In a letter to Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice President of the European Parliament, on behalf of the International Committee of ” In Search of Justice” which includes 2,000 parliamentarians in Europe and North America, asked for implementation of the Iraqi Court’s ruling on 36 Ashraf residents to be returned to Ashraf immediately.
The full text of the letter is as follows
European Parlaiment
Vice President
Brussels, 28 September 2009
Mr Nouri Al-Maliki
Prime Minister of Iraq
Baghdad
Iraq
Dear Mr Maliki,
We have just been informed that the Iraqi judge in the city of Khaliss, responsible for the 36 members of the PMOI who were taken from Ashraf camp on 28 July, has issued his third and final verdict for their immediate release and return to Ashraf.
However the Iraqi forces, apparently following some government orders, are preventing their release. As you know these 36 Iranian exiles are on hunger strike for over 2 months and this latest attempt to keep them in jail will have grave consequences on the credibility of Iraq as a democratic country which should respect the rule of law and obey its own court decisions.
Iraq’s attitude towards these Iranian refugees in Camp Ashraf and these 36 abductees is closely been watched by European Members of Parliament. As you know our Parliament adopted a resolution on Ashraf on 24 April 2009 which we have been very disappointed to see that it has not yet been respected and implemented by Iraq. President of the European Parliament, Mr Buzek, has also written to Iraqi ambassador and authorities on 17 September, expressing his concern about Ashraf residents after the brutal attack by Iraqi police on 28 July.
Mr Prime Minister,
I would like to ask you personally to make sure the last ruling by the Iraqi court on the 36 PMOI members is implemented and these Iranians returned to Ashraf immediately. I have no doubt that you believe strongly, as we do in the European Parliament in this sacred principle of democracy which is the rule of law.
Yours,
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Vice President of the European Parliament
cc.
President Talibani
Foreign Minister Zebari