IRAN: the POWER of the ALTERNATIVE Free Iran Gathering 2019 at Ashraf 3

IRAN: THE POWER OF THE ALTERNATIVE Free Iran Gathering 2019 at Ashraf 3 Delegations from 47 nations visit Ashraf 3, the home of Iranian Resistance A Special Advertising Supplement to The Washington Times MEK will fight Iran regime from new Ashraf-3 base in Albania BY THE WASHINGTON TIMES Under the plan, Maryam Ra- will not cost them very much, at senator and the 2000 Democratic base.” A State Department spokes- javi would step in as president- least until the next U.S. presiden- vice presidential candidate, said, man at the time said Washington elect until elections are held. Mrs. tial election,” she said. “They say “You don’t just represent an alter- did not claim the exile group was ASHRAF-3, Albania — Iran’s Rajavi — the wife of MEK co- to themselves: ‘Let’s wait another native to the Iranian mullahs. You involved in the assassination of largest opposition group opened founder Massoud Rajavi, who dis- 16 months and maybe the U.S. represent the right alternative.” scientists in Iran. the doors of its new home base appeared in 2003 — was the star will have another president from MEK was founded in 1965 But Iranian officials have tar- on Saturday with a wave of praise of Saturday’s event. Her remarks whom we can extract the same when several student groups geted MEK ... and Ashraf-3 in- from political leaders from both were interrupted repeatedly by super concessions as we did with united to oppose the Iranian shah. cludes a museum that details the the left and the right, hailing loud chants of “Iran! Maryam! the nuclear deal.’” It has gone through several phases torture and deaths of as many as from nearly 50 countries and all Freedom!” and “From Ashraf to She said that strategy would of development as it has battled 120,000 MEK supporters. In 2015, enthusiastic about the group and Tehran, we will fight to the end!” fail in the face of MEK’s efforts. the Islamic Republic in Tehran, Iran launched a 40-rocket attack its goals. against Ashraf-2, MEK’s previous The Ashraf-3 community, not home in Iraq, leaving 24 dead. A quite finished, rests on a sprawl- car bomb attack on Ashraf-3 last ing plot that until 30 months ago year was foiled before explosives was farmland. It is about halfway could be detonated. between the Albanian capital of Despite the risks, sisters For- Tirana and the Adriatic coastline. ough and Hejrat Moezzi, ages 30 Home to more than 3,000 Ira- and 31, respectively, say Ashraf-3 nian dissidents from the Muja- is the first place that feels like hedeen-e-Khalq, best known as home to them since they left Iran MEK, Ashraf-3 is too new to ap- 12 years ago. Both were residents pear on map programs. Cement of Ashraf-1 and Ashraf-2 in Iraq. was still drying around the base of Ashraf-3 was built in Albania some flag posts, and workers were because the country offered ref- painting the handrails on a bridge uge to the group. Former Albanian as more than 350 dignitaries from Prime Minister Pandeli Majko 47 countries arrived. explained that the move was part The gathering was MEK’s 15th of the country’s history. “In 1943, “Free Iran” event but the first in the Nazis conquered Albania and Albania. Paris hosted the event had two main demands when an From 2004 to 2018. Albanian delegation went to Ber- “We look at the fact that so lin,” Mr. Majko said. “They wanted many leaders came to our home our gold transferred to Berlin, so far from where they live as a and they wanted a list of all the on Times T testament to the international sup- Jews in Albania. Our answer was port that exists for MEK and the simple: the gold, yes; the Jews, no. faith they have in what we want Protecting those in need is part of to accomplish,” said Mohammad PHOTO COURTESY: THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN our identity.” Mohaddessin, chairman of the Thousands of people gathered at the newly constructed Ashraf 3 in Albania to call for freedom in Iran. The speed with which the foreign affairs committee for the heavily guarded town was built o The Washing T T National Council of Resistance — complete with parks, confer- of Iran, an umbrella group that MEK does not formally take “We will never abandon our strug- including a period of more than ence halls, shopping centers, res- includes the MEK. sides in internal politics in other gle,” Mrs. Rajavi said. 15 years starting in 1997 when the taurants, swimming pools and a The two main themes from countries, and the delegation “This isn’t a choice between U.S. government officially classi- luxury hotel — was enough to upplemen dozens of speakers were praise