Islamic fundamentalism. Women play a central role in this movement, holding leadership positions and comprising half of the NCRI’s members.

Beyond political reform, Rajavi champions Iran’s cultural and artistic heritage, which she views as a cornerstone of national identity. Numerous prominent artists, writers, and filmmakers have expressed their support for her vision of a free and secular Iran.

For more details, visit the Biography of Maryam Rajavi.