Fourteen Spanish organizations and associations with UN and ECOSOC advisory rankings issued a letter sent by the Federation of Associations of Human Rights Promotion in Spain calling on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stressing she, the OHCHR and the UN have obligations to reiterate in any way possible the International Law commitments to the Iraqi government.

The letter reads:

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Madrid, 21October, 2011
Dear Ms. Navy Pillay,
The international community, along with human rights organizations across the globe, is concerned about prospects of another assault by Iraqi forces against the defenseless residents of camp Ashraf. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has announced that he intends to close the camp by the end of this year. This means that within three months, were going to witness another massacre in Ashraf. We believe that the burden of responsibility in preventing another massacre lies on your shoulders as well as the UNHCR.
As you are surely aware, UNHCR recently released a statement in which it officially recognized residents of Ashraf as asylum seekers. This statement reminds the government of Iraq about its international obligations which require that the residents’ basic security be provided and urges the Iraqi government to extend its ultimatum for closure of camp Ashraf.
Now that camp Ashraf residents have been officially recognized, by the UN, as persons with status of Asylum seekers, there no longer exists any a ground or justification for another attack and massacre – under the pretext that the residents of Ashraf are persons with no legal status in Iraq. As such, the Iraqi government must now recognize the legal status of camp Ashraf residents.
To prevent another massacre in Ashraf we urge you to:
–         Station UN observers, on the ground, in camp Ashraf and declare the camp a demilitarized zone; evacuated from all Iraqi armed forces and recognized as a refugee camp and under consistent UN monitoring.
–         In unison with the international community, oblige the Iraqi government to adhere to international laws as it pertains to camp Ashraf residents; which will lead to an eventual termination of the ultimatum for closure of Ashraf, the illegal siege on Ashraf and removal of loudspeakers from around the camp which are used by Iranian agents to subject the residents to psychological torture.
 Finally, let me just express my appreciation, in advance, for all your efforts in finding a solution to this humanitarian crisis.

• Asociación para las Naciones Unidas en España (ANUE)
• Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España (APDHE)
• Asociación para la Defensa de la Libertad Religiosa (ADLR)
• Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (CEAR)
• Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya (IDHC)
• Instituto de Estudios Políticos para América Latina y África (IEPALA)
• Justicia y Paz
• Liga Española Pro Derechos Humanos
• Movimiento por la Paz (MPDL)
• Paz y Cooperación
• Mundubat
• UNESCO Etxea
• Plataforma de Mujeres Artistas contra la Violencia de Género
• Coordinadora Estatal de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Sáhara (CEAS-Sáhara)