al-Rafidain TV, December 27, 2010 – The Iranian opposition called for urgent international intervention to end Iraqi government forces’ attacks against Camp Ashraf residents. This call was issued following Iraqi forces’ assault on the camp with the backing of 25 armored HUMVEEs. This attack left dozens of opposition members seriously wounded. These forces, under orders by a government security committee, attacked a number of other camp residents near the camp hospital leaving a number of others wounded.
Anchorman: How have you followed up on the actions carried out against Camp Ashraf residents, details regarding those wounded and the reasoning of this attack?
Dr. Walid Farhat, head of the Egyptian Lawyers’ Society in Defense of Camp Ashraf: First of all, I have to emphasize that this attack that took place on Sunday is a response to an important issue, being the international and regional approval of Ashraf. International organizations have tried to break the siege Iraqi security forces have enforced on the camp after the security transfer of the camp. Following this transfer, the Iraqi security forces have turned Ashraf into a prison and imposed an intense security siege on this camp. Recently, they have even banned physicians from entering the hospital and the patients in the hospital from receiving treatment. A few days ago, a cancer patient lost his life due to the prevention of his treatment by Iraqi security forces and the Ashraf suppressive committee in the Iraqi Prime Ministry. He did not receive treatment in time and no measures were taken for him to undergo urgent surgery to save his life. These events are based on orders and instructions that these individuals are dissidents of the Iranian regime. Unfortunately, these residents are surrounded by military forces, beaten, have their property stolen, have their equipment, vehicles and cranes stolen and patients in a hospital are surrounded by armed forces while their only issue is opposing the Iranian regime.
Anchorman: This attack on the hospital is of course an immoral act. However, as an official in the Society in Defense of Ashraf residents, how will you take action and how will your organization take action on this issue?
Walid Farhat: The jurists and lawyers are working on this subject and this issue needs international intervention. The legal status of these individuals is defined under Geneva Conventions, and according to this these individuals are considered political refugees, they are refugee civilians. Unfortunately, the Nouri Maliki government insists on attacking them which is in reaction to the international support that they have gained. During the past two days two meetings have taken place in Europe and two other meetings in the European Parliament, and US Congress calls issued for international support of these people. UNAMI has intervened and has requested the establishment of an international group for the protection of these residents.
Anchorman: So you are saying there have been achievements made in this regard and you expect actions to be taken?
Walid Farhat: We call on the UN Security Council, the UN and the United States to provide international protection for these residents. An international team linked to UNAMI should be established to provide the needs and protection of these residents, and station permanently in the camp. Also, this security committee is in fact a suppression committee that steals people’s property, illegally confiscating them, surrounding the hospital with armed forces and preventing the treatment of patients… all this is pursuant to what religion, what right?