Mayors of Deventer and Helmond, two Cities in Netherlands, in separate letters to Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, condemned the suppressive measures of the Iranian regime against the Iranian people and violation of Ashraf residents’ rights by the Iraqi government at the behest of the clerical regime of Iran and asked for recognition of the Ashraf residents’ rights by the Iraqi government.

 Their letters partly read: “In 2004, Ashraf residents were recognized as “ protected persons” under the Fourth Geneva Convention by the US-led Multi-National Force in Iraq(MNF-I). The U.S. and Iraqi governments have an obligation to ensure that these residents are properly protected under international law and that their human rights are honored. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1883, adopted in August 2009, gives the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) a mandate and responsibility for the Case of Ashraf…
In the view of the above account, I urge you to use your authority and personally intervene to:
• condemn the oppressive measures of the Iranian regime against the Iranian people and compel it to observe Iranian people’s universal rights as set forth in the universal declaration of Human Rights;
• urge the Iraqi government to officially recognize the rights of Ashraf residents; especially recognition of European Parliament’s resolution of April 24, 2009 on Ashraf and call for an end to the inhumane siege placed against Ashraf;
• have UN peacekeeping forces undertake responsibility for protection of Ashraf residents because the government of Iraq , being under the influence of the Iranian regime , has shown that it has neither the intention, nor the power or competence to protect the residents of Camp Ashraf;
• until the stationing of UN peacekeeping forces, urge USF-Ito guarantee protection of Ashraf residents from further attack, violence or forcible displacement inside Iraq. “

 The Mayors of Deventer and Helmond end their letter by calling on the Iraqi government to respect and implement the above mentioned articles, which rely on international law, international humanitarian law and International Human Rights Law.