Jordan-based Addustoor daily wrote on: “Camp Ashraf residents in Iraq, who have transferred from their old to camp “Liberty” near the Baghdad airport, expressed their furiousness upon their entrance into the new camp, which they have correctly described as a prison.”
Mohammad Eghbal, of the residents who transferred to the new camp, said: “They treated us as prisoners of war. The minute we stepped into the camp we were faced with insulting inspections by the Iraqi security forces in charge of the camp. They began registering us in numbers as if we are prisoners and they did not allow us to have our belongings. Police patrols are active in and around the camp on a 24/7 basis. Also, there are cameras covering all corners of the camp and controlling all of the residents’ activities.”
Eghbal added there is not even drinking water in the camp, no restrooms, and the residents are completely cut-off from the outside world. He added the residents are not even informed of news because there is no TVs in the camp and the Iraqis did not allow the residents to take such items inside. He stressed the Iraqi authorities have violated all their agreements signed with the UN regarding the new camp.
Addustoor daily added: “On the other hand, the Iraqi National Tribal Council consisting of large tribes described Camp Liberty near Baghdad airport where nearly 400 residents have transferred to as a “prison” and not a residential area for refugees.