Albanias Iranian guests
Who are Albania\u2019s Iranian guests? In July, Donald Trump\u2019s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani visited an Albanian village just outside Tirana. At a tightly-guarded encampment, he addressed the Iranian group who live there - the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), or People\u2019s Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI). MEK has been a leading opposition voice against the Islamic Republic of Iran for decades.\n \nFollowing the revolution of 1979, MEK fell out with the Iranian government \u2013 members were persecuted, and the organisation moved to Iraq for around three decades. Migration to Albania was facilitated by the United States, and more than 3,000 members have arrived.
But in Albania \u2013 a fragile democracy - there\u2019s disquiet. Critics claim MEK\u2019s presence compromises Albania\u2019s security, and is fuelling a crack-down on the press. Meanwhile, dozens of Iranian MEK members have defected but find themselves living a precarious existence in Tirana because they are stateless, without passports.
Assignment investigates the improbable relationship between Albania and MEK.
Presenter: Linda Pressly\nProducer: Albana Kasapi
(Photo: Gholam Mirzai has left the MEK. He would like to return to Iran. Credit: BBC Credit)