56 international human rights organizations voiced their support for the Iranian people’s uprising and asked for observance of the Ashraf residents’ rights and guarantee of their protection.

These international organizations from across the world announced:” The mullahs, unable to confront the Iranian people’s uprising, have targeted Ashraf as the heart of Iran’s freedom movement for peace and liberty. “

The text of the statement is as follows:

Supporting Iranian People’s Rights to Obtain Freedom & Democracy

The Iranian people have courageously risen against the mullahs’ ruling dictatorship with continuous and growing demonstrations, calling for freedom and their human rights. With their nationwide uprisings, they are committed to bring to end 30 years of bleak despotism under the name of religion and establish democracy and sovereignty of the people.
The Iranian people’s freedom loving movement, withstanding mass killings and vicious suppression, widespread arrests, systematic torture, rape and press censorship, has been expanding and deepening in the society. This brave effort encourages global humanitarian movements to call for supporting the Iranian people and their righteous movement to accomplish the needed change.
Iranian regime officials acknowledge  that Ashraf City in Iraq that for the past 23 years has been home to the main democratic opposition force, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), against the existence of the Iranian regime. The PMOI is viewed by senior Iranian regime officials as is the main source of hope and spirit behind the uprisings against the dictatorship in Iran. Therefore, the mullahs’, unable to confront the Iranian people’s uprising, have targeted Ashraf as the heart of Iran’s freedom movement for peace and liberty. The Iranian regime is fiercely perpetrating conspiracies to annihilate the 3400 Ashraf residents in Iraq through its elements in the Iraqi government. The mullahs have also sentenced members and supporters of the PMOI inside Iran to execution on the bogus charge of Mohareb (enmity towards God). Many families who also had attempted to visit their loved ones in Ashraf City have received death sentences in Iran.
On July 28 & 29, 2009, coinciding with the beginning of the widespread uprisings in Iranian cities, Iraqi forces attacked Ashraf City at the behest of  the Iranian regime, leaving 11 dead, over 500 wounded, over 1000 injured and 36 kidnapped. Presently, residents of Ashraf City are living under an inhumane and suppressive logistical siege forced upon them by Iraqi forces. The Iraqi government has also prevented anyone from entering Ashraf City, including the resident’s families and lawyers. International organizations monitoring the situation describe the atmosphere as dangerous. Amnesty International reported in March 2010 that ’Iraqi security forces continue to make life difficult for the residents’.
United Nations has ’reminded the concerned parties that the residents [of Ashraf] should enjoy fundamental rights and the protection provided by the fourth Geneva Convention.’ (UNAMI-HRO report issued April 2009(.
In solidarity with the Iranian people’s uprising to achieve democracy and freedom, we call on international community and organizations to adopt measures, in cooperation with the United Nations, European Union and the U.S. government, to make certain that the understated points are respected with regard to Ashraf within the framework of the international human rights and humanitarian law:

1. Responsibility of the protection of Ashraf and its 3400 vulnerable residents should be undertaken by the UN.

2. Until this international protection is available, US forces stationed in Iraq should guarantee the protection of Ashraf City and its residents.

3. The Iraqi government must commit itself to treat Ashraf residents according to international law, 4th Geneva Convention, in particular common Article 3 and to lift the increasing suppressive siege imposed on Ashraf since January 2009.