Camp Ashraf 3

In 2013, the Albanian authorities agreed to a request from the United States to accept approximately 3,000 members of the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).{{cite web |url= https://apnews.com/article/albania-mek-iranian-opposition-police-raid-851dcb5fc32cd6bc60206e342eea7b16| title= Police raid Iranian opposition camp in Albania, seize computers|author=Apnews.com}}{{cite web | url= https://www.iranintl.com/en/202306202329 | title= US Says Albania's Raid On Iranian MEK Compound Legal | date= June 20, 2023 | accessdate=28 June 2023 }}{{cite web| work=Al-Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/21/why-was-this-iran-dissident-group-raided-in-europe | title= Why was this Iran dissident group raided in Europe? | date= June 21, 2023 | accessdate=28 June 2023| author=Maziar Motamedi }} The camp was constructed 15 miles west of Tirana, spanning 34 hectares of farmland.{{Cite news |title= Highly Secretive Iranian Rebels Are Holed Up in Albania. They Gave Us a Tour.|work=The New York Times |date=16 February 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/16/world/europe/iran-mek-albania.html |access-date=|language= |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick }}

Albania did not grant refugee status to the residents of the camp. The United Nations provided a monthly stipend of 30,000 LEK, which expired in 2018. U.S. Republican Senator John McCain stated, "Given the history of the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on these residents," the MEK should be granted international protection under the 1951 Geneva Convention.{{cite news |title=Last members of Iranian Mujahedin-e-Khalq group leave Iraq for Albania|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/10092016 |website=Rudaw|date=}}

On 13 July 2019, the "120 Years of Struggle for Freedom in Iran" conference was held at the MEK camp in Albania. Former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman delivered a speech at the event.{{cite news |last1=Harounoff |first1=Jonathan |title=The White House Once Labeled Them Terrorists. Now They're Being Called Iran's Next Government |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2019-08-13/ty-article/.premium/white-house-once-labeled-them-terrorists-now-it-calls-them-irans-next-government/0000017f-dc2a-db5a-a57f-dc6a244b0000 |website=haaretz}}

Since 2013, the People's Mojahedin has organized meetings and invited notable figures such as former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. {{cite web |title=Terror threat forces cancelation of Iranian dissidents' summit in Albania |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/terror-threat-cancels-iranian-dissident-summit-in-albania/ |website=timesofisrael}} Rudy Giuliani expressed his admiration, stating that he had "the utmost respect for Albania, both the ruling party and the opposition, who, despite their political battles, agree on refugee status for these freedom fighters."{{Cite news|url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/utmost-respect-for-albania-says-giuliani-after-mek-event-/30056038.html|title=In Albania, Iranian dissidents plot a revolution "Utmost respect For Albania" Says Giuliani After MEK Event|access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Radiofarda}} Mike Pence also voiced his support, describing it as a great honor to attend a MEK ceremony at Ashraf 3.{{Cite news|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/06/24/mike-pence-honoured-to-visit-exiled-iranian-dissidents-in-albania/|title=Mike Pence ‘Honoured’ to Visit Exiled Iranian Dissidents in Albania |website=Balkan Insight}}

Albanian police have successfully thwarted numerous planned attacks by Iranian agents targeting the camp. General Police Director Ardi Veliu stated that Albania's security institutions had uncovered an active cell of the Iranian Quds Force's foreign operations unit.{{Cite news |date=2019-10-23 |title=Albania says it foiled Iranian plot to attack exiled dissidents |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-albania-iran-idUSKBN1X22CZ |access-date=2023-07-26}}

Daily activities at the camp focus on supporting the "internal resistance" movement led by dissidents in Iran. The camp features a press room where members gather information on alleged abuses by the Iranian regime, which they consider vital due to the media censorship in Iran.{{Cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200313-in-albania-iranian-dissidents-plot-a-revolution|title=In Albania, Iranian dissidents plot a revolution |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=France24}} The camp also includes a gym, a small cafeteria, a museum showcasing the MEK’s history, and a recording studio used to produce anti-regime songs and music videos for release on Iranian social media.{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Jonathan |title=Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK) |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/mujahadeen-e-khalq-mek |website=CFR}}

