30 National and international Human rights organizations from 20 countries across the globe, in a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the outrageous pressures and inhuman treatments on Camp Ashraf residents and asked for assuming Ashraf residents’ protection by the US forces through the United Nations because the Iraqi government has shown it is vulnerable under the Iranian regime’s pressures and presently is not capable of protection of Ashraf.

These organizations have sent their letters through Antonio Stango, Secretary General of Italian Helsinki Committee for the UN High Commissioner of the Human Rights.

The text of letter of these organizations is as follows:

Ms. Navi Pillay
High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations
Geneva/ Switzerland
Subject: Human rights situation in Camp Ashraf-Iraq

Dear Ms. Pillay

Since January 1st, 2009, when the protection of Camp Ashraf in Iraq has been transferred from US forces to the Iraqi government, the international community is faced with an increasing anxiety over the violation of the most basic rights of 3500 people in Camp Ashraf who 1000 of them are women. Ashraf is home to the members of the Iranian opposition, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).

Following the Iranian regime’s supreme leader called imperatively on 28 February 2009, on Iraqi government to implement their bilateral agreement to expel PMOI members from Iraq as quickly as possible, the concerns and worries have escalated. In this regard, the Iraqi authorities have threatened to attack buildings in Ashraf and are insisting to displace residents of Ashraf to remote locations in Iraq against international law. Amnesty International has in particular expressed its concern over the statement by Iraqi National Security Advisor who confessed,” The authorities are planning to make their presence in Iraq gradually intolerable “.

Currently, Camp Ashraf is under a total logistical blockade. On 24 April 2009, the European Parliament resolution called on the Iraqi government end the blockade of Ashraf, refrain from displacing the Camp residents and ” to respect the legal status of the Camp Ashraf residents as protected persons under the Geneva Conventions, and to refrain from any action that would endanger their life or security, i.e. to afford them full access to food, water, medical care and supplies, fuel, family members and international humanitarian organizations”.

We urge you as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to reiterate your previous humanitarian position concerning Camp Ashraf residents to the Iraqi government, and in particular condemn their forced displacement. We also demand you to ask USA through UN Security Council, base on global principle of “responsibility to Protect” (R to P) for vulnerable population, to protect Ashraf residents
who left unprotected by US against Iranian regime’s threats. This should continue until the Iraqi government in line with its international commitments is capable and willing to stand against the Iranian regime’s pressure against Ashraf.

Sincerely,

1- European Association of Lawyers for World Human Rights
2- Human Rights Without Frontiers
3- Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
4- International Jurist Organization INTERNATIONAL JURIST ORGANIZATION
5- National Integration Assembly-India
6- International Educational Development-USA
7- Association of Humanitarian Lawyers-USA
8- Citizens’ Watch- Russia
9- Japanese Lawyers International Solidarity Associations
10- Taiwan Association for Human Rights
11- Italian association of democratic lawyers
12- Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights
13- Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers-Britain
14- Arabic Network for Human Rights
15- Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan
16- The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights
17- Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
18- Jananeethi Institute for Justice, Education, Research
and Development-IINDIA
19- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom- Finnish Section
20- World Maronite Union
21- Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
22- Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha(MASUM)
23- International Society for Human Rights -Kenya
24- International Society for Human Rights- Armenia national group
25- Peace Makers Society- Cameroon
26- The International Sakharov Committee
27- Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan
28- Institute of Peace and Democracy- Azerbaijan
29- Mechric Committee- USA
30- Karen Parker, JD, Specializing in Humanitarian Law