The Iraqi National Front issued a statement expressing its support for the over 1 million Iraqi citizens who called for protection of Ashraf and Maliki’s deadline to close the camp being cancelled.
Iraqi National Front – Statement
23 November 2011
“During the past weeks with an increase in government threats of compulsory relocation of Ashraf residents, who are considered Iraq’s guests, a popular initiative to gather signatures in opposition to any kind of harassment against Ashraf residents under any excuse has begun in various provinces throughout Iraq.
“The Iraqi nation believes setting a deadline and enforcing pressure to implement it, and suspicious plans to relocate Ashraf residents inside Iraq have nothing to do with the Iraqi people and are steps to carry out the Iranian regime’s orders against Ashraf residents.
“It is clear for all Iraqi people and political parties that the plan of relocating Ashraf residents is against the plan for their resettlement in third countries, and known Iranian regime intelligence agents coming to Iraq from Europe reveals the true essence of the Iranian regime’s agenda to annihilate its opposition.
“This popular campaign, to this day comprising of over 2 thousand of our country’s sheikhs and tribal leaders, 7 thousand lawyers, over 18 thousand physicians, engineers, university professors and writers, hundreds of religious dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of women, represents the will of millions of Iraqi citizens. Based on our latest information, the number of Iraqis who have joined this campaign has surpassed one million and fifty thousand mark and is on the rise.
“The Iraqi National Front organization in the provinces of Baghdad, Diyala, al-Anbar, Salahaddin, Neinawa, Kirkuk, Central Forat and southern provinces confirm this popular protest and support for its demands, and has cooperated with The National Council for Tribes of Iraq, the main sponsor of this national, humanitarian and brave initiative to gather the signatures. We call on the international community and UN officials’ notice to the demands mentioned in this declaration, especially protection provided by UN forces.”
Iraqi National Front
23 November 2011