Iraq-4-All Website, 7 Oct 2013 – The Iraqi Parliament of Sheikh Councils issued a press statement consisting of 274,000 signatures of Iraqis from all walks of life calling on the United States and United Nations to pressure the Iraqi government to release the seven imprisoned Iranians of Ashraf residents that Maliki’s forces abducted.
The text of this press release reads in part:
“While the world and noble Iraqis have expressed anger and abhorrence regarding the unprecedented crimes committed by Maliki’s forces against Ashraf residents on September 1st where 52 people were massacre and seven others (six women and one man) were taken hostage, it has been nearly a month since the Iraqi government is refusing to release these seven hostages held under harassment in secret prisons linked to the Iraqi Prime Ministry Office.”
The statement adds, “Therefore, through a widespread campaign led by the Iraqi Parliament of Sheikh Councils and various sheikh and tribal associations from numerous provinces, and 274,00 Iraqis who have known the PMOI for the past few decades and time and again declared them as part of their tribes, strongly condemn this horrific crime and demand the immediate release of the hostages and security to be provided for Camp Liberty by the UN to have the residents immune from any direct or indirect intervention by the Iranian regime.”
The signatories announced in their statement, “It is a shame that such acts are carried out in the name of Iraq and in the land of Iraq, which has always been an inspiration for revolutionaries in the centuries passed, and to witness such inhumane measures against our guests in Ashraf. These crimes are against all our Islamic and tribal customs and traditions.”
The statement continues, “We the signatories of this statement strongly condemn the massacre of Ashraf residents. We call on the US government and UN to pressure the Iraqi government to immediately release the hostages abducted by Maliki’s forces, especially since there are six women PMOI members among them. We warn in advance on any harassment used against them.”