In the heart of the Balkans, the Republic of Albania—a country shaped by resistance, independence, and the long road to democracy—has watched global events unfold in Iran with profound empathy. Although Albania and Iran are distant geographically, they are united in spirit by shared experiences of autocracy, civil struggle, international isolation, and eventual re-emergence.

Albania, a country that broke the chains of totalitarian rule just decades ago, stands in solidarity with the Iranian people in their pursuit of freedom, dignity, and self-determination. The bond is not one born out of convenience or alliance, but of conscience—rooted in understanding what it means to rise against oppression, to reclaim one’s identity, and to demand justice in the face of systemic suppression.

1. Historical Overview of Albania-Iran Relations

While Albania and Iran do not share centuries of direct cultural or political engagement like Iran and its regional neighbors, their modern diplomatic interactions have been shaped by broader global dynamics, especially during the Cold War and post-communist transition.

Albania’s isolationist regime under Enver Hoxha severed almost all international ties for decades, including with Iran, except for brief ideological commonalities with revolutionary Iran in the early 1980s. However, this period was short-lived, and no long-term strategic alliance was established. Albania was consumed by internal purges and rigid Marxist doctrine, while Iran was undergoing its own post-revolution reordering.

Relations remained minimal until the 1990s when Albania transitioned to democracy and opened its doors to international cooperation. Iran and Albania formally established diplomatic relations, but those ties remained modest—focused primarily on cultural exchange and minimal trade.

In recent decades, tensions have flared over Albania’s role in hosting members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), which Iran considers a terrorist organization. Despite this sensitive issue, many Albanians—especially civil society activists, intellectuals, and youth—distinguish between state-level disputes and their support for the rights of the Iranian people.

2. Shared Legacy of Totalitarianism and Resistance

To understand Albania’s solidarity with the Iranian population, one must look at Albania’s past. Under Hoxha’s rule, Albanians endured one of the most rigid communist regimes in the world. Religion was outlawed, foreign influence was forbidden, and millions lived in fear, surveillance, and poverty.

It wasn’t until the early 1990s that Albanians began to rise, demanding political pluralism, freedom of expression, and access to the outside world. The transition was painful. Albania experienced economic collapse, social unrest, and institutional fragility. But today, Albania stands as a democratic republic—a member of NATO, and a candidate for European Union membership.

The Iranian people’s struggle—particularly the younger generation—mirrors Albania’s experience. When Albanian citizens see videos of Iranian youth chanting for freedom, women burning headscarves in defiance, and students rallying for rights, they see themselves.

3. Cultural and Intellectual Support

Albanian writers, poets, and journalists have increasingly used their platforms to speak about the situation in Iran. Literary festivals in Tirana have hosted Iranian exiles, artists, and human rights activists. Discussions around censorship, patriarchy, and surveillance in Iran are compared with Albania’s own experiences under dictatorship.

Books translated from Farsi to Albanian—such as works by Iranian dissidents and feminist authors—are gaining traction in Albania’s literary circles. In return, Iranian intellectuals in exile have praised the resilience of the Albanian people and their cultural reawakening.

Several NGOs in Albania now run awareness campaigns on women’s rights in Iran, prison conditions for Iranian journalists, and internet shutdowns imposed by the Iranian regime. These campaigns are often supported by Albanian university students, many of whom consider human rights a universal struggle, not just a national one.

4. Political Signals and Moral Stances

In 2022 and 2023, as protests in Iran grew in intensity following the death of Mahsa Amini, members of the Albanian Parliament, civil society organizations, and diaspora networks issued public statements of support for the Iranian demonstrators.

Notably, Albanian leaders framed their support not as antagonism against the Iranian state, but as a commitment to the Iranian people’s right to dignity, fair governance, and civil liberties. Albania’s foreign affairs committees have also advocated for stronger international monitoring of human rights violations in Iran and have encouraged multilateral institutions to raise Iran’s profile in forums such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

This stance represents a broader diplomatic identity that Albania has adopted since joining NATO: one rooted in peacekeeping, humanitarian advocacy, and ethical foreign policy, especially regarding transitional justice and post-authoritarian reform.

5. Voices from the Albanian Diaspora

Albanian communities abroad—especially in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, and the UK—have joined international marches and demonstrations in support of Iran. Social media pages operated by Albanian diaspora groups frequently share content related to the Iranian protests, often drawing parallels to Albania’s 1990 student protests and anti-regime uprisings.

In places like New York and Geneva, Albanian-Iranian coalitions have emerged, jointly hosting panel discussions and cultural events promoting human rights, cross-border solidarity, and artistic resistance.

6. Youth-Led Digital Activism

In Albania, where nearly half the population is under 35, digital activism is robust. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channels run by Albanian content creators frequently highlight injustices around the world. Iran has become a recurring theme.

Some influencers dedicate entire content series to covering Iranian resistance, decoding hijab laws, and amplifying voices of Iranian protestors. University-run podcasts have invited Iranian students in exile to share their stories, while Albanian TikTokers encourage followers to avoid fast fashion from brands that stay silent on Iranian crackdowns.

The alignment of Generation Z in both countries—frustrated with control, eager for reform, and ready to globalize resistance—has created a powerful, transnational energy.

Conclusion

Albania’s solidarity with the Iranian people is born not out of political opportunism but from a place of lived experience. The scars of dictatorship, the memory of censorship, and the collective journey toward democracy have made Albanians more attuned to struggles elsewhere. Iran’s current moment is Albania’s recent past.

In that understanding lies a powerful bridge—a bond that transcends treaties and embassies. From the streets of Tirana to the valleys of Iran, one message echoes clearly: the yearning for freedom is universal, and its defenders are everywhere.

Albania stands with Iran not because it must—but because it remembers what it means to suffer, to rise, and to fight for a future that belongs to the people.