Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujafi said Ashraf residents must not be faced with the cruelty of relocation and forceful deportation. The NINA news agency reporter asked about Ashraf and the opinion of the political parties regarding the closure of Ashraf at the end of this year. Al-Nujaifi in response said the UNHCR is working to issue refugee status to the residents and the public opinion is for them to resettle in third countries and not be relocated inside Iraq.

Q – Mostafa Sa’doon, NINA news agency reporter: In Iraq’s internal policy there might be differences of opinion in comparison to the policies of all other countries. Have these differences reached the point of differences in foreign policy with Iraq? Is there a difference of opinion on the issue of Camp Ashraf residents? There is a difference of opinion between political factions on the issue of Ashraf residents in manner that there are those who seek them to be in other provinces, and there are others who want to them leave Iraq in the next two weeks, meaning the end of the year. Why does this difference exist? Will the case of the residents be an issue of political agreements?

Al-Nujaifi: Meaning the current status given to these individuals is not political refugees under the Geneva Conventions. They have been present in Iraq for many years. The UN is attempting to issue this status and find a third country to provide them safe haven, and this is also the will and tendency of Iraq for a third country to be found for them and to facilitate this group’s departure but without being under cruelty and use of violence and forceful deportation. The measures must be carried out in cooperation with the UN and with principle, however, the predominant and widespread opinion is for their departure to a third country and not their transfer to another location inside Iraq, and this will take place according to human rights mechanisms and respecting their pride and dignity and facilitating their departure from Iraq.”