21 nationwide and international human rights and international law organizations from five continents of the world, in a letter to the US President, condemned brutal attack of Iraqi forces on Ashraf and asked for immediate measure for prevention of a humanitarian catastrophe and guarantee of security and protection of Ashraf residents.
The text of the letter is as follows:
The text of the letter is as follows:
President Barak Obama
The White House
Washington DC, U.S.A.
Dear Mr. President,
The White House
Washington DC, U.S.A.
Dear Mr. President,
We are deeply disturbed by the news that Iraqi police and Army is attacking defenseless, unarmed and peaceful residents of Ashraf – refugees from oppressive Iranian regime. So far, 9 people are killed by gun shots, 500 injured and 36 of the residents are taken hostage by the Iraqi forces.
Since June 2009, the world has been witness to the street protests and a popular uprising in Iran rejecting despotism and striving for freedom and democracy. The people of Iran, despite paying a heavy price, including several hundred killed, several thousand wounded and arrested have kept the flame of the uprising alive. The events are indicating that a democratic change in Iran is inevitable and imminent.
At a time that the free communities throughout the world are supporting the people and peaceful forces in Iran against unabated suppression by the security forces, in Camp Ashraf in Iraq 3400 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), the democratic opposition to the Iranian regime are under an outrageous attack and siege imposed on them by the Iraqi security forces.
Since January 1, 2009, when the U.S. forces have transferred the protection and control of Camp Ashraf to the Iraqi forces, an intensifying blockade has been enforced on Ashraf to include entry of food items, in contradiction to the international law. By such pressures, the Iraqi government intends to push the residents to submit to the forced displacement demanded by the Iranian regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khameneie. The measures to pressure Ashraf are the other side of the coin of suppression and killing of the people who have raised their voice to achieve freedom in Iran.
Since June 2009, the world has been witness to the street protests and a popular uprising in Iran rejecting despotism and striving for freedom and democracy. The people of Iran, despite paying a heavy price, including several hundred killed, several thousand wounded and arrested have kept the flame of the uprising alive. The events are indicating that a democratic change in Iran is inevitable and imminent.
At a time that the free communities throughout the world are supporting the people and peaceful forces in Iran against unabated suppression by the security forces, in Camp Ashraf in Iraq 3400 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), the democratic opposition to the Iranian regime are under an outrageous attack and siege imposed on them by the Iraqi security forces.
Since January 1, 2009, when the U.S. forces have transferred the protection and control of Camp Ashraf to the Iraqi forces, an intensifying blockade has been enforced on Ashraf to include entry of food items, in contradiction to the international law. By such pressures, the Iraqi government intends to push the residents to submit to the forced displacement demanded by the Iranian regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khameneie. The measures to pressure Ashraf are the other side of the coin of suppression and killing of the people who have raised their voice to achieve freedom in Iran.
Dear Mr. President,
By considering that the Iraqi government under pressures from Iranian regime has demonstrated it has no competence to protect Ashraf residents and is leading the situation to an international catastrophe, we ask U.S. to abide with the international law and resume protection of Camp Ashraf.
We also appeal to you to ask the Iraqi government on the base of the European Parliament resolution of 24 April 2009 on human rights of Ashraf residents, to immediately remove the blockade of Ashraf, abandon the plan to displace them, acknowledge their legal rights as protected persons under the 4th Geneva Convention and to refrain from any action that would endanger their life or security, namely full access to food, water, medical care and supplies, fuel, family members and international humanitarian organizations. Furthermore, noting that the Camp Ashraf has been announced as a non-military zone and considering the plots by the Iranian regime against its democratic opposition, the entry of the Iraqi armed guards to Ashraf must not be permitted since its peaceful residents have no weapons at all and have not made any threats aimed at anybody.
Respectfully yours,
The signatories are:
1- International Jurist Organization
2- World Peace Mission Body (Formerly NIA) -India
3- Citizens’ Watch- Russia
4- Taiwan Association for Human Rights
5 – Italian association of democratic lawyers
6 – Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights
7– The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights
8 — Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
9 – Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
10 -Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha(MASUM)
11 -International Society for Human Rights -Kenya
12 -International Society for Human Rights – Sweden
13 – International Society for Human Rights- Armenia national group
14 – Peace Makers Society- Cameroon
15 -Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan
16 -Institute of Peace and Democracy- Azerbaijan
17 -World Council of the Cedars Revolution
18 -Institut international des Droits de l’Enfant
19 – Jananeethi Institute for Justice, Education, Research and Development-IINDIA
20 -African Women’s Development and Communication Network
21–Arab Penal Reform Organization APRO