Page 73 – Nejat Society

ASILA detainees end hunger strike after police allowed family visit

Four detained members of the Association for the Support of Iranians Living in Albania ended their hunger strike.

Hassan Heirani, Gholamreza Shekari, Ali Hajari and Mehdi Soleimani had gone on a hunger strike to protest their unlawful detention in Karrec camp.

ASILA members on hunger strike

According to the statement made by ASILA, these four people ended their strike after the immigration and border Police of Albania permitted them to visit their Albanian wives. However, they warned the Albanian authorities that they will resume their hunger strike if their awkward detention keeps on.

Six members of ASILA association including Ehsan Bidi and Hassan Shahbaz have been detained by the illegal refugee detention center in Karrec since last month despite they are legal refugees owning residence permit in Albania. Hassan Shahbaz is still on hunger strike for the 7th day because he has not been allowed to contact his family outside Albania for over 30 days.

These six men are former members of the Mujahedin Khalq who defected the cult-like system of the group after they were relocated in Albania. The MEK commanders are frustrated by the activities of ASILA which aids the defectors of the group to get deradicalized and to begin a new life in the Albanian community. Thus, they make efforts to demonize ASILA members pushing them under the pressure of the Albanian government.

December 10, 2022 0 comments

Gholamreza Shekari Mum in front of Camp Ashraf,Iraq

Mujahedin Khalq Organization members' families

Mother of Gholamreza Shekari’s request to the Prime Minister of Albania

Greetings and respects to the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama,
I am Zomorod Amini, the mother of Gholamreza Shekari, on behalf of myself and my family members, I am sharing my complaint with you. As you and all of us know, my son was innocently transferred to the camp of illegal immigrants and they do not allow him to leave or contact us.

For more than 40 years, I have not seen my son who was a prisoner in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and is now in Albania. He for 38 years has been trapped in the cruel grip of Maryam Rajavi in Iraq, and after they were transferred to Albania, your government did not allow us to visit. Apparently, your government is a supporter of this dreadful and terrorist organization, because it does what they want.

Gholamreza Shekari Mum in front of Camp Ashraf,Iraq

Our children did not enter your country illegally. The government of Albania officially accepted these people in agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and they have never had any demands except for a peaceful and safe life from you and the government and people of Albania. During these few years, they have not caused the slightest mistake or disturbance in Albania.

If the presence of Gholamreza Shekari in your country is illegal, then how did you allow him to marry your own citizen? He has been married for four months now. If he entered the country illegally, then all members of this organization should be expelled from Albania.

Finally, I request you to determine the status of my son Gholamreza Shekari. If he has committed a crime, prosecute him, and if it is otherwise, how can your humanitarian actions include the situation of Maryam Rajavi and the people captured in her camp, but not the situation of those who did not want to be captured by her?
I am impatiently waiting for your answer.

Zomorod Amini, mother of Gholamreza Shekari, imprisoned in the UN refugee camp in Albania

December 10, 2022 0 comments

Second day of ASILA members hunger strike

Former members of the MEK

Second Day of Hunger Strike by detained ASILA members

The detained members of the Association for the Support of Iranians Living in Albania (ASILA) maintain hunger strike for the second day. Having been isolated in the detention center of Albanian foreign nationals, they protest their illegal detention by going on hunger strike.

Hassan Heyrani, Mehdi Soleimani, Ali Hajari, Hassan Shahbaz, and Gholamreza Shekari have been detained in Camp Kareç, a migrant detention center in north of Tirana, since last month, despite having legal residence permit.

Second day of ASILA members hunger strike

These five former members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq who enjoy legal residence permit in the Albanian territory protest their detention without being given an opportunity to be heard promptly by a judicial or other authority. They have been detained for a month even though they have not been convicted of a crime.

December 7, 2022 0 comments

Emiriana Sako; the mayor of Duress at the MEK event

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

MEK terrorists disguised as charity people

The formerly designated terrorist of the Mujahedin-e Khalq has sent its agents among the Albanian vulnerable groups and the community of Durres region under the cover of charitable activities.

The MEK’s rank and file are located in the village of Manez in Durres in a barred camp called Ashraf 3. Regarding the violent past of the group with a background of numerous terrorist activities and cult-like attitudes. The group threatens the lives and peace of Albanian citizens, risking their public safety under the cover of providing free medical services to vulnerable groups and the community.