for from the United States included deposing a dictator when we don’t fied it as a terrorist organization. make Mr. Giuliani marvel. “This s building Ashraf-3 and organizing figures from across the political know if an even more terrible The Obama administration whole city was built in less than the event, and a desire to see the spectrum. But in her opening leader will take his place,” said lifted the MEK’s designation as two years,” Mr. Giuliani said. “If ising T Iranian regime toppled. remarks, Mrs. Rajavi appeared to former New York City Mayor a terrorist group in 2012, citing we tried to do this in New York, it Changing the regime is the endorse President Trump, who Rudolph W. Giuliani, a legal ad- what it said was the group’s “pub- would take 15 years and launch 14 dver a central goal of the MEK, though helped raise MEK’s profile after viser to Mr. Trump. “It’s a choice lic renunciation of violence, the corruption investigations.” its formal aim is to step into the pulling out of the Iran nuclear between one of the most terrible absence of confirmed acts of ter- void that a collapsed Iranian gov- deal last year. sponsors of terrorism in the world rorism by the MEK for more than This excerpt is from a Wash- pecial s ernment would leave only long Iran’s “calculation is that ter- in the current regime in Iran, and a decade, and their cooperation ington Times staff-written a THE WASHINGTON TIMES THE WASHINGTON | enough to hold free elections and rorist operations and the warmon- we have MEK ready to step in.” in the peaceful closure of Camp news article first published establish a secular state. gering in the region’s countries Joseph Lieberman, a former Ashraf, their historic paramilitary online on July 14, 2019. Tony Hill Larry T. Beasley Thomas P. McDevitt David Dadisman DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CEO CHAIRMAN GENERAL MANAGER & INTEGRATED SALES Christopher Dolan Joseph E. Teipe, Jr. Patrick Crofoot Advertising Department: PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE VICE GRAPHICS SUPERVISOR 202-636-3027 EXECUTIVE EDITOR PRESIDENT SPECIAL SECTIONS Special Sections are multipage tabloid products that run in The Washington Times daily newspaper and are posted online and in PDF form onits website. Sponsors and Thursday • July 25 • 2019 • July Thursday advertisers collaborate with The Times’ advertising and marketing departments to highlight a variety of issues and events. Unless otherwise identified, Special Sections 2 are prepared separately and without involvement from the Times’ newsroom and editorial staff. World leaders, don’t turn your backs on these mass murders Rudy Giuliani, just like our Bill of Rights, just like the Attorney to the U.S. President, universal declarations of freedom and Former Mayor of New York City decency and human rights enshrined in the great documents of the world. hanks to you and particularly Free elections within six months to the people who live here in is the promise, and I believe it will be Ashraf 3… you’ll be honored fulfilled. They’re for gender equality. forever in Iranian history and They’re for human rights. They’re for a in the history of those who system of law. They’re for fair trial. And love and are willing to die for because of their history, they oppose freedom. God bless you. capital punishment because there’s been TThis organization has grown and too much of it. grown and grown, and I feel in this This is a good organization. And it’s room today a kind of optimism that I an organization that is ready, willing and don’t remember feeling before when we able not to take over Iran but to guide were in Paris. I feel an optimism maybe Iran to elections as quickly as possible, because you’ve done a miracle here in and hopefully they will be part of the co- Ashraf. If we were to build this in New alition governing Iran like they’re part of York City, it would take 15 years and 14 the coalition that is trying to guide Iran corruption investigations. I was here to freedom. This is a group that we can a year and a half ago; this wasn’t here. support. It’s a group that we should stop And of course, all of this is possible maligning, and it’s a group that should because of the leadership of Madame make us comfortable having regime Maryam Rajavi, a truly exceptional change in the worst regime in the world. leader. Just like her husband, Massoud There is an alternative to this horrible regime of Here’s what you can do. You can be Rajavi, who began this movement in terror … the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a witness like in the biblical sense of a one very brave act.

Load more