The Swedish branch of the Friends of a Free Iran (FOFI) deplores the action taken by Iraqi police in defiance of the August 24 ruling of the judge of the Khalis district court to release 36 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Despite the verdict, the police refuses to release them alleging that their release requires approval of higher authorities. Apparently, the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has ordered the case to be transferred to the Baaquba district court, whereupon the Baaquba prosecutor has appealed the decision to release them.

Ever since the brutal attack against the unarmed residents of Camp Ashraf on July 28, human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, have urged the Iraqi authorities either to release the detainees or to provide them with a fair trial. The latest actions taken by the Iraqi government show beyond doubt that all the actions taken against PMOI members in Iraq are part of an agreement between the Iraqi government and the Iranian regime.

The Swedish branch of the Friends of a Free Iran (FOFI) calls upon the US, the EU, and the UN, to take prompt action to safeguard the rights of the 36 members of the PMOI, some of whom are severly wounded.

FOFI/Sweden, August 26, 2009