Emiriana Sako; the mayor of Duress at the MEK event

The mayor of Durres, Emiriana Sako, who seems to be perfectly blackmailed by the MEK agents, have posted pictures of the event held by the MEK in one of the schools of Durres appreciating the “Ashraf 3 representatives” financial aids to bring doctors from the United States of America to launch this “humanitarian initiative”.
This is while, the most recent stance of the United States administration against the MEK was published a few weeks ago. On November 15th, the US State Department spokesperson told media outlets that it “continues to have serious concerns” about the MEK, including long-standing allegations about abuse committed against its members.

“As we have said, while the United States revoked the designation of the MEK as a foreign terrorist organization in September 2012, the United States does not see the MEK as a viable democratic opposition movement that is representative of the Iranian people,” reads the statement of the DOS.

As the MEK’s high-ranking member, Behzad Saffari is seen in the photos flattering Ms. Mayor of Durres, she should be warned about the fate of MEK’s former charity activities that were banned in England and Germany. While the MEK is considered a very wealthy organization with unknown financial resources, its charities to raise fund have been always under scrutiny.

According to the 2009 report of the American institute, RAND Corporation, “Although a large portion of the NCRI’s funding was provided by Saddam Hussein and some came from Saudi Arabia, the NCRI also raised money through fraud. For example, until recently, MeK supporters sought donations at airports and public parks, often showing gruesome pictures of women who had been tortured by the IRI, by claiming to raise money for human rights victims in Iran but funneling the money to the MeK instead. The FBI arrested seven MeK supporters for raising more than $1 million for a sham charity, the Committee for Human Rights in Iran, at Los Angeles International Airport. The British Charities Commission closed another MeK sham charity, Iran Aid, after finding no “verifiable links between the money donated by the British public [approximately £5 million annually] and charitable work in Iran.”14 The German High Court closed several MeK safehouses, “foster” homes, and compounds after an investigation revealed that the MeK fraudulently collected between $5 million and $10 million in social welfare benefits.” (RAND report, P. 59)

Former US Vice President Mike Pence

Disguising as benevolent guys, the agents of Maryam Rajavi try to deceive the Albanian public opinion. This is not the first time that they offer free doctor and glasses to the citizens of their neighborhood. Offering a free trip to Europe to American doctors with free residence in luxurious hotel rooms is what the MEK has expertise in.
For their so-called annual great gathering weather in Albania or Paris they are used to spend lavish fees to host Western speakers. The news media are filled with the accounts of MEK’s paying large amounts of money to former politicians in order to speak on behalf of the group. A large number of Western politicians have been on the MEK’s payroll: National Security Adviser John Bolton and the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, have both charged hefty fees to speak at MEK rallies in the past few years. Mike Pence, former US vice-president and his wife were the most recent high-profile figures who were received by Rajavi, in Ashraf 3, in June.

Nevertheless, The MEK propaganda accuses the cultural activities of the Association for the support of Iranians Living in Albania (ASILA) as a threat for the Albanian citizens while the association has been founded by former members of the group, itself. Activities of ASILA including holding book fair or donating notebooks to students are clearly aimed at developing cultural links between the two countries.

December 7, 2022 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

ASILA members on hunger strike to protest illegal detention

The 5 people who are former members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization and current members of the Association for the support of Iranians living in Albania(ASILA), staged hunger strike to protest their unreasoned detention.

Hassan Heyrani, Mehdi Soleimani, Ali Hajari, Hassan Shahbaz, and Gholamreza Shekari have been kept in isolation in a camp in Kareç, the center for illegal immigrants, without any reason to be mentioned by the Albanian immigration Police.

ASILA representative says these individuals enjoy regular residence permits.
Members of the Association for the Support of Iranians Living in Albania held a demonstration outside the Albanian immigration and border Police in Tirana to protest against the arrest of six members of the association on Thursday, December 1st.

Hassan Heirani

Ali Hajari

Hassan Shahbazi

Gholamreza Shekari

Mehdi Soleimani

December 6, 2022 0 comments

ASILA protest outside the Albanian immigration and border police

Former members of the MEK

ASILA’s statement calls for release of the detained members

Members of the Association for the support of Iranians Living in Albania (ASILA) delivered a statement by the end of their protest in front of the Albanian immigration and border Police.

