On behalf of 35 Iraqi parliamentarians from different factions, Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, leader of parliamentary faction of the National Dialogue Front, in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, asked for international guarantees to respect Ashraf residents’ human rights and his intervention.

Dr. Saleh Mutlaq wrote: “Many of my colleagues and I in the Iraqi Parliament have sorely tried for recognition of Ashraf residents’ rights and implementation of the international law about them as well as implementation of the April 24 resolution of the European Parliament and lifting Ashraf siege in the Iraqi Parliament, but on Thursday, May 28, 2009, we were shocked by the entry of a great number of police forces for strengthening the siege and exertion of more pressures on this camp which is non-armed region.

Based on registered record, 99.7 percent of Ashraf residents, in individual and private interviews with the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights in a free atmosphere, chose to stay in Ashraf vis-à-vis the voluntary option of leaving Iraq. Therefore according to the numerous international humanitarian laws and based on the non-refoulement principle, they should not undergo any other pressures.”

In the meantime, 35 Iraqi MPs representing extensive sectors of the Iraqi society, in their letter to Iraqi parliament speaker, insisted on implementation of the European Parliament resolution and observance of Ashraf residents’ rights. This resolution calls on the Iraqi government to end Ashraf siege and to respect legal status of Camp Ashraf residents who are “protected persons” under the Fourth Geneva Convention. It also asks the Iraqi government to refrain from any measures that endanger life or security of Ashraf residents.”

The letter to UN Secretary General also added: ” While there are not sufficient guarantees for Ashraf residents’ rights and since we do not want that Iraq violates international law and human rights, we ask you as protector of the international treaties and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to intervene and prevent a human catastrophe and any irreparable measures that endanger health of these political refugees to occur and create international guarantees.”