Al Rafidain TV Roundtable – 5 Nov 2012
Iraq’s Al Rafidain TV aired its weekly roundtable  focusing on the removal of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran from the US list, the role of the PMOI in democratic change in Iran and the current status of Ashraf and Liberty residents.
Dr. Walid Farhat, jurist and President of the Association of Egyptian Jurists and Dr. Mohammad Al-Sheikhli, Iraqi jurist and chair of the National Center for Justice.

Anchorman: Following their delisting, how does the world view the PMOI, and what political and legal meaning does the delisting have? Why are they not allowed to increase their activities in the region and spread their wings worldwide as Iran’s opposition?

Dr. Walid Farhat: Camp Ashraf residents have lived in Iraq for nearly 30 years and they built Camp Ashraf into a modern city with their own money. Unfortunately, following the agreement between the UN and UNAMI led by Martin Kobler, the residents were relocated to Liberty which is also called Camp Hurriya, or transit camp. However, this camp has been turned into a prison.

Dr. Mohammad Sheikhli: The US protected Camp Ashraf based on the 4th Geneva Convention until 2009. Conditions changed 100% after the transfer of the camp to the Iraqi government due to the plans dictated to Baghdad by Iran. Tehran came to an agreement with Maliki to annihilate Ashraf residents, and these pressures continued throughout the years by imposing an economic, political and press siege on Camp Ashraf residents. The Iraqi government committed another inhumane crime by attacking the camp in July 2009 and killing dozens and injuring hundreds.

Dr. Walid Farhat: All the pressures in Ashraf imposed on the residents have been transferred to Liberty. One of the residents died of a heart attack during the transfer and Iraqi forces have not transferred his body to this family. His name was Engineer Amir Mostofian and it has 120 days since he passed away and the Iraqi forces are refusing to hand over his copse to his family.

Anchorman: What is the political and legal meaning of the PMOI delisting?

Dr. Mohammad Sheikhli: This means the return of the Iranian resistance and opposition to the scene and the international campaign, resulting in the Iran Spring. This movement can act as the legal representative of the Iranian people in the international stage to overthrow the dictatorship ruling Iran.
There is cooperation between various UN representatives in UNAMI with Iraqi parties against Ashraf residents. Martin Kobler is a live example of this complicity through the trips he has made to Tehran.

Dr. Walid Farhat: We have requested to visit Camp Liberty but unfortunately our requests have been turned down.

Dr. Mohammad Sheikhli: Therefore, we repeat our requests for the UNHCR, the UN and the UN High Commission for Human Rights to recognize Liberty as a refugee camp protected under international laws.