Hamid Atabay read a statement at the end of the rally

On Thursday December 1st, the Iranian and Albanian members of ASILA protested against detention of six members of the association, Hassan Heyrani, Mehdi Soleimani, Ehsan Bidi, Hassan Shahbaz, Gholamreza Shekari and Ali Hajari by the Albanian immigration and border Police in Kareç detention centre, in north of Tirana.
Hamid Atabay the most recent defector of the Mujahedin Khalq who immediately joined ASILA after his defection read a statement at the end of the rally. The statement proclaims:

“We, members of ASILA gathered together to ask the Albanian government to release our friends. We are peaceful people who want a normal life. We are neither interested in political activities, nor in religious activities.
The United Nations and the US government relocated us in Albania to save our lives. The Albanian authorities and political parties all agreed that we had been transferred to a democratic country. Now, what is the matter that they have detained 6 of our friends without explanation of charges and Judicial enlightenment?

We demand the Albanian government and political parties to release our friends and to relieve their families who are concerned about them.”

December 5, 2022 0 comments

Albania

Olsi Jazexhi: Albania with MEK like Afghanistan used by Al Qaeda!

The Albanian TV channel, MCN TV interviewed Olsi Jazexhi, the historian. The US Department of State has distanced itself from the Iranian opposition sheltered in Albania, while the Biden administration has been criticized by former representatives of the Trump administration. Olsi jazexhi says he is a researcher on Iran.
In a connection with the MCN TV news studio, he stated that he follows with great interest the role of the Mujahedin_e Khalq in Albania and the adventure of Prime Minister Rama and his ministers to gain points by harboring this former terrorist organization, illegal in our country.

The Albanian TV channel, MCN TV interviewed Olsi Jazexhi, the historian

Dr. Jazexhi says:
I have denounced the arrival of the MEK in our country and have warned about the danger that the sheltering of such an organization in our country would bring, which was proven when Albania became a victim of cyberattacks.
There is a difference in the Trump and Biden administrations regarding the Mujahedin that Albania shelters.
The Mujahideen is a terrorist organization and was classified as such by the EU, USA, Canada and Japan until 2013.

But at that time as part of the nuclear agreement that the US made with Iran, the Mujahideen were removed from the terrorism list to take refuge in Albania.
The Iranian diaspora, most of whom support the former Shah of Iran, have sent many letters to the US government regarding the contacts many officials have had with these people.
The Mujahideen are seen as a dangerous, totalitarian cult and that is why the Americans bombed the Mujahideen in 2003 when they attacked Iraq.

The American government has never funded the Mujahideen. The only thing that does, they found Albania where Edi Rama and Pandeli Majko offered themselves to the Americans, so that the socialists could ensure longevity in the government.
Officially, DASH and the US government have been careful to publicly show that they have no connection with this terrorist organization.

While Jazexhi’s name appears in Microsoft’s report on cyber-attacks as a person authorized to convey a public message to the Albanian government that it was exposing the country to Iranian attacks or counteraction, he said that he has read the report and has also written a public response letter Microsoft.
In this report, we show that our duty as journalists and influencers of public opinion is to tell our Albanian society, to warn our country, when our leadership violates the Criminal Code and articles against terrorism and allows our country to return like Afghanistan in the time of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
I have not been contacted by the Albanian government so far. We have offered our public assistance and expertise to analyze the situation of the Mujahideen.

In Albania, to enter the National Security Council and Parliament, you have to do it with a friend or a bribe.
We want to explain to the Albanian government the danger posed to Albania by the Iranian Mujahideen.
Jazexhi described the issuing of five arrest warrants by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, for five IT specialists, under the charge of misuse of duty for cyber attacks.

The accusation raised by prosecutor Bledar Valikaj against IT specialists in some Albanian institutions such as the Ministry of the Interior, was ridiculous.

Specialists are becoming scapegoats to please Edi Rama’s government, that we found the culprits.
They were accused of misuse of duties, inaction because they had not updated their antiviruses.
The prosecutor of the case is the most wrong person in this story!
Bledar Valikaj is the husband of Ermonela Felaj, politician, deputy of the SP and a person sponsored by the Iranian mujahedin.

