In a letter to UN Secretary General , U.S. Congressman Ed Towns reiterated: “Without regard for international laws, Iran is clearly working to eliminate the residents of Ashraf. Because of the unstable security situation in Iraq, Iran’s violent influence there, and its stated animosity towards the PMOI, the only qualified and competent entity capable of ensuring their safety is the U.S. military.”
Ed Towns letter’s full text to UN Secretary General is :
October 10, 2008
The Honorable Ban Ki Moon
Secretary-General
United Nations Headquarters
New York, NY 10017
Mr. Secretary:
Today is Day 33 of a sit- in, which members of my district as well as concerned relatives of the Iranian dissidents living in Camp Ashraf, Iraq have been staging outside the New York Headquarters of the United Nations.
As you may be aware, in June 2004, the United States Government and the Multi-National Forces-Iraq, granted members of the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (MEK/PMOI) in Camp Ashraf, Iraq, “protected persons” status under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In March 20, 2007, the international Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reminded the relevant authorities of “their obligation to act in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement.” This law stipulates that residents of Camp Ashraf must not be deported, expelled, repatriated or displaced inside Iraq in violation of the relevant provisions of International Humanitarian Law. Additionally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reaffirmed their refugee status in Iraq (March 06, 2007).
In its letter dated August 28, 2008, Amnesty International alerted both U.S. and Iraqi governments that members of the PMOI in Iraq are ‘protected persons’ under international humanitarian law and, therefore, should not be expelled or forcibly returned to Iran”. It added that “that those living in Camp Ashraf would be at grave risk of torture or other serious human rights violations if they were to be returned involuntarily to Iran, whether by the Iraqi authorities or by the US-led MultiNational Force (MNF).”
Despite these warnings, there remains considerable unease because the protection of Ashraf may soon be fully transferred from the U.S. to Iraqi security forces. The concerns are well placed as the Iranian government is exerting extraordinary pressure on the Iraqi government.
We know that the Iranian law is clear on the regime’s intentions towards the PMOI members and sympathizers. Article 186 of the Iranian Islamic Punishment Act (1997) states that, “all members and supporters” of the PMOI “who in one way or the other are effectively involved in advancing its aims are “Mohareb”, which is to say guilty of waging war on God… Act establishes that the punishment for “Mohareb “is “killing,” “hanging, amputation of the right hand and then the left leg.” On July 10, 2008, Iran’s State-run TV quoted the country’s Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi as saying that an Iraqi committee had been formed to expel the group from the country. On September 05, 2008, Parviz Sarvari, a member of Iran’s National Security Commission noted that “We must insist from the Government of Iraq that this action be taken” and ‘they be turned over to Iran for prosecution.”
Without regard for international laws, Iran is clearly working to eliminate the residents of Ashraf. Because of the unstable security situation in Iraq, Iran’s violent influence there, and its stated animosity towards the PMOI, the only qualified and competent entity capable of ensuring their safety is the U.S. military.
I join my Iranian-American constituents who are now participating in the sit- in on l Ave. in front of UN headquarters in New York and urge you to hear their concerns.
I would look forward to hear from you about this urgent humanitarian issue at the earliest.
With great appreciation for your valuable service,
Sincerely,
Edolphus “Ed” Towns
Member of Congress