In a letter to the Commander of Multi National Force – Iraq (MNF-I), Ed Towns, U.S. Congressman (D) from New York, wrote:
I have been made aware that Iraqi government spokesman has recently called for expulsion of the members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOIMEK) from Iraq and stated that they “be placed under the Iraqi control in order to be expelled from Iraq.”
These requests are clearly in violation or the international laws that apply to refugees and protected persons.
The PMOI members reside in Camp Ashraf. Having singed agreements with the Multi National Forces-Iraq in 2004, they are designated protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention. International Committee of the Red Cross has reaffirmed their legal and protected status in Iraq. As you are well aware, transfer of any of their members to other country or authority which might jeopardize the implementation of the principle of non-refoulement is unlawful. It needs no further reminding that all parties, including the Coalition Forces, bear the obligation to follow the relevant Customary International I.aw to ensure the safety of PMOI members in Iraq. Additionally, the United States and other relevant parties are obligated to apply with vigilance, the aforementioned principle.
The present statement is made in light of the fact that Mr. Dabaq has remained curiously silent about the numerous Iranian meddling activities in Iraq, including Iran’s terrorist operations against Ashraf City.
His illegal remarks were made only a few hours after some 3 million Iraqi Shiites singed a declaration rejecting Iran’s interference in Iraq. The declaration also supports the secular, democratic Iranian opposition members in Ashraf. Shiite and Sunni leaders (such as Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, representatives of Iraqi vice President Al-Hashemi’s political party, and representatives of former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi) had recently attended a large congress in Ashraf to announce this popular position.
With the declaration, the Iraqis have rejected Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and called for expulsion of ban’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from that country. The remarks can thus only be interpreted as an illegal ploy to legitimize the escalation of violence against the PMOI and its popular support within Iraq. This action also demonstrates the great schism between the secular population of Iraq and Iranian regime’s supporters in that country’s government.
Today, I am concerned for the safety of the PMOI members and the millions or Iraqis who support them. Indeed, no one must be allowed to either directly or indirectly harm the PMOI, or the cause of secular democracy in Iraq.
With great respect for your indispensable service to our nation, I urge you to do all that you can to ensure the safety and well being of the residents or Ashraf. This is our obligation under international laws.
In face of growing threat from ban and apart from the international obligations, protecting and empowering Iraqis secular voices and the PMOI serve the national interests of the United States. I also call on the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the relevant international bodies to heed the call of the millions of Iraqis.