Maryam Rajavi: Unpopularity, Political Controversies, NCRI Leadership, and Life in Albania’s MEK Camp

Maryam Rajavi remains one of the most debated figures in modern Iranian politics. As the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and a leading figure in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), she is both praised as a champion of democracy and criticized for her organization’s past and perceived lack of support among Iranians.

In recent years, her movement has been largely headquartered outside Iran, particularly in Albania, where the MEK operates a major compound known as Ashraf 3. This article explores her biography, political ideology, controversies, claims of unpopularity, and the role of the MEK camp in Albania.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Maryam Rajavi was born on December 3, 1953, in Tehran, Iran. She grew up during the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah and became politically active as a student.

Her early activism was shaped by the political unrest leading up to the Iranian Revolution. Like many opposition figures of her generation, she opposed authoritarian rule but later diverged from the clerical leadership that came to power under Ruhollah Khomeini.

March 24, 2026 | 3:12 pm