Albanian police returned to the Iranian opposition, People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) compound near Durres on Thursday, just over a week since a full-scale raid to seize computers and servers resulted in clashes with residents and multiple injuries.
The MEK is an Iranian opposition military organisation that advocates the overthrow of the current regime in Tehran. After being forced out of Iran, the organisation was relocated to Camp Ashraf, Iraq, near the Iranian border in 1985 and sided with Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.
In 1992, it carried out attacks against Iranian embassies in 13 countries and was designated a terrorist organisation by the US, Canada, EU, UK and Japan for its use of terror tactics. This status was removed during the 2000s, and its members were relocated to Albania and France.
On Tuesday last week, the State Police and special forces entered the premises to conduct a search, resulting in a serious clash as residents refused to hand over computer equipment.
Police were spotted outside the compound on Thursday, stopping and searching any vehicle that entered or exited the premises. Police sources for local media said the checks are being carried out to ensure that no more computer equipment is brought into the camp to continue the work they are suspected of carrying out.
Several former camp members have given interviews to Albanian media to tell of their experience in the camp. Ibrahimi said he was a part of MEK for 17 years and was not allowed to meet with their own family members during that time.
“I want to say that my name is Ibrahim Muradi, I spent 17 years in the MEK. When family members came to MEK to meet us, we threw stones at them. I didn’t choose to go to MEK because I was a man with children, but they deceived me,” he said.
According to the country’s special court against corruption and organised crime, it is suspected that members of MEK carried out cyber attacks against Iran, including public and government institutions, while on Albanian territory.
SPAK registered criminal proceedings on 18 May 2023 for the criminal offences “provocation of war”, “illegal interception of computer data”, “interference in computer data”, “misuse of equipment”, and structured criminal group.
An investigation into several MEK members is ongoing relating to refusing to obey police orders and the destruction of property, amongst others.
Furthermore, the death of one resident is also being investigated. Police say he died of a heart attack, while MEK members say he died due to police action.
Court documents also note that of the approximately 3,000 MEK members brought to Albania in 2018, some 450 escaped. Around 300 are believed to have left the country illegally, 100 crossed the border with regular documents, and 50 remain.
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.”
Over the years, many questions have been asked about MEK, with The Guardian questioning whether members of the group 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.
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, the journalist was harassed by telephone and mobile by multiple organisation members.
(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)
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