In a significant bipartisan move, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), along with 12 other senators from both parties, introduced Senate Resolution 145 to affirm strong support for Iranian political refugees residing in Ashraf-3, Albania. The resolution, titled “Protecting the Iranian political refugees, including female former political prisoners, in Ashraf-3 in Albania”, was submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 27, 2025.
The resolution underscores the need for “prompt and appropriate steps” to guarantee the safety and fundamental rights of Iranian dissidents now living in Ashraf-3, many of whom were formerly imprisoned in Iran for opposing the theocratic regime. Among them are over 900 women and men who survived torture and bear witness to atrocities, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners—a crime in which the Iranian regime’s president Ebrahim Raisi has been implicated.
#American @SenThomTillis highlights bipartisan support for Ashraf 3 and calls for ongoing protection and support. We must ensure #Albania and Ashraf 3 remain safe as we push for change, he urges. pic.twitter.com/HTxHglLfGM
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 18, 2024
According to the resolution, “these witnesses must be fully protected for potential testimonies before international courts investigating the 1988 massacre and other grave human rights violations in Iran.”
Senators emphasized that the Iranian regime, which the resolution describes as “the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” has escalated its malign activities, including cyberattacks against Albania in December 2023 and the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices in an attempt to silence and repatriate dissidents abroad.
The measure also condemns the regime’s threats against Albanian sovereignty and calls out the “sham trials in absentia” launched by Tehran targeting 104 members of the Iranian Resistance in Europe, including Ashraf-3. These trials, the resolution warns, are intended to create false legal precedents to facilitate extraditions or justify potential terror attacks.
Former ICC President Dr. @EboeOsuji confirms ICC jurisdiction over crimes against #MEK in Albania and France if local authorities don't act. International law must protect MEK members. pic.twitter.com/nS547TYf8F
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 4, 2024
“The Iranian regime has stepped up terrorist attacks against its opponents and has used blackmail, terror threats, hostage-taking, sham judicial proceedings, and other means of intimidation,” the text reads.
The Senate resolution further highlights the misogynist hysteria of the regime, noting that the leadership role of women in Ashraf-3 has intensified Tehran’s hostility toward the residents. It points to the international support for Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, endorsed by over 4,000 lawmakers and 130 former world leaders, as a roadmap for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic in Iran.
US Senate Resolution Aims to Protect #Iranian Political Refugees in Albaniahttps://t.co/0SYkoR6CTJ
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 27, 2024
S.Res.145 urges the U.S. government to:
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Ensure the fundamental rights of Ashraf-3 residents, including freedom of expression, assembly, and lawful political activity.
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Condemn the Iranian regime’s cyberattacks and threats against Albania.
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Work with Albania under international law to protect the lives, liberty, and property of Ashraf-3 residents.
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Oppose Iran’s abuse of INTERPOL mechanisms for political persecution.
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Maintain close cooperation with Albania and Ashraf-3 to uphold these protections.
In a letter dated April 19, 2016, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama reaffirmed his country’s commitment to protect the rights of Iranian refugees based on international conventions, including the 1951 Geneva Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.
As Tehran continues its efforts to export terror and suppress dissent abroad, the resolution sends a clear bipartisan message: the United States stands with the Iranian people and their struggle for freedom, and will defend those who have risked everything to expose the crimes of the regime.