The archbishop of Winnipeg and head of Canadian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, James Wisegrease, in a letter addressing the UN Secretary General, asked for a decisive measure by the UN for guaranteeing Ashraf protection.

In his letter, Archbishop Wisegrease wrote: “We were informed that the MNF-I is negotiating with the Iraqi government for transferring protection of Camp Ashraf; we know that these news is welcomed by the Iranian regime and is assessed as the first step for expulsion of these Iranian refugees.”

Referring to emphasis of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the Ashraf residents’ rights and guarantee of the non-refoulement principle regarding them, the Winnipeg archbishop pointed out that transferring the Ashraf protection to any third party that does not recognize non-refoulement principle is a flagrant violation of international law and a call for injustice.

Archbishop James Wisegrease emphasized: “Mr. Secretary General, I ask you to take a decisive measure and emphasize through your valid bureaus that Ashraf protection must stay under US and Coalition Force so that a potential human catastrophe is prevented”.