Monday, December 08, 2008
Washington Times, December 6, 2008 (excerpts) – Family members and supporters of Iranian dissidents living in Iraq demonstrated in front of the White House on Friday, seeking assurances that the United States will continue to protect the refugees.
About 3,500 members of Iran’s main Opposition group, the People’s Mujahideen of Iran, designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization, reside in Camp Ashraf, about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. The demonstrators said the Iraqi government is poised to take control of the camp and has ordered that all those living in the compound leave Iraq by Dec. 31.
“I am scared to death. If the Iraqis hand over the residents to Iran, the Iranians will execute them all,” said Robab Barain, 60, a native of Tehran who’s brother Jabid and sister in-law Maria live in Ashraf. Miss Barain stood among about 50 other supporters of the Ashraf residents at Lafayette Park, holding signs and chanting.
Miss Barain said that in the 1980s she was imprisoned and tortured by the Iranian government for seven months before she was allowed to leave the country for medical treatment.
“I have experienced the jails of Iran. I will do anything to make sure no one else does,” she said.
Since July 2004, the residents have been formally recognized by the U.S. as “protected persons” under the Fourth Geneva Convention and have been under the protection of the U.S.-led multinational force. The recent security agreement between the U.S and Iraq states that American troops will leave Iraq by the end of 2011.
Advocates for the group say that without the protection of the U.S., it is highly likely the Iranian regime would pressure the Iraqi government to forcibly expel Ashraf residents, exposing the refugees to arrest, torture and execution by the Iranian government.
“The people of Ashraf have the right to oppose the barbaric regime in Iran, and given their status as protected persons, the U.S. is obligated to ensure their safety,” said Majid Roshan, spokesman for the U.S Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents.
“It will be a disaster. The Iranian regime wants the Iraqis to take control of the camp, because they know the Iraqis will do what they tell them,” said Moslem Filabi, a former wrestler on the Iranian national team. As a declared national hero, Mr. Filabi said it was his duty to speak for the residents.
On Nov. 28, Amnesty International issued a news release declaring the Ashraf residents “would be at risk of serious human rights violations if they were forcibly returned to Iran.”