Page 513 – Nejat Society

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Iran terror group moved off US blacklist ‘over Israeli ties’

An Iranian group considered as terrorist by the US for 15 years is moving off the black list.

Government officials are advocating to clear the name of Mujahedin-e Khalq or MEK, even releasing a number of PR adverts.

This could further strain relations between Washington and Tehran.

Jamal Abdi, the policy director for the Iranian-American national council, believes it’s MEK’s ties with Israel and US lawmakers that are driving the push.
Download MEK terror group moved off US blacklist over Israeli ties

June 16, 2012 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Abdulhamid Raoufian announces his separation from the MKO

Mr. Abduhamid Raoufian, a recently defected member of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization declared his defection from the group by a letter he submitted to Sahar Family Foundation. After his release from the Cult, he found out that his family had written a lot of letters which were Abdulhamid Raoufian announces his separation from the MKO handed to the MKO by the help of red Cross but the cult hadn’t give him any of them. This caused more hatred in his heart against the Cult of Rajavi.

Mr. Raufian’s statement of declaration of separation:

I am Abdulhamid Raoufian. I was a war prisoner of Iran-Iraq war. I fell in the propaganda trap of the MKO-as it is known to every one-in 1988.

I was imprisoned in the Cult for 24 years. I always thought that I had no way back and my fate was to stay there my whole life. As I hadn’t had enough information on the Cult and its leaders, they abused my good will. My wrong choice ruined 24 of otherwise best years of my life. I had no contact with the outside world and my family.

Massoud Rajavi betrayed everything including his followers’ trust by deceiving them with his deceitful words and propaganda. We were turned into robots who were supposed to only obey the superior’s orders; to just say Rajavi was right, although we didn’t believe in him from the bottom of our heart. But, we had no way except obedience and confirmation.

To achieve what he wanted, I mean “Power”, Rajavi was prepared to do anything. He didn’t value our lives and the lives of thousands of people like us.

He was ready to victimize all of us. We were so isolated and departed that we couldn’t think of anything else in the world. Rajavi abused us to the highest level. Ultimately, I realized that the Cult deceived us and it only wanted our soles. I understood my mistake.

If, 24 years ago, I had had the information today I have about the Cult, I would have tolerated any grieves in Iraqi WOP camps and I would have never fell in the trap of the MKO’s promises.

Now, I made the right decision and I released myself from the prison of the cult. I declare my separation from the MKO. I’m glad for my choosing the right path. I feel like I regained my human identity.

I hope that my friends in the cult can also choose the right path and escape the hellish cult to freedom.

Abdul Hamid Raoufian – Baghdad

June 16, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Beware of Violence Provocation by Mojahedin Khalq

Mr. Kobler is providing an advance warning of MKO’s potentiality in provoking and waging violence

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler, has recently Beware of Violence Provocation by Mojahedin Khalq expressed his concern about the delay in the relocation of the residents of Camp New Iraq (Ashraf) to the Temporary Transit Location TTL. The relocation process has been stalled since the arrival of the fifth group of residents on 5 May. But it is not the delay and prolongation of the transfer that frets. What is really disturbing Mr. Kobler is a possible eruption of violence;

“I urge the remaining residents of Camp Ashraf to relocate to Camp Hurriya without delay. The relocation process should not be stalled. I am concerned that there will be violence if the relocation doesn’t recommence. Any violence would be unacceptable. I call on the Government of Iraq to avoid any forceful relocation. Each relocation must be voluntary. The United Nations supports only a peaceful, humanitarian solution and stands ready to facilitate.”

Mr. Kobler has a well understanding of the concerned sides, the Iraqi government and MKO, when he expresses his concern. The Iraqi government is ultimately decisive to close Camp Ashraf and expel the members of the designated terrorist group to the last one. It is a constitutional right for the state and the nation to be accomplished. But the other side is a cult with an ideology rooted in violence. MKO has no appreciation for art of peace and has never developed any skill in the field. In fact, the term peace and its derivations are unknown to it and the group has no definition for them in its literature. But when it comes to talk about blood, war, violence and the like, it is an unbeaten interpreter.

Obviously enough, except MKO, the UN, Iraqi government and all concerned bodies will to find a peaceful solution to the problem. It has been, from the very beginning, the antagonist side and the main impediment to the process of relocation. While there are hundreds of insiders with special needs, suffering from disabilities and serious medical conditions among the residents both in Ashraf and TTL, and of course it must be a responsibility on MKO to care about its members and follow a peaceful, humanitarian solution, not only it prevents the process but also threatens to stand ready for any violent confrontation.

