In a press conference in Baghdad, Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, leader of the Nationalist Arabic Faction in Iraqi Parliament, called the remarks of Ali Dabbagh, Iraqi government’s spokesman, against the PMOI outrageous and against Iraq’s constitution and strongly condemned it.

Dr. Saleh Mutlaq said: I am surprised that the government orders for the arrest of those who hold session with the PMOI; this indicates that the Iraqi government has surrendered to the Iranian government. By such a measure, the government has acted against the constitution because it doesn’t have the legitimacy and authority to call the PMOI terrorist.

Dr. Saleh Mutlaq added: Our faction won’t abandon our relations with the PMOI, the Iranian regime’s opposition, because it is beneficial and effective for the Iraqi people. The PMOI is exonerated of terrorism accusation and there is no basis for such allegations against this organization; the PMOI is under protection of international law and the Iraqi government is not able to expel them because this organization enjoys the protection by US forces.