Listen "Albania’s Iranian guests"
Episode Synopsis
Who are Albania’s Iranian guests? In July, Donald Trump’s 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’s Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI). MEK has been a leading opposition voice against the Islamic Republic of Iran for decades.
Following the revolution of 1979, MEK fell out with the Iranian government – 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 – a fragile democracy - there’s disquiet. Critics claim MEK’s presence compromises Albania’s 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
Producer: Albana Kasapi(Photo: Gholam Mirzai has left the MEK. He would like to return to Iran. Credit: BBC Credit)
Following the revolution of 1979, MEK fell out with the Iranian government – 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 – a fragile democracy - there’s disquiet. Critics claim MEK’s presence compromises Albania’s 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
Producer: Albana Kasapi(Photo: Gholam Mirzai has left the MEK. He would like to return to Iran. Credit: BBC Credit)
More episodes of the podcast The Documentary Podcast
Returned to sender
08/01/2026
World Questions - Greenland
07/01/2026
Persian poetry and politics
07/01/2026
South Africa and the fight against TB
06/01/2026
Ismo Leikola
05/01/2026
The power of nostalgia and a first kiss
04/01/2026
Afghanistan's love poetry princess
03/01/2026
Two families from Sarajevo
02/01/2026
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.