Professor Richard Roberts, Nobel Laureate in Medicine in 1993, in a letter to Hillary Clinton, the U. S. Secretary of State, reiterating the US Court of Appeals’ ruling in Washington DC, asked for removal of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) from the Foreign Terrorist Organizations’ list.
Sir Richard Roberts who is the Chief Scientific Officer in New England Biolabs, emphasized in his letter that the clerical regime in Iran is misusing this designation to justify its brutal crimes against Iranian dissidents, either in Iran or abroad, under the guise of combating terrorists.
The text of the letter of Professor Roberts is as follows:
The Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Department of State
Madam Secretary,
I am writing to you regarding the status of the Iranian opposition movement known as MEK or PMOI (the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran).
On July 16 the Court of Appeals in DC issued its judgment describing the decision by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in refusing to remove the PMOI from the FTO list as lacking sufficient evidence, violating the due process and unlawful. The court remanded the case to you and asked you to review the decision.
I also learned that House Resolution 1431 has been presented to the House of Representatives that calls on you to remove the PMOI from the FTO list.
Unfortunately, the clerical regime in Iran by misusing this designation has justified its brutal crimes against Iranian dissidents, either in Iran or abroad, under the guise of combating terrorists. Terrorist designation of Iran’s main opposition movement only gives wrong message to the mullahs and acts against the desire of millions of people who have risen to achieve democracy and freedom in their country.
I hope that you review the case and instruct relevant Department’s officials to remove the PMOI from the blacklist.
I assure you, Mme. Secretary, of my highest regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Sir Richard Roberts Ph.D., F. R. S.
1993 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
Chief Scientific Officer, New England Biolabs