The following is a police or Albanian Information Service report published in Fax Web English on March 23, 2018. This report shows the specific number of Iranian jihadists in Albania, the problems they have with each other, the conflicts and killings against each other in the past, and the history of this terrorist organization. The report highlights the violent attacks and threats of murder that the MEK is making against the defectors who have decided to abandon jihad and deradicalize in Albania, and who the MEK accuse of acting as agents of Iran. Albanian police and SHISH are taking the threats that MEK is making against these deradicalized jihadists in Albania seriously and has placed them under protection from the possibility of assassination by Maryam Rajavi’s extremists.
The Iranian jihadist organization, known as Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), Rajavi Cult or the National Council of Resistance of Iran, has been present in Albania since 2013, from where it is constantly calling for violent terrorist attacks against Iran, thus breaking Albanian laws; the Albanian criminal code imposes prison sentences for the promotion of war and terrorism. Since the MEK was brought to Albania by the US Intelligence services and used as a diversionary and terrorist organization against Iran and is protected by US-based Senators such as John Bolton and John McCain, the MEK’s violations of Albanian laws are ignored by the Albanian authorities. Kosovo ignored the presence of takfiri jihadists in Albania who called for jihad against Syria in 2011 to 2013 and then joined terrorist organizations like ISIS or Jabhat al-Nusra.
Below is the report published on Fax Web which shows the situation of MEK in Albania:
SITUATION
To date, 2745 Iranian nationals have been given refuge in the territory of the Republic of Albania over several years.
These residents are members of the MEK organization otherwise known as the Iranian opposition.
The arrival in our country of Iranian asylum seekers from the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran could pose implications to our internal security, as these individuals are deeply indoctrinated, have been part of military structures, and have participated in fighting a war and in acts of terror.
The Mojahedin Khalq or the Iranian Mojahedin organization, otherwise known as MEK and PMOI, is a revolutionary Marxist-Islamic group founded in 1965.
According to information gathered so far it turns out that:
On 06.01.2018, an Iranian national (Hassan Bidi), a former member of the MEK (dissociated), resident in Tirana, made a complaint to Police Station No.1 after having his life threatened by some members of the MEK.
On 09.02.2018 three Iranian nationals (Bahman Azami, Sadollah Seyfi, Manouchehr Abdi) former members of the MEK (dissociated), resident in Tirana, have complained that their lives have been threatened by some members of the MEK.
On 12.02.2018, Top Channel television broadcast interviews of three Iranian nationals (dissociated MEK) on Top Channel TV, who expressed their opinions against the ideology of the MEK organization and have alleged that threats against their lives MEK are serious.
From operationally acquired data regarding these situations it has been learned that:
Earlier in Iraq the MEK have murdered former members who dissociated from this organization because they publicly stood in opposition to the organization’s activities with the aim of damaging its cause.
From the above, and the interviews given by Iranian nationals on the Fiks Fare show of 12.02.2018, as well as the reports of the police commissariat of these situations, the timings, the course of action and their behavior, are similar to the ‘Modus Operandi’ that occurred earlier in Iraq.
Following indications of the actions and behaviors of the Iranian nationals in question who are currently disconnected from this organization, there are reasonable grounds for suspicion that this situation is the same as before in Iraq which resulted in murder.
The MEK was active during the Iranian Islamic revolution, but state institutions established after the revolution regarded it as a threat. In order to survive, the group was forced to abandon legality and in 1981 the leader of this organization, Massoud Rajavi, fled to France, where he also created the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
In Iraq in 1986, the MEK created the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA) and fought against Iran alongside Saddam Hussein.
In 1990, MEK had numerous training camps in Iraq and undertook numerous attacks against Iran.
In 1997, MEK was listed by the US as a terrorist organization and was then placed on the European and Canadian lists.
Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, MEK changed strategy and progressively abandoned its attacks. In 2003, after the American invasion of Iraq, the MEK announced it had abandoned armed attacks and kept control only of ‘Camp Ashraf’.
On 01.01.2009, Camp Ashraf with a surface area of 36 km2 was placed under the control of Iraqi forces.
On 26 January 2009, after lobbying in Great Britain, the MEK managed to be removed from the European list of terrorist organizations.
On 28 July 2009, Iraqi security forces entered Camp Ashraf to install a police station, but the Mojahedin put up violent resistance, forcing the Iraqis to use force. As a result, 8 people were killed, dozens were injured and 36 Mojahedin were arrested.
On December 15, 2009, Iraqi forces again tried to get Ashraf residents out of the camp, but in the face of the oppositional attitude of the Mujahideen, and the decision not to use violence, Iraqi forces were forced to retreat.
On April 8, 2011, Iraqi forces attempted to take part of Camp Ashraf. As a result of clashes, 34 people died and about 300 were injured.
After many negotiations, the MEK accepted that the Mojahedin members would transfer from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty.
These Iranian nationals have been given refuge and accommodated in our country under an agreement with the UNHCR; mainly in the Vores area, Shato Linza complex and other rented residences in the districts of Tirana and Durres.
According to the latest information it is apparent that so far around 1500 MEK members have been transferred to Manez, Durres where a complex is being built, and accommodated in tents and other customized facilities. The area purchased is 32 hectares.
Also, according to updated information, the number of MEK members by place and status is as follows:
There are about 2745 MEK members in our country.
11 members have died.
80 have left our country with regular papers.
65 were illegally removed.
Mojahedin who continue to be full members of MEK and follow their rules for living as members are 2621.
Mojahedin dissociated from MEK are 124 people.
Since taking up residence in our country, around 124 members of the MEK have dissociated from the organization because they are against the ideology of this sectarian movement.
Recently, several members who have left the organization have been subjected to MEK threats which labels them as traitors and spies in the service of the Iranian Embassy in Tirana.
GazetaInpact, Tirana,Albania
