On Thursday September 4th, the International Committee of Jurists in Defense of Ashraf held a press conference in Geneva. In this conference, Professor Eric David, President of the Law Faculty of Free University of Brussels and honorary chairman of this committee, François Serres, an Ashraf attorney and consecutive director of the International Committee of Jurists in Defense of Ashraf, Dr. Marc Henzelin, of Ashraf Attorneys, Carlo Samaroga, member of Swiss Federal Parliament, Mohammad Mohaddessin, chairman of the National Council of Resistance’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Ali Safavi, member of the Foreign Commission of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, participated.

Mr. Francois Serres who headed the session said: “A while ago a number of jurists of this committee, including Professor Eric David, Mark Henzelin and Steven Schneebaum, visited Ashraf and evaluated its situation from close.” He then referred to some of the Iranian regime’s conspiracies regarding Ashraf City including terrorist attacks, bombing of water pumping station and missile attacks and said: “That is why we are concerned that if the United States transfers Ashraf protection, the security of Ashraf residents would be endangered and a human catastrophe would be underway.”

Then Professor Eric David said: “Transfer of protection from US could lead to violation of the international law; in fact as you know the residents of Ashraf, who were welcomed in Iraq since years ago, are considered refugees; they never interfered the war when the it started in 2003, they voluntarily delivered their arms; they are considered civilians.” He added, “Following the war that the US waged in Iraq, the Ashraf refugees turned into civilians protected by Fourth Convention of 1949. The present situation of Ashraf is the outcome of the situation caused by war 2003 occupation of Iraq. Therefore, the United States is committed to guarantee protection of persons who are under its control. Officially, the situation of occupation comes to an end once the sovereignty is transferred from the US forces to the Iraqi government, but the fact is that the US forces are still in Iraq and continuously face a hostile situation that prompts us to evaluate that international humanitarian law must be implemented. Hence the US mandate for guaranteeing the protection of Ashraf residents remains in force. The present situation in Iraq makes us believe in the case of protection transfer, a massacre would be in the outlook and this is a matter of concern. “

Then Dr. Mark Henzelin described his observations in Ashraf and elaborated the dire consequences of protection transfer from the US and concluded that such a transfer is in contradiction with legal, political and moral standards.”

Mr. Carlo Samaroga, representative of Swiss Federal Parliament, said: “The condition of Ashraf residents and the present insecure situation must change; their real security must be provided, and to this ene, we have to mobilize public opinion. We expect international organizations, UNHCR, the UN Commissionaire for Human Rights and all human rights organizations to be active in this issue, because in the 21st century we can not let the conditions move toward insecurity of these innocent people.”

Then Mr. Mohammad Mohaddessin said: “Camp Ashraf has always been exposed to the Iranian regime’s threat as the main target. It was the Iranian regime that asked the coalition forces to bomb Ashraf. The terrorist activities of the Iranian regime against Ashraf is common knowledge and if the US forces leave this camp, the Iranian regime would have a more free hand to pressure Iraqi government for a human catastrophe.