In an interview with Al-Iraqiya TV, Dr. Tariq Hashemi, Iraqi vice-president , said: The Presence of the People’ Mojahedin Orgnization of Iran (PMOI) in Iraq is a legal presence based on the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Q: There are some activities going on by the Iraqi parliament and government regarding the PMOI and its presence in Iraq. What is your stance in this regard?

Dr. Tariq Hashemi: It is indeed strange to me that we have made a big political problem out of this issue. The PMOI are Iranians, not Iraqis, and I believe their presence in Iraq is based on the Article four of the Geneva Convention. This is a legal presence. Even if they have had committed crimes against others, today they enjoy an official and international support and coverage for their presence in Iraq.

Those who protect this camp, Camp Ashraf, are Americans. As far as I know, their members who come from Camp Ashraf in Diyala to Baghdad for purchases or making contracts for food and so on are controlled and accompanied by US Army.

Therefore our stance is that their presence is legal. As to their future we say that the UN will issue an order, and then Iraq will be bound to this order and decision.