Committee of Canadian Friends of Democratic Iran, in a letter to General Petraeus, asked him to guarantee the well being of Ashraf residents by continuance of Ashraf protection by the US Forces.

This letter reads:

Dear General Petraeus:

Re: Protection of Camp Ashraf Residents (CAR)

We have learned that the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) is in negotiation with the Iraqi government to transfer the protection of Camp Ashraf to the Iraqi authorities.

In the past few weeks the Iranian state-controlled media have continuously referred to this development as a necessary step for expelling PMOI members in Ashraf from Iraq.

We hope you realize that he Iraqi government statement of June 17, 2008 is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the non-refoulement principle, which the International Committee of the Red Cross reminded all stakeholders on their obligation to observe in its letter of March 20, 2007.

Similarly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees urged “the Multinational Forces (MNF-I) from any action that could endanger the life or the security of these individuals (Camp Ashraf residents), such as their forcible deportation from Iraq or their forced displacement inside Iraq.”

The transfer of the protection of the Camp Ashraf residents to any other party who does not recognize the non-refoulement principle is an invitation for a humanitarian crisis. The United States shall not let the Iraqi government to act in grave breach of international law. The Iraqi security forces are deemed to have been infiltrated by the Iranian agents and proxies in Iraq.

We believe as long as American and multi-national forces are present in Iraq, they must take charge for the protection of Ashraf residents, as was previously reaffirmed by respective MNF-I commanders in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

We hope that you reaffirm that the protection of Ashraf residents will remain in the hands of American forces in Iraq, in line with our obligation to follow the IHL provisions.