Anne Singleton

Anne Singleton says she was introduced to Iranian resistance groups through a boyhood friend named Ali, while she was studying English at Manchester University in 1979.  At the time "it all seemed so exciting," she said.  She wanted to help "do some good" so she "decided to convert to being Muslim."1 

Singleton joined the London branch of the Muslim Iranian Society (MISS), which supported the PMOI.2

After finishing her degree in English Language and Literature, she said she was employed in various jobs.  In 1989, she moved to London to work as a computer programmer and in public relations.3

Singleton said she traveled to Iraq in 1992 for military training and later was sent to Sweden to work in public relations for the PMOI.  She claimed she became disaffected with the PMOI in 1993 and took a part-time job as a college administrator.5

In 1996, Singleton left the MEK and the following year married Massoud Khodabandeh, who also had recently departed the organization.6

In 1998, Khadabandeh traveled to Singapore where he met representatives of the MOIS, according to his brother, Ebrahim, also a member of the PMOI. 

"It was then that Massoud Khodabandeh was recruited and began to act as an agent of the Ministry of Intelligence.  His instructions were to act against the Iranian opposition and refugees living in Britain and other parts of Europe."7

To force Massoud's cooperation, the MOIS reportedly threatened to confiscate the extensive property of his mother in Tehran.8

In 2001, Singleton travel to Tehran, where she met with MOIS agents.  She reportedly remained in the city for more than a month, at which time she was trained by the MOIS.  She returned to England and not long thereafter launched the Iran-Interlink website.  Ebrahim was astonished by her trip.

“I found that [her travel to Iran] surprising because, generally speaking, those Iranians (or their spouses) who are opponents of the regime, do not travel to Iran under any circumstances (for instance even to see dying relatives or to sort out property and other matters).”9

Ebraham said “any known opponents of the regime would be in danger if they traveled there for obvious reasons.”

“As someone who had been active in the PMOI (and thus an opponent of the regime), as well as the wife of someone who had been active in the PMOI, she would not have been safe (or indeed necessarily allowed to leave Iran) had she not received assurances frrom the regime.”10

In April 2003, Ebraham and Jamil Bassam, also a PMOI member, were arrested in Syria.  Both UK citizens, they were illegally extradited to Tehran two months later and imprisoned. 

In June 2004, Win Griffiths, a former Member of Parliament, traveled to Tehran to talk with Ebrahim and Jamil.  While at Evin prison, Griffiths ran into Anne Singleton.  In a witness statement he said:

"I was surprised to see Anne Singleton in Evin prison...She was moving around freely and was in direct contact with Iranian officials in the prison.  This is surprising when it is a known fact that the relatives of political prisoners find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to visit their relatives who are incarcerated."11

 


1) Iran-Interlink.org/?mod=view&id=1922

2) "About MOIS Publication 'Saddam's Private Army' and A Glance at Emma Nicholson's Activities Against Iranian Resistance."  Abbas Davari.  Amirkhiz Publishing - Ashraf.  July 2005.

3) Iran-Interlink.org/?mod=view&id=1922

4) Ibid.

5) Ibid.

6) Ibid.

7) "Witness Statement of Abrahim Khodabandeh."    Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission between The People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (Hossein Abedini) and Secretary of State for the Home Department.  November 12, 2002.

8) "Disinformation Campaign in Overdrive: Iran's VEVAK in High-Gear."  By Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zuker.  http://www.globalpolitician.com/print.asp?id=3386

9) "Witness Statement of Abrahim Khodabandeh."    Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission between The People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (Hossein Abedini) and Secretary of State for the Home Department.  November 12, 2002.

10) Ibid.

11) "Witness Statement of Winston James Griffiths."  Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission between Lord Alton of Liverpool & Others and Secretary of State for the Home Department.  July 4, 2007.

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