In a statement released on October 1, 2009 on Camp Ashraf, Mrs. Christine Mccafferty, Chair of the Committee on Social, health and family affairs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), called for the establishment of a U.N. monitoring team in Ashraf.

The text of the state ment is as follows:

“The situation of Iranians in Camp Ashraf and in particular the situation of 1000 women residents of the camp in Iraq has become more than alarming.
These persons must, as a matter of urgency, receive full guarantees of international protection,” said Ms McCafferty (UK, Soc). She also expressed her deep concern over the refusal of the Iraqi authority to release 36 residents of Camp Ashraf despite a clear ruling of the court. They were arrested in late July and on the basis of Amnesty International reports were beaten up and tortured by the Iraqi police..
‘Amnesty International, International Federation of Human Rights, World Organisation against torture and Human Rights Watch as well as parliamentarians from around globe have condemned the attack against the unarmed residents of the Camp Ashraf”.
On the situation of the 36 abductees she said: Iraq’s refusal to release the 36 abductees in defiance of 3 Iraqi court verdicts and the presence of the Iraqi forces in Ashraf are causing grave concern.
She concluded by saying that: As a positive step in guaranteeing their security, I call for the establishment of a U.N. monitoring team in Ashraf. It also calls on Iraq to facilitate deployment of the team.