Mr. Kobler’s words are a warning; he is sounding the alarm that MKO is already prepared for any violence. It is not a rough, personal calculation but based on facts. He is conscious of Rajavi’s instructions given to residents in his message delivered on May 23. In his message, Rajavi repeatedly calls the remainders of the group at Camp Ashraf the devoted warriors who have to be determined in repelling any resolution inconsistent with group’s demands:

“That would be better if they [the UN and Iraqi government] come in a peaceful fashion and accept the minimum human rights. Otherwise, if they resort to craft and deceptive words, do not grieve; go forward as God suffices you, He is the One Who helps you with that of the believers. … Then, do not be scared of the battle you have to confront, strike. Strike and go forward with confidence. … I want others to know, friends and foes, that today, the power of one thousand Mojahed is beyond that of the regime’s nuclear power they have gathered here in Iraq to negotiate about.“

Mr. Kobler is providing an advance warning of the group’s potentiality in provoking and waging violence. Unless precautionary measures are taken by the UN and the Iraqi government, there might be another human tragedy as occurred in two previous violence provocations by MKO.

June 14, 2012 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Anti-terrorism demonstration held outside Rajavi court

Paris Court hearing of Maryam Rajavi

On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 around noon, a group of Iranian residents in France gathered outside the courthouse in the square of St. Michael to deliver their protest against the terrorist Rajavi cult.

French Judges summoned the commanders of the Mojahedin to the courthouse to ask for explanations of the PMOI leaders on the issue of June 17, 2003 and other terrorist acts carried out by this organization on French territory and also in other European countries.

During the demonstration, Iranian and French citizens clearly displayed their dissatisfaction with the presence of terrorism in France. The event took place under the protection of the French police and in spite of the presence of a large number of Rajavi’s agents lurking around the demonstrators. Demonstrators holding the Iranian flag and with flyers in hand shouted "Rajavi is a terrorist" and demanded the expulsion of the dangerous cult from France.

The event attracted the attention of French citizens and raised many questions in the minds of the French. Passers- by asked for leaflets and posed the question, ‘how are these terrorists allowed to stay in France?’ They also wanted the court punish these terrorists and expel them from their territory. France is not the refuge of terrorism.

The event ended with the moral support of the French citizens present at the scene as Maryam Rajavi went to court to answer questions by French judges.

The second part of this protest was held in a conference room in Paris where protesters held a major debate on the issue of foreign terrorism in France and Europe. During this meeting, which lasted two hours, the speakers, themselves victims of the Rajavi cult, shared painful experiences of their lives within the cult. In this debate, the victims of Rajavi presented their condolences and sorrow over the death of Mr. Hadi Shams Haeri, an activist and former member of the PMOI, and also for the death of the father of Mr. Alireza Nassrollahi.

Mr. Mohammad Hossein Sobhani intervened in the debate to tell the story of Mr Haéri, his efforts in revealing the nature of the PMOI and his pains and sorrows as a father of being deprived of contact with his children by this inhuman organization.

Alireza Nasrollahi then told us of his father’s life and the suffering that the PMOI had caused. Mr. Nassrollahi revealed for the first time that the Rajavi cult cut his ties with his family by announcing to them the false news of his death in a terrorist operation.

Mr. Jahangir Shadanlou was the third speaker in this debate. He described the nature of the terrorist activities of the PMOI and demanded the expulsion of the cult from French territory. He also stressed that Iranian residents of the West are fully aware of the nature of this cult and they do not allow themselves to be deceived by the lies of this group.

Dr Bahieh Djilani, special guest at this meeting, took to the floor to denounce Rajavi’s abuses of women in the cult. She emphasized that the artificial presence and power of women in this cult is a sham that seeks to mislead public opinion.

She explained that Rajavi has diverted the minds of PMOI members by exercising brainwashing methods on them to make them robotic terrorists under his orders. Dr Djilani assured the audience that Rajavi’s terrorism and sectarianism have failed and the leaders of this organized criminal group are making their last steps towards a final fall.

Videos and pictures of the event will be posted soon.

Translated by Iran Interlink

June 14, 2012 0 comments

France

Has France become a haven for the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq?

Letter from Aria Iran to the French Minister of Justice

Dear Madam Minister, Has France become a haven for the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq?

We, the victims of the Rajavi cult demand that Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, Mehdi Abrishamchi, Seyed Mohammad Mohaddessin and other leaders of this organization based in Auvers sur Oise be tried in court. Maryam and Massoud Rajavi, Mehdi Abrishamchi, Seyed Mohammad Mohaddessin and other leaders of the PMOI based in Auvers sur Oise terrorists are terrorist plotters. They have committed many crimes in Iran and Iraq. The time has come for them to be brought to court and answer for the crimes they committed against Iranians and Iraqi Kurds.

