News about the Humanitarian Crisis for Camp Ashraf Residents

Monday, March 8, 2010

Maryam Rajavi congratulates success of Iraqi nationalist forces
NCRI Press Release

March 07, 2010
NCRI - Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, congratulated the Iraqi people, Dr. Ayad Allawi (leader of the Al-Iraqiya list and the Iraqi Nationalist Movement), Dr. Salih Mutlak (Secretary General of the Iraqi Nationalist Movement) and Dr. Tariq al-Hashimi for the early results of the parliamentary elections in Iraq on Sunday.

Her message follows the release of reports and opinion polls on Sunday from polling stations showing decisive victory for the Iraqi nationalist forces. She said that the victory is an indication of the Iraqi people’s indisputable resolve to establish democracy and live in peace and security away from the Iranian regime’s meddling and occupation of their country.

Mrs. Rajavi described the elections today as a turning point in Iraq. She emphasized that it would change the political pattern in Iraq in the direction of enforcing people’s sovereignty in that country if it is protected from the meddling and planned fraud by the Supreme Leader of the clerical regime and the terrorist Quds Force...  Read More

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From Iran to Iraq, Tehran Rulers Crank Up Suppression of Dissidents
The Global Politician
March 3, 2010
By Majid Roshan, Spokesman for U.S. Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents
There is little doubt that the Tehran regime, fighting for survival in the face of nationwide uprisings, has pressured the Iraqi government to create bloodshed in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, thereby freeing the regime from one of its main and most organized democratic opposition movements. The mullahs’ reign of terror has been dealt a lethal jolt and there is no end in sight for the widening factional fissures and purges at the top. The unprecedented suppression of pro-democracy Iranians has extended beyond Iran borders to Iraq, targeting, by proxy, the 3,400 Iranian dissidents living at Camp Ashraf...

As TIME magazine wrote in July 2009, "The sudden escalation with Ashraf may have more to do with a bruised Iranian regime's bid to stamp out its opponents both at home and abroad than with any pressing Iraqi national interest." Similarly in 2007, the French monthly Afrique Asie wrote, "The Iranian rulers are incredibly concerned and alarmed" about "peoples' support for the PMOI. Today, the PMOI is highly capable of attracting Iranian youth born and raised after the revolution."...

Residents of Ashraf are entitled to the universally recognized humanitarian safeguards and protections, given their status as “Protected Persons” under the Fourth Geneva Convention. This status was formally recognized by the United States in 2004 in recognition of the PMOI’s non-belligerence during the 2003 Iraq war and its aftermath. Since the US transfer of Ashraf’s security to the Iraqi government in January 2009, however, there has been an ongoing, systematic and escalating breach of human rights of the “protected persons” in Ashraf, a gross violation of Iraq ’s written assurances to the United States . Noting that Ashraf residents are recognized as “Protected Persons”, a Spanish court last November ruled it will probe the Iraqi forces' deadly July attack against Ashraf residents.

The US bears a legal, let alone moral, responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the “protected persons” of Ashraf in accordance with Article 45 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and in the framework of official agreements it has signed with the people of Ashraf. As a first step, the United States must intervene to ensure the immediate end to the siege on Ashraf which would otherwise turn into a humanitarian catastrophe... Read More

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Iraqi forces continue to make life difficult for Camp Ashraf residents
Amnesty International
March 1, 2010
“On 28 July 2009, Iraqi security forces stormed Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad, home to about 3,500 Iranian refugees and detained 36 residents. The 36 were subsequently reported to have been tortured, including by being beaten with batons and guns. Several people needed medical treatment for their injuries.

“The Iraqi government has continued to threaten Iranian refugees living in Camp Ashraf with forcible removal from the camp. On 28 July Iraqi security forces raided and took over the camp, in Diyala Governorate, which houses some 3400 members or supporters of the People’s Mojahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian opposition group.

“The camp had been under US military control since 2003 until the SOFA agreement came into force at the beginning of 2009. During the raid Iraqi forces used force against the camp residents. In video footage filmed at the time, Iraqi forces could be seen deliberately driving military vehicles into crowds of unarmed protesting camp residents. Further, live ammunition was used resulting in at least nine residents being shot dead. Another 36 were detained and subjected to beatings and torture. They were in poor health and staged a hunger strike against their detention and ill-treatment. The 36 remained held in al-Khalis police station, also in Diyala, although an investigative judge ordered their release. They were moved to Baghdad and only released in October after international protests.

“The Iraqi government reportedly wanted to move Camp Ashraf residents to another camp in southern Iraq and gave the residents an ultimatum to move by 15 December 2009 or they would be moved by force. However, by late February 2010 no forced removal had taken place, although Iraqi security forces continue to make life difficult for the residents.”... Read More

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Iraqi Shiite cleric: Camp Ashraf residents are Protected Persons based on Geneva Convention
NCRI Website
February 27, 2010
NCRI - Dr. Ayad Jamal al-Din, a distinguished Shiite cleric, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Iraqi Parliament and leader of Ahrar party, said that Ashraf residents in Iraq are Protected Persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention and their displacement is prohibited. Excerpts of interview with Alsumaria TV on February 27:

Host: You support the presence of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Iraq, but there is another opinion which says we have the right to ask them to leave Iraq. Why do you want them to stay in Iraq?

Jamal al-Din: This matter can be examined from two aspects. One is the legal aspect, PMOI and Camp Ashraf are recognized as Protected Persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Because they are civilians we must protect them. They are civilians because they are not armed. So the legal aspect of the issue prohibits their forcible displacement. It means they cannot be forcibly moved from Diyala province or Khalis. International law prohibits their displacement...  Read More

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Fifteen rights organization call on Iraq to end unjust siege of Camp Ashraf
NCRI Website
February 27, 2010
NCRI - In a joint statement, fifteen organizations in defense of human rights and international law from various Arabic countries strongly condemned measures taken by the Iraqi authorities against the residents of Camp Ashraf.

"The organizations strongly condemn and are profoundly concerned about repressive measures taken by the Iraqi authorities against the residents of Camp Ashraf. Located about 60 km north of Baghdad, the camp is home to some 3,500 Iranian refugees, largely members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq [PMOI/MEK] and their families," the statement said, noting that “the Iraqi authorities have been increasing pressure on camp residents for more than a year, ultimately aimed at expelling them from Iraq by making their continued presence in the country 'intolerable,' according to one prominent Iraqi security official.”

The organizations called on the Iraqi authorities to immediately end the unjust siege on the camp’s residents and to suspend any measures that may endanger their lives. In particular, the Iraqi authorities are required to abstain from measures that would lead to the expulsion or forced repatriation of camp residents to Iran.

"The Iraqi authorities are also obligated to allow human rights observers to enter Camp Ashraf and assess the humanitarian situation," the statement said...  Read More

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U.S. COMMITTEE FOR CAMP ASHRAF RESIDENTS

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