For immediate release
Brussels- 30 October 2013
Call on the UN Security Council for the release of 7 hostages held in Iraq and the
provision of the minimum security standards at Camp Liberty
The PMOI-MeK will contribute $100 million to the Trust Fund of the UN Secretary
General if the properties at Ashraf are allowed to be sold
The international committee In Search of Justice expresses its deep concern over the lack of minimum
security standards at Liberty.
Unfortunately, political expediency vis-à-vis Iran and the West’s apparent desperation to keep the Iraqi
Prime Minister – Nouri Al Maliki happy, have superseded humanitarian principles and human rights.
The United Nations has repeatedly made commitments about the security and health of all victims and
residents of Liberty. All of these individuals are, as certified by UNHCR, refugees or asylum seekers and
people of concern while protected under the 4th Geneva Convention.
The residents have been at the camp for 21 months and there is no immediate prospect of their
resettlement. This camp is neither temporary nor transit, furthermore, according to two reports by the
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions in 2012, it is a prison. Of course, its conditions in 2013 have
become more dangerous in every respect, and it has been the subject of three missile attacks, leaving
19 dead and 170 wounded.
Despite repeated promises, including the UN’s September 5th plan, the Iraqi government prevents the
provision of minimum-security requirements at Liberty. Of the 17,500 original T-walls removed, only
1170 have been returned to the camp, but the police have allowed only 192 of them to be installed.
The residents have not been allowed to transfer their helmets, protective vests and medical equipment
to Liberty. They are incredibly vulnerable in facing attacks from missiles and mortars.
The camp’s siege, especially since the September 1 attack on Ashraf, has intensified and since a week
ago, transferring patients to hospitals has been prevented. As a consequence of this deliberate medical
siege, so far, 15 patients have died in Ashraf and Liberty.
I have jointly written a letter with Mr Struan Stevenson, President of European Parliament’s Delegation
for relations with Iraq, to the UN Secretary General, thanking him for establishing a Trust Fund for
resettlement of the residents and informed him that “according to various reports and documents that
we have seen, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI-MeK) has spent $20 million so far
for the reconstruction of Camp Liberty during the last 21 months. This does not include the specialized
work and labour provided by the residents, who have had a significant role in the reconstruction
programme. All the expenses of those individuals relocated to Albania and Germany (so far 230
people) are being paid by the PMOI. The PMOI has reassured us that if the Iraqi government approves
an agreement for the sale of its properties at Ashraf, in an arrangement between the PMOI and a
British company, it will contribute $100 million to your trust fund initiative.”
We urged the Secretary General that since Maliki refuses to carry out his duties because of his
subordinance to Iran, he should immediately refer this case to the Security Council in order to realize
the following objectives and prevent a larger human catastrophe:
A. Immediate release of the hostages by the Iraqi government;
B. Provision of minimum security standards at Liberty;
C. Full-time stationing of UN observers and a unit of Blue Helmets at Liberty;
D. Allowing residents’ sale of their properties under the supervision of Senator Torricelli, their
legal representative;
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Vice President of the European Parliament
President, International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ)
About ISJ:
In 2008, several senior Euro MPs initiated the International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) which brought together
prominent international politicians and jurists to challenge the unjust blacklisting of the PMOI in Europe. They successfully
won the courts in UK and in Luxembourg and justice was done to PMOI in Europe when they were de-listed from both
British and EU blacklists in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The PMOI (MEK) was finally removed from the USA black list
on 28 September 2012.
ISJ enjoys the support of over 4000 parliamentarians on both sides of the Atlantic.
President of ISJ, Dr Alejo Vidal-Quadras, has been Vice-President of the European Parliament since 1999.
International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ)
President of ISJ : Dr Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice-President of the European Parliament
European Parliament, ASP 11E205, 60 rue Wiertz, B-1047, Brussels, Belgium;
Email: isjcommittee@gmail.com