Supporter of the terrorist organization, has participated in the calls of the Iranian opposition for the violent overthrow of the government organized by the opposition leader Maryam Rajavi.
The first to be questioned is Ermonela Felaj, who is directly responsible for allowing the hacking activity against Iran.

Bledar Valikaj has a conflict of interest because his wife is close to the mujahedin.
There was unprofessionalism in the document, it was said that Albania’s cyber systems were hacked by Iran.
But the Microsoft report does not say that Iran did it, but that it is suspected that Iran did it.
Justice is not based on suspicion, but on evidence. The term that the hacking was done by Iran should have been used.

December 4, 2022 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

Anti-MEK statement of the DOS, praised and debunked by the group!

While the Mujahedin-e Khalq first praised the statement of the US State Department as proof for their independence, it took them a few weeks to launch a campaign to debunk it as what they call a “pathetic statement slandering Iran’s principal opposition”.

A State Department spokesperson this month told media outlets that it “continues to have serious concerns” about the MEK, including long-standing allegations about abuse committed against its members, reported Voice of America on November 15th.

MEK’s spokesperson Shahin Ghobadi

The statement was commended by the MEK’s spokesperson Shahin Ghobadi as an evidence that proves the group’s so-called independence from the US government claiming the allegations about the US’s support for the group as lies fabricated by the Iranian government. This is while, the DOS’s statement just came after the American news media, Foreign Policy, reported that the MEK has been supported to be sheltered in Albania under an agreement between the US and Israel.

However, not long afterward, on November 30th, the US administration took criticism from former U.S. officials and lawmakers from both parties for what they call a “flagrant betrayal of the Iranian people” after the State Department distances itself from the MEK, which it said it does not see as a “viable” alternative to the existing government. The former US senators namely blamed the special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, accusing him of seeking to appease the Islamic Republic by criticizing the MEK. The news was embraced by the MEK’s propaganda machine as a victorious outbreak against what they call “Malley’s Anti-MEK Statement.”

Most of these prominent former figures have been on the pay roll of the MEK and special guests of the group’s rallies in Paris and Tirana, offered luxurious first-class flights, hotel rooms and lavish speaking fees for a five-minute speech on behalf of the MEK. Praising the MEK leader Maryam Rajavi as the “president elect” who “has been publicly advocating for a free, democratic Iran”, they say that if Malley “believes that adopting the regime’s false, anti-MEK propaganda will persuade the terrorists to revive JCPOA negotiations, he needs to be relieved from this important mission.”

Robert Malley

According to Fox News, the State Department rejected that claim: “Our assessment of the MEK has nothing to do with our concerns over Iran’s nuclear program or the Iranian regime’s ongoing crackdown against peaceful protestors and abhorrent treatment of women.” Besides, Robert Malley have been expressing concerns over the conditions of Iranian protesters, women and girls during the past months on his official accounts on social media.
Meanwhile, Fox News once more refers to Ghobadi’s allegations as saying that the acknowledgment that the MEK has not received support from the U.S. “reflects the independence of this movement”!

Signatories of the pro-MEK statement include former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former U.N. Ambassador J. Kenneth Blackwell, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, former National Security Advisor James Jones and former Sens. Robert Torricelli and Joseph Lieberman — as well as retired high-ranking military officials. As an example of sponsorship for the MEK, Mukasey is registered as a lobbyist for the NCRI, the umbrella organization of the MEK.

As a recent approval of the MEK’s reliance on US politicians, former US vice president Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, visited Maryam Rajavi, in the group’s headquarters in north of Tirana, Albania, in June this year.
Fox News states that the Relations between the MEK and US warmongers, warmed during the Trump administration as a number of top officials, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton have given the group their support and spoken at its events.

December 4, 2022 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

ASILA protest outside the Albanian immigration and border police

Members of the Association for the Support of Iranians Living in Albania (ASILA) held a demonstration outside the Albanian immigration and border Police in Tirana. The gathering was held on Thursday, December 1st, to protest against the arrest of six members of the association. The Iranian and Albanian members of Asila voiced their protest against the unreasoned detention of these people, expressing solidarity with them.