Source: Byavisa, Norwegian daily, December 15, 2009*
Iran: Amnesty International and exiled Iranians in Trondheim (Norway) fear that Iraqi authorities are preparing a new round of attacks against Camp Ashraf where thousands of Iranian dissidents have lived for over 20 years.

Delaram Dashti and Behrouz Omid, both resident of Trondheim and members of the Iranian Academic Association, fear a severe setback in the struggle against the Iranian clerical regime.

“The most active opponents of the Iranian regime are in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. They are now faced with a great danger, “said Behroz.

Around 3400 people living there have been told to leave Ashraf on 15 December. The Iraqi government threatens forcible relocation to other parts of Iraq after that deadline.

Transit city
Ashraf is a refugee camp in Iraq, where about 3400 members of the Iranian resistance movement, National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), have sought refuge from the Iranian regime. Most fled from brutal persecution in Iran to the transit city in the 1980’s.

No security
These Iranians were allowed to reside in Ashraf by the late Saddam Hussein. When the Americans invaded Iraq in 2003, they guaranteed that they would provide security and protect the inhabitants of the refugee camp in return for the residents’ disarmament. But earlier this year, security control was transferred from U.S. forces to Iraqi forces.

Ashraf attacked
Last July ended in disaster. Iraqi soldiers stormed the camp, killing at least nine people and injuring many more. 36 were arrested and detained for over two months despite an order from the Iraqi Supreme Court calling for their release. While in prison, they were tortured.
An optimistic Behrouz Omid, says, “Recently, large-scale demonstrations have taken place in Iranian streets against the clerical regime. The demonstrations marked ‘Student Day.’ In Tehran alone, hundreds of thousands summoned the courage to display their hatred towards the regime. Things have become more radicalized and something is about to happen.”

Iran and Iraq Cooperate
For the clerical regime, the border town of Ashraf is the symbol and stronghold of the Iranian people’s struggle against the regime. That is why it so important for them to destroy it.
Delaram Dashti says: “Relations between the clerical regime and Iraqi officials have grown closer after the Iraq war when a new government took power in Iraq. That is when, sadly, religious fundamentalists gained more influence. This has made the situation for opponents in Ashraf much more precarious.” Iranian authorities are now exerting pressure on Iraq to crush and destroy the resistance movement in this city.

Støre [Norwegian FM] must exert more pressure
Last week, 91 Norwegian parliamentarians signed a declaration in support of the NCRI.
Behrouz says: “Only the Iranian people and their resistance movement can rebuild the country and deal with the mullahs. The heart of this resistance is in Ashraf. We are asking the residents of Trondheim to send e-mails to the Foreign Minister to listen to the members of parliament and put the pressure on the regime in Iran.”
*This is the English translation of the report