The PMOI claims to be the opposition of Iran but has no popular support in Iran. Do you know that the Iranians recognize this organization as a terrorist cult and despise it?

Each of the PMOI leaders, currently resident in Auvers sur Oise, have caused the murders of 400 innocent people through the use of bomb explosions. The Iranian Mojahedin exploit French and European democracy to manipulate public opinion. Is it right that a group of criminal terrorists coexists along with French citizenry?

Maryam Rajavi and other leaders of the PMOI have personally participated in assassinations and terrorist operations. Look at their pictures. Today in their modern clothes they boast they are supporters of democracy and thereby manipulate others.

Commanders and members of the PMOI, located in Auvers sur Oise, are included on the blacklist of Canada, the USA and Australia. How come these people are free in France even though they are planning terrorist operations against Iranians?

The U.S. State Department and Human Rights Watch reported that the Rajavi cult mistreated dissidents. The PMOI has imprisoned, tortured and murdered dissidents in its camps. The Mojahedin-e Khalq organization held meetings in France claiming to be the democratic opposition against Iran. You know that most participants of their rallies are not Iranian and they come in exchange for some money and free travel tickets. How can a terrorist organization have so much money?

Some politicians have TAKEN PART in the international meetings of Maryam Rajavi. The international media revealed that these characters received from 40,000 to 160,000 dollars for every speech they made in favour of this organization. Where does the PMOI get this money? Are you aware that these characters are being prosecuted by U.S. courts?

Maryam and Massoud Rajavi, Mehdi Abrishamchi, Seyed Mohammad Mohaddessin and other PMOI leaders based in Auvers sur Oise formed a very dangerous terrorist cult. Under the order of the leaders of this organization, on 17 and 19 June 2003, more than 20 members of the PMOI set themselves on fire in the public streets of France and Europe. Why does the French justice system not achieve something in this issue?

Why are these terrorists not brought to justice? With their financial means they are able to threaten and stifle their opponents.

We, the victims of the Rajavi cult, demand that Massoud and Maryam Rajavi, Mehdi Abrishamchi, Seyed Mohammad Mohaddessin and other leaders of this organization based in Auvers sur Oise be tried in a court of law. France must show its resolve in the fight against terrorism and foreign threats.

Letter signed by;
Victims and former members of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq.

Letter sent to:
Christiane Taubira-Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals
The Elysee
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Manuel Valls, the Minister of the Interior

Translated by Iran Interlink

June 14, 2012 0 comments

Iraq

Iraqi PM warns al-Iraqiya of revealing their MEK links

“Iraqi Prime Minister has new documents and fresh confessions at hand, which reveals the al-Iraqiya bloc officials’ ties to the terrorist groups, particularly Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK, a.k.a. Iraqi PM warns al-Iraqiya of revealing their MEK links MKO and PMOI),” sources close to the Iraqi Prime Minister said.

“If the documents are released, the leaders of al-Iraqiya bloc such as Osama al-Nujaifi, Saleh al-Mutlaq, and Rafi’ al-Issawi will face serious charges,” al-Alam news channel quoted informed sources close to Nouri al-Maliki as saying.

The remarks come as the chairman of al-Iraqiya bloc has launched a strong attack against Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, charging him with lying, hypocrisy, deception and depending on the foreigner and Iran to become prime minister.

The vain efforts to decry Nouri al-Maliki are intended to depose the Prime Minister of Iraq, but according to the reports they have so far failed to muster enough support to bring him down in a vote of no confidence.

“He has documents and evidence regarding the charges against the leaders of al-Iraqiya bloc that he will release them, if the attacks and propaganda against him continue,” Sources close to Nouri al-Maliki disclosed.

“Maliki has received the documents from a number of defected members of terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK, a.k.a. MKO and PMOI),” they added. “The documents reveal the financial support of Saleh al-Mutlaq from the terrorist group in Diyala province.”

“Confessions of another terrorist group, which coerced the Kurds in Neinava region to immigrate and finally uprooted in 2007, say that Osama al-Nujaifi had been supporting the group.”

Al Alam (Translated by Habilian Association)

June 13, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Relocation of Terrorist Group Troubling Iraqis

The United Nations envoy to Iraq said he is "concerned" that violence may break out if the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) continues defying its agreement with Iraq and the United Nations over its relocation to a new camp near Baghdad.

Under a December 25 deal between the UN and Iraq, around 3,400 members of the MKO (also known as the MEK, NCR and PMOI), which is the main armed opposition of the Islamic Republic, are to move from their long-time base of Camp Ashraf to a new location called Camp Liberty[TTL].

The aim of the deal is to eventually see the terrorists resettled outside