In February 2020, Patrick Kingsley, a journalist for The New York Times, interviewed Somayeh Mohammadi at the camp. In 2022, AP News reported that 3,000 members reside in the MEK camp near Tirana,{{cite web |title=Terror threat cancels Iranian opposition's summit in Albania |url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-albania-tirana-de39227e538dabd5c84686b5846722eb |website=apnews|date=22 July 2022 }} which is guarded by Albanian security forces.{{Cite web |title= How Albania Ended Up in Iran's Cyber Crosshairs |url= https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/08/albania-iran-cyberattack-mek-us-israel/ |access-date=|website= foreignpolicy |date= 8 November 2022}}

In 2018, Tehran correspondent Arron Merat reported that approximately 2,300 MEK members were living in the camp.{{cite news |last1=Merat |first1=Arron |title=Terrorists, cultists – or champions of Iranian democracy? The wild wild story of the MEK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/nov/09/mek-iran-revolution-regime-trump-rajavi |newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 November 2018 }} Merat stated that he interviewed "dozens of defectors" who alleged that MEK commanders used torture to control their members. In response, an MEK spokesperson claimed, "The individuals who are described as ‘former members’ are being used as part of a demonization campaign against the MEK."{{Cite news |url=https://exit.al/en/2018/11/09/albanian-goverment-turns-blind-eye-to-human-rights-abuse-in-mek-camp/ |title=Albanian Goverment [sic] Turns Blind Eye to Human Rights Abuse in MEK Camp |access-date=2023-07-05 |archive-date=2019-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181645/https://exit.al/en/2018/11/09/albanian-goverment-turns-blind-eye-to-human-rights-abuse-in-mek-camp/ |url-status=dead }}

On June 20, 2023, Albanian police conducted a controversial raid on the MEK camp, during which at least one member was killed.{{Cite news |url=https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c204e244 |title=Briefing: Iran pledges to hunt down exiled group in overseas operations}} Hundreds of police officers stormed the compound, which is typically safeguarded by a private security team to protect the civilian residents from potential terror attacks by Iranian agents.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/france-albania-ashraf-terror-threat-raid-b2361131.html |title=France cancels major Iran opposition rally as Tehran’s opponents face massive police raid in Albania}}

Images obtained by The Independent showed elderly men and women confronting lines of officers who sprayed them with multiple streams of chemical spray.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/france-albania-ashraf-terror-threat-raid-b2361131.html |title=France cancels major Iran opposition rally as Tehran’s opponents face massive police raid in Albania}}{{cite web |date=20 June 2023 |title=albanian police raid iranian dissidents camp |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/albanian-police-raid-iranian-dissidents-camp-/7145468.html |website=VOA}}{{cite web |title=Why was this Iran dissident group raided in Europe? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/21/why-was-this-iran-dissident-group-raided-in-europe |website=Aljazeera}}

Interior Minister Bledi Çuçi told the media that the police were "enforcing a court order" to seize devices and equipment inside the compound because the Special Prosecution had "reasonable doubts" that MEK members were engaging in political activities, which is prohibited under the terms of their agreement to stay in Albania.{{Cite news |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2023/06/20/one-dead-as-albanian-police-raid-iranian-oppositionists-compound/ |title=One Dead as Albanian Police Raid Iranian Oppositionists’ Compound}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230620-albanian-police-raid-iranian-dissidents-camp |title=Albanian police raid Iranian dissidents camp}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-20 |title=Clashes in the MEK, Fox News: The Biden administration in a precarious position, after the raid by the Albanian police |url=https://politiko.al/e-tjera/perplasjet-ne-mek-fox-news-administrata-e-biden-ne-pozite-te-pasigurt-pa-i485659 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=politiko.al}}{{cite web | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/albania-iran-peoples-mujahedin-organization/32467998.html | title= Albanian Authorities Suspect Iranian Dissidents Residing In Camp Of Several Crimes| publisher=Radion Free Europe | work=RFE/RL's Balkan Service | date=June 22, 2023 | accessdate=1 July 2023}}{{cite news | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/albania-mek-iran-camp-raid-united-states-support/32468986.html | title=U.S. Voices Support For Albanian Raid On Camp For Iranian Dissidents | newspaper=Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty | date=June 21, 2023 | accessdate=28 June 2023}}

Iran's Intelligence Ministry officially thanked Albanian authorities for the raid, stating, "We will carry out operations abroad to chase down members of the opposition Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization."{{Cite news |url=https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c204e244 |title=Briefing: Iran pledges to hunt down exiled group in overseas operations}}{{cite web |date=June 20, 2023 |title=US Says Albania's Raid On Iranian MEK Compound Legal |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202306202329}}

In 2022, Albania suffered a cyber-attack that its government and multinational technology companies attributed to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.{{Cite web |last=Semini |first=Llazar |title=Pro-Iranian hackers likely behind cyberattack on Albania, say US analysts |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/pro-iranian-hackers-likely-behind-cyberattack-on-albania-say-us-analysts/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}} The attack was believed to be in retaliation for the MEK camp, which hosts the Iranian opposition in exile, pushing the Albanian government to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied involvement, noting that Iran had also suffered cyber-attacks from the MEK.{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/albanian-police-raid-iranian-opposition-camp-seize-150-computers | title= Albanian police raid Iranian opposition camp, seize 150 computers | publisher= fox news | date= June 20, 2023 | accessdate=28 June 2023 }}

The camp has faced scrutiny from Albanian media and opposition parties regarding the terms of the 2014 deal and the MEK's alleged activities on Albanian soil. Former head of Albanian military intelligence, Ylli Zyla, accused the MEK of violating Albanian law.

Some media outlets and analysts suggested that the raid was linked to U.S.-Iran negotiations.{{Cite web |last=Weinthal |first=Benjamin |date=2023-06-24 |title=Was raid on Iran opposition group tied to possible new Biden-Tehran nuclear talks? |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/was-raid-iran-opposition-group-tied-possible-new-biden-tehran-nuclear-talks |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Weinthal |first=Benjamin |date=2023-06-25 |title=Was Raid on Iran Opposition Group Tied to Biden-Tehran 'Mini-Agreement'? |url=https://www.meforum.org/64576/was-raid-on-iran-opposition-group-tied-to-biden |access-date= |website=Middle East Forum |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-21 |title=Albania police raid exiled Iran opposition camp, 1 member killed |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230621-albania-police-raid-exiled-iran-opposition-camp-1-member-killed/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Middle East Monitor |language=}}

The conflict between police and the MEK resulted in one death and 36 other camp residents being injured.{{Cite web |last=Albania |first=Euronews |date=2023-06-20 |title=State Police controls in Mujahedin camp result in a victim and tens of injured |url=https://euronews.al/en/one-victim-confirmed-as-albanian-state-police-carries-controls-in-mujahedin-camp/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Euronews Albania |language=en-US}} Muhamet Rrumbullaku, commander of the national police, stated that both MEK members and police officers were injured during the raid at the Ashraf 3 camp. The NCRI claimed that the raid was carried out at the "behest" of the Iranian government, occurring just days after a planned rally by the group was banned in Paris for the first time. French police cited concerns over potential "disturbances to public order" and the risk of terror attacks as reasons for the ban.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Iranian opposition group has few friends following Albanian police raid |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-mek-albania-police-raid-losing-influence-friends |access-date= |website=Middle Easter Eye |language=en-US}} However, a week later, a Paris court overturned the ban, allowing members to gather at Place Vauban in the French capital.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Iran condemns MEK rally in France as support for ‘terrorism’|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/3/iran-condemns-mek-rally-in-france-as-support-for-terrorism |access-date= |website=Aljazeera |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://english.mojahedin.org/news/global-outrage-at-attack-by-albanian-security-forces-against-ashraf-3/ "Global outrage at attack by Albanian security forces against Ashraf 3"]

{{People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran}}

Category:Installations used by the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran

Category:Buildings and structures in Durrës County