Criticism, Controversy, and Questions About Maryam Rajavi’s Popularity Among Iranians in France
Although Maryam Rajavi and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) have built an international network of supporters and regularly hold events with foreign politicians and lawmakers, their position among the wider Iranian population remains a subject of significant debate and controversy.
Critics argue that the NCRI does not represent the majority of Iranians and that its level of support inside Iran is difficult to measure. Some Iranian activists, opposition figures, and political observers have expressed skepticism about the organization’s ability to become a broadly accepted alternative to the Islamic Republic.
One of the main reasons cited by critics is the history of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the group closely associated with the NCRI. The organization has a complex and controversial history, including its opposition to the Shah’s government before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, its later conflict with the Islamic Republic, and its activities during the Iran-Iraq War period. These historical issues have influenced how different groups of Iranians view the movement.
Some Iranians who oppose the current government also do not support the NCRI, preferring other opposition movements or independent civil society activists. The Iranian opposition is not a single unified group; it includes republicans, monarchists, secular activists, human rights campaigners, diaspora groups, and other political movements with different ideas about Iran’s future.
Another criticism raised by some opponents concerns the organization’s internal structure and leadership style. Critics question how much public support the NCRI has inside Iran and debate whether its political model reflects the preferences of ordinary Iranians. Supporters of Rajavi reject these criticisms and argue that decades of restrictions inside Iran make it difficult for opposition groups to openly demonstrate their level of support.
June 23, 2026 | 9:06 pm
