Numerous Arab media outlets have provided widespread coverage on European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton expressing concern about Baghdad extraditing the seven Ashrafi hostages.

 
Al-Watan al-Arabi daily (Egypt), 24 Sep 2013 – EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has warned of the “significant risk” that seven Iranian dissidents held in Iraq could be sent to Tehran and has called for their immediate release.

Al-Lewa daily (Lebanon), 24 Sep 2013 – EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has warned of the “significant risk” that seven Iranian dissidents held in Iraq could be sent to Tehran and has called for their immediate release.
“We have reason to believe that up to seven camp residents are being held in captivity near Baghdad, and that there is a significant risk that they could be sent to Iran,” Ashton said in a letter seen by AFP that was sent on September 19 to European Parliament Vice President Alejo Vidal Quadras.

Al-Sharq daily (Qatar), 24 Sep 2013 – “I fully share your concerns about the fate of these individuals,” Ashton wrote, adding that she had raised the issue with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and asked for their release.
The seven Iranian exiles, members of the People’s Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran (PMOI), disappeared during the September 1 violence in Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad, that left 52 people dead.

 
Al-Watan website (Egypt), 24 Sep 2013 – EU High Representative on Foreign Affairs Ashton warned of the “significant risk” that seven Iranian dissidents held in Iraq could be sent to Tehran and has called for their immediate release.

 
Al-Mustaqbel TV Website (Lebanon), 24 Sep 2013 – “We have reason to believe that up to seven camp residents are being held in captivity near Baghdad, and that there is a significant risk that they could be sent to Iran,” Ashton said in a sent on September 19 to European Parliament Vice President Alejo Vidal Quadras.