Albanian police raid Iranian opposition compound on terrorism suspicions
Albanian police raided the MEK compound outside of Tirana on the order of the country’s corruption and organised crime court, resulting in resistance from residents, one death and over 100 injured, with the Iranian group calling on the EU to intervene.
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) are an Iranian opposition military organisation that advocates the overthrow of the current regime in Tehran. After being forced out of Iran, they were relocated to Camp Ashraf near the Iranian border in 1985 and sided with Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.
In 1992, they carried out attacks against Iranian embassies in 13 countries and were designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, Canada, EU, UK and Japan for their use of terror tactics. This status was removed during the 2000s, and their members were relocated to Albania and France. Over 1000 remain in Albania in a heavily guarded compound.
On Tuesday, the State Police entered the premises to conduct a search, resulting in resistance. The order from the raid came from the Special Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime on suspicions of terrorist and cybercrime.
Interior Minister Bledi Cuci condemned MEK for what he called intolerable violence exerted on Albanian police.
“I feel sorry that Albania has offered them everything related to their shelter for humanitarian purposes according to the agreement. It has provided assistance, security, and even protection against threats from Iran’s secret services. For more than 3 thousand days, they have lived in complete safety in our guarantee. Unimaginable and intolerable violence and the reaction they have made to the State Police”, he told the media.
Cuci added that the authorities suspected they were carrying out activities in Albania that run contrary to the agreement laying down the conditions of their stay.
“Their political activity has recently attracted the attention of SPAK, which has initiated several political issues. SPAK had clues and went to the court to check the camp, an Albanian territory, to seize some equipment”, said the minister.
MEK reacted furiously to the raid and levied accusations of violence and violation of human rights against the Albanian authorities.
“At the request of the religious fascism that ruled Iran, this morning, 20 June, about 1,000 Albanian police attacked Ashraf in a criminal and oppressive act. Many broke doors, cupboards, belongings, and attacked residents with tear gas and spray. Many computers are broken,” a spokesperson said, adding that one person died and 100 were injured.
They demanded EU and international intervention, calling for them to hold the Albanian government accountable.
“The Iranian resistance calls on the US government and the United Nations, which have repeatedly guaranteed the safety of the residents of Ashraf, to condemn this criminal and barbaric behaviour and to provide the necessary guarantees to prevent these illegal acts that violate many international treaties, including the Refugee Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Union, where Albania is a candidate for membership, must condemn this barbaric attack and hold the Albanian government responsible for its behavior,” the statement said.
While MEK claims the police caused the death, authorities told Euronews that this is not the case and that the individual died of a heart attack not related to the operation. The source added that it would be subject to an investigation regarding the actions of the State Police and the anti-terrorist operatives that took part.
Members of MEK that spoke to the media, something which is not usually allowed, said that police came to their accommodation and tried to seize their computers and servers. When they refused, the situation deteriorated.
In March 2021, MEK was accused by Facebook of running a troll farm out of their base in Albania, closing more than 300 accounts belonging to members.
In a statement published on its website, Facebook said it had investigated and disrupted a “long-running operation from Albania that targeted primarily Iran.”
“The people behind this activity relied on a combination of authentic and fake accounts to post MEK-related content and comment on their own and other people’s posts, including those of international news organisations like Radio Liberty, Voice of America and BBC,” said the report.
Over the years, many questions have been asked about MEK, with The Guardian questioning whether they are terrorists, cultists, or champions of Iranian democracy and the New York Times describing a visit there as full of “propaganda sessions”.
Those who have reported on MEK with a critical view, raised possible legal issues or questioned their presence in Albania have reported threats and smear campaigns, including targeted online harassment.
Furthermore, defectors from the Albanian site claim they are held there against their will with curtailed rights and are not allowed to have relationships with other residents.
In 2019, Exit accessed the compound for a forum and reported that makeup and mobile devices were confiscated upon entry, members wore strict uniforms and were segregated by sex. In the days following the visit, after it was revealed that the journalist intended to write about the forum, they received some 15 calls and messages demanding they return for further tours and ‘explanatory sessions’.
Since 2013, the MEK has held a series of events and summits at its headquarters where US officials and former officials have participated, such as former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, former vice president Mike Pence, and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. It is reported that such high-level speakers receive fees exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars for such events.
MEK state that all negative press and questions asked about their organisation are fuelled by or paid for by the Iranian government.
Albania’s relationship with MEK has been solid until now, while relations with Tehran have continued to deteriorate.
In 2022, Iranian hackers brought online government systems to a standstill and saw the sensitive information and communications to the public. This resulted in the dismissal of Iranian diplomats from the country, sanctions from the West on Tehran, and the closure of the Iranian embassy.
Source » euractiv
