Supporters of the Iranian Resistance and families of Ashraf residents started their unlimited sit-in in front of the UN European headquarters in Geneva.
The sit-in protesters while calling for condemnation of “crime against humanity”, “war crime” and “crime against International Community” in April 8 attack of Maliki forces to the protected persons and warning of possible further attacks, announced their urgent demands as follows:
1 – The United Nations should take responsibility of Ashraf protection.
2 – The United Nation’s Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) team should station permanently in Ashraf.
3 – The International investigation delegation for identifying the criminals and bringing them to justice should be formed.
4 – The Iraqi forces should leave Ashraf completely.
5 – The Ashraf siege should be lifted and the possibility of medical care for the residents be provided.
In the first day of the sit-in, Mr. Alfred Zayas, a senior UN official in the past 20 years, addressing the sit-in protesters, emphasized the International RtoP principle and the UN responsibility on Ashraf protection and said: “The crime of attacking Ashraf reminds me of Nazis in Germany. I condemn this attack”.
Then Mr. Juan Garcès, Ashraf residents’ lawyer and the legal advisor to the late Chilean President Salvador Allende, hailed the sit-in protesters and said: “I understand your feelings; you want to tell the United Nations that you predict danger and you want the UN protection for Ashraf to prevent it. I am with you wholeheartedly and support your demands.’