logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2021
31m 34s

The People's Mujahidin: Inside a secreti...

THE TIMES
About this episode

It is not marked on maps. Men with automatic weapons guard its border. Few outsiders have ever visited the heavily guarded enclave in rural Albania that is home to the People’s Mujahidin, or MEK.

For its supporters, MEK is the biggest and most resilient Iranian opposition group, a government-in-waiting. Others see it as a bizarre and secretive cult led by a zealot with no chance of replacing Iran's ruthless theocracy.

Sunday Times foreign correspondent Matthew Campbell goes in search of the truth – the first British journalist to be allowed inside the camp.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Matthew Campbell, foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: Al Jazeera, BBC News, Channel 4 News, France 24, Fox Business, NCRI.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Meet the man selling ‘doom’ to Zuckerberg and the Tate brothers - the Long Weekend Story
Ron Hubbard is the biggest builder of underground bunkers, giving security to wealthy buyers who fear the world is coming to an end. And business is boomingThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http:// ... Show More
9m 9s
Yesterday
The prison chief linked to organised crime - the Sunday Story
Bobby Cunningham was 31 when he became Head of Security at Wandsworth Prison, Britain’s most notorious jail, where he was tasked with fighting corruption. The Sunday Times's Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund reveals his dealings with organised crime.This podcast was brought to you ... Show More
38m 35s
Aug 23
Inside the Church of England's 'sex cult' - the Saturday Story
Chris Brain, the leader of a Church of England ‘sex cult’ known s the Nine O'Clock Service, has been found guilty of 17 charges of indecent assault, three decades after its collapse. Why did the Church fail to learn lessons from the scandal?This podcast was brought to you thanks ... Show More
33m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2019
A Deadly Crackdown in Iran
Behind the curtain of an internet blackout, the Islamic Republic’s security forces have killed at least 180 unarmed protesters. Natalie Kitroeff speaks to Farnaz Fassihi about Iran’s deadliest political unrest in decades and why the United States wanted that unrest — and has help ... Show More
23m 46s
Apr 2024
Could Iran attack Israel? And Can Biden Stop It?
Today, we look at President Joe Biden’s warning that Iran is threatening to launch a “significant attack” on Israel.Tensions have risen following what is believed to be an Israeli attack on an embassy in Syria, which killed senior Iranians. America has promised “ironclad” support ... Show More
30m 6s
Jul 2022
Tunisia: The referendum and the ramifications for the media | The Listening Post
As Tunisia prepares to vote on a controversial new constitution, President Kais Saied’s continuing power grab risks reversing the country's hard-won media freedoms. Contributors: Thameur Mekki - Editor-in-chief, Nawaat Monia Ben Hamadi - Media consultant Monica Marks - Professor ... Show More
25m 5s
Apr 2024
In the Shadow of the Shadow War
Canadian media coverage of the war in the Middle East has, unsurprisingly, focused on the impact on diaspora communities here in Canada. We have heard about Jewish Canadians, Palestinian Canadians, and we have heard in general terms about the many Muslim communities across Canada ... Show More
50m 6s
Feb 2024
Iran's New Headache: Its Own Proxies
As Iranian-backed proxies continue to step up attacks across the Middle East, experts have been closely watching Iranian leadership for their response. Meanwhile, the US continues to weigh its next moves after a recent attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. In thi ... Show More
10m 56s
Oct 2023
Interview with the Iranian Foreign Minister; Israeli public opinion on the war; Michael Lewis on Sam Bankman-Fried
This week guest anchor Bianna Golodryga sits down for an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Bianna presses him on his government's praise for the recent Hamas attack and asks him about his apparent threats to the U.S.  Then, Bianna speaks with Israe ... Show More
42m 37s
May 2024
La richiesta senza precedenti di un mandato d’arresto per Netanyahu. Dopo la morte del presidente iraniano.
Il procuratore della Corte penale internazionale Karim Khan ha richiesto l'emissione di mandati d'arresto per il premier israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu e il suo ministro della difesa Yoav Gallant e per tre leader di Hamas, per crimini di guerra e crimini contro l'umanità. Il presi ... Show More
25m 41s
Jul 2024
Why is Iran seeing its lowest voter turnout ever?
Iranians are voting for a new president – but the first round of the election saw the lowest voter turnout in the country’s history. Will more people turn out on Friday for the final round of the vote, or will this trend continue? And why has turnout been so low?  In this episode ... Show More
15m 12s
Sep 2023
How has Mahsa Amini’s death changed Iran?
One year ago Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from Iran, died in police custody. The country’s “morality police” had detained her for wearing her hijab too loosely. It sparked defiant protests across the country and calls for greater respect for women.Two Iranian reporters — Bara ... Show More
14m 33s