Issued by Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), 21st June 2023
On the afternoon of June 21, an email was sent by the US State Department to some reporters, stating: ” The Albanian State Police have assured us that all actions (in Ashraf) were conducted in accordance with applicable laws, including with regard to the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons in Albania. We support the Government of Albania’s right to investigate any potential illegal activities within its territory.”
In this email, using copy-pasted repetitive phrases from previous statements, including one from November 14, 2022, it says: “The US does not see the MEK as a viable democratic opposition movement that is representative of the Iranian people” and “does not provide support or training” or “does not contribute funding to the organization.”
However, the Mojahedin and the Iranian Resistance take pride to have never sought support and financial assistance from the US or any other power, contrary to the 44 years long propaganda of the religious fascism ruling Iran and its agents. Rather they have always been and continue to be relying on the Iranian people.
Nonetheless, the shameful remarks about the representation and legitimacy of the resistance movement and the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization of Iran have no interpretation other than demonstrating positive signals to the mullahs’ regime and aligning with the attackers who have violated universal values of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, the rights of asylum seekers, and international treaties such as the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights, leading to the killing of one MEK member and the injury of over 100 others.
The author of such content should learn from Shah’s overthrow that they lack the authority to decide who represents the Iranian people. The responsibility for determining who represents the Iranian people rests with the Iranian people themselves in a free election within a democratic republic. This responsibility arises following the overthrow of the religious fascist regime that has been appeased by successive United States administrations for many years.
In this regard, it is better to refer to House Resolution 100 in the US Congress, signed by the majority of representatives (239 representatives), and statements from thousands of legislators from different countries, including the majority of representatives from 30 legislative bodies, including the French National Assembly, both of the British Houses, both the Italian Senate and Parliament, the Norwegian Parliament, the Dutch Senate, and the Irish Senate, who have supported the uprising of the Iranian people for a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state.
These statements highlight: “Here, we emphasize the importance of the people’s right for self-determination. It is up to the people of Iran to choose their future. We stand with the Iranian people and share republican values such as free elections, freedom of assembly and expression, abolition of the death penalty, gender equality, separation of religion and state, and the right to autonomy for Iranian ethnic minorities and a non-nuclear Iran, as outlined in the 10-point plan formulated by Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.”
Everyone recalls the terrorist designation of the MEK and the National Council of Resistance of Iran as a “goodwill gesture” to the Khatami, the “reformist President” of the clerical regime. After 15 years, the US State Department revoked the unjust designation following the court’s ruling. For approximately 70 years, the history of appeasing dictators in Iran can be traced back to the August 19, 1953, coup against Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh. The consequences of these policies are widely recognized. However, it is certain that a day will come when an apology is extended to the Iranian people for these policies.
Despite the mounting international condemnation and outrage surrounding the attack on Ashraf 3, the country’s Minister of Interior and Chief of Police continue to deny the violent and unjust actions perpetrated against the residents of Ashraf. They dismiss the abundant evidence available in Albanian media, social networks, and international media, including photos and videos documenting the incident.
The Albanian Minister of Interior says, “Not even one of them has been touched by the police… That statement of violence should be retracted, and they themselves should see the footage of their own people inside, and if there was an officer touching someone, they should call it violence, even though touching someone is not violence.”
It is also astonishing that they claim the police only used pepper spray to defend themselves against the residents’ attacks! However, hundreds of photos and videos show a completely different reality. The images demonstrate that the police initially positioned two machine guns on one of the buildings upon entering Ashraf 2, aiming at inside Ashraf.
The official’s perspective on using pepper spray for self-defense against MEK attacks can be well understood here.
Is anybody bearing responsibility for the killing of MEK member Ali Mostashari other than the commanders and perpetrators of the attack?
It has come to light that so-called “local reporters” of unknown identity have resorted to lies to cover up the truth with another falsehood. In its report on June 20, the Associated Press stated, “MEK members in Albania have proudly told local journalists how they have hacked or penetrated communication systems of the Tehran government and Iranian institutions.”
This is a blatant lie, and it holds no association with the MEK in Albania. The MEK and the residents of Ashraf have never made such statements to any reporter, regardless of the time or place.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
June 21, 2023