Former MKO member says Albania camp members trained, dangerous
4 Min Read
Mustafai Beheshti, former member of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization, reveals on Vox News Albania, that men and women inside the camp face human rights abuses regularly, including rape.
-
View of some members of the Iranian opposition terrorist Mujahedeen-e- Khalq group, who have resettled in Albania from Iraq, in a street, in Tirana, Albania, Friday, May 17, 2013 (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
In an interview, published by VOX News Albania, a former member of the MEK, Mustafai Beheshti, revealed what happened inside the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organisation (MKO) camp located in Manza, Durrës.
Mustafai, according to the news website, broke down in tears as he described the agony he experienced at the camp which he escaped after 18 years of suffering. The former member, who is 40 years old, said he was only allowed to leave after he threatened to burn himself alive.
It was also reported that Mustafai underscored that the MKO camp was filled with well-trained terrorists and are very dangerous. The former member stated "The oldest are soldiers and they know a lot of things. Many of them lived in America and were IT engineers. Even now there are people in America working for them. They have a lot of money."
Mustafai then went on to highlight that people in the camp had no freedom and that their basic human rights were violated. For example, he explained that he had not seen his son or family for 22 years. He said "After 22 years, I want to see my family. When I left, I left my grandson who was only one year old. We can't go there, our families can't come here."
Moreover, Mustafai stressed that "there are many women and men who are raped every day there."
The former member, who currently lives in Tirana, also explained that "we substantiated every fact there and often they accused us that you are not mujahideen." As for their day-to-day life, Mustafai said "If you talked to a girl or joked with her, they would consider you immoral and lecture you."
Albanian police raid Iranian MKO camp over terrorist activities
Albanian authorities, on Wednesday, raided a camp for members of the MKO terrorist group, also known as Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), and seized 150 computer devices reportedly linked to prohibited political activities, and several people were wounded.
The Albanian Ministry of the Interior announced that the raid, carried out by the police in the Ashraf 3 camp, which houses Iranian anti-revolution members who belong to MKO, "was carried out in accordance with the law and an order issued by the Anti-Terrorism Court."
On its account, the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime’s office opened inquiries into criminal activities by MKO members.
When Albania agreed to host MKO members in 2013, the two sides signed a contract stipulating that they would not be allowed to engage in political activity and would have to abide by local regulations; however, the raid came as they violated the agreement and engaged in electronic terrorist activities.
The Ministry also indicated that the police "searched offices and electronic devices," adding that "the police confiscated some non-traditional electronic devices, including a number of drones."
On its part, Tasnim news agency published a video showing a member of the organization "burning some evidence."
#Albanian police release footage of MKO terrorists setting documents ablaze during raid pic.twitter.com/2d6DC9r3et
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) June 21, 2023
Some camp residents attempted to block the police officers who stepped in to seize the computer devices housed in 17 buildings, and their leaders did not cooperate, according to the head of the national police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku. Fifteen officers were injured, and 21 Ashraf 3 residents were taken to a hospital with injuries from the pepper spray the officers used to defend themselves.
On his account, Albanian Interior Minister Bledi Cuci said he was “indignant and offended” by the reception police encountered.
Read more: Iran slams European Parliament for hosting MKO ringleader
