Association of Independent Iraqi Jurists consisting of 12,000 Iraqi jurists and lawyers strongly condemned the suppressive measures that are imposed on Ashraf residents by bringing police forces, complete blockade of plying back and forth to Ashraf and prevention of workers’ entry to Ashraf and announced that the only winner in this story is the religious regime ruling Iran with the price of harming reputation of Iraq and Iraqis.

In its statement, the Association of Independent Iraqi Jurists announced: “Since five months ago when the US forces delivered responsibility of Camp Ashraf protection to the Iraqi forces, we have been witnessing daily increasing of pressures and limitations that have turned Ashraf into a prison such that they even block entry of the most basic necessities such as hygienic and clothing materials for livelihood; these measures are explicit violation of the International Law and the International Humanitarian Law with regard to the protected persons. The proportions of oppression and injustice have gone even beyond this city’s residents and have inflicted Diyala province inhabitants. As the people in this area have said, more than a thousand workers have been working in the camp every day, but ever since the government forces assumed protection of this camp, they have tried to prevent entry of these workers under various pretexts so as in recent days not even one worker could get in.

The statement continued: We, the Association of Independent Iraqi Jurists, in unison with the April 24 European Parliament resolution that urged the Iraqi government to recognize Ashraf residents’ rights, and in unison with 14 parliamentary committees in Europe and north America and also the International Committee in defense of Ashraf and the International Committee of “In Search of Justice” ask for lifting illegal siege of Ashraf and recognizing the legal status of its resident. Entry of the police forces into Ashraf, the home to also one thousand women, not only is not necessary, but is also regarded against Arabic and Islamic tradition; imposing further limitations only tarnishes Iraq’s international reputation. We believe ending this illegal and outrageous siege is the most urgent measure that the Iraqi government must undertake and announce its obligation to implement the European Parliament resolution and acknowledge legal rights of Ashraf residents.