22 Arab parties, unions, associations and organizations and dozens of political figures, jurists and human rights activists in Arabic countries called for the termination of the Ashraf Suppression Committee and the referral of Ashraf’s dossier to the Iraqi Parliament.
The letter of these parties and organizations addressed to Ad Melkert, UN Secretary General Special Representative to Iraq, which transcripts of was sent to UN and US officials, the Secretary General of the Arab League and the Iraqi government, states:
On Friday, January 7th, 2011, the Iranian embassy in Iraq, through the Ashraf Suppression Committee, rounded up a number of hired thugs at the southern flank of Camp Ashraf. These individuals, who were fully supported by Iraqi forces, attacked the residents and hurled stones, pieces of glass and molotov cocktails at them. The attack resulted in the injury of 176 people, of which 91 were women. This attack is in addition to the psychological torture already being imposed on the camp’s residents through 180 loudspeakers installed around the camp by the Iranian regime’s intelligence agents and their elements, used to threaten the residents day and night. Taking into notice the continuous threats against Ashraf residents and the pre-planned against them, and to avert further catastrophes and losses, we have the following demands:
– Dissolving the Ashraf suppression committee affiliated to the Iraqi Prime Ministry and referring Ashraf’s dossier to the Iraqi Parliament
– Establishing a fact-finding committee in the Iraqi Parliament to investigate the crimes and announcing the names of the perpetrators
– Removing the 180 loudspeakers installed around the camp by the Iranian regime’s intelligence agents to impose psychological torture on the residents
– Considering the fact that until their final designation, the US government has responsibility regarding Ashraf residents based on an agreement with each and every resident; therefore, you must call on the US government to reassume the protection of Ashraf residents. Of course, in this case the UN monitoring team will be able to have presence in Ashraf to observe the conditions first hand.