This group was formed in the 1960s by the college-educated children of wealthy Iranian merchants. Their purpose in organizing was to counter what they perceived as excessive Western influence in the Shah`s regime and to bring the nation more in line with their philosophical blend of Marxism and Islam. At a point early in the 1970`s, the MEK concluded that violence was the only way to bring about change in Iran. Since then, the MEK has developed into the largest and most active armed Iranian dissident group. Full Story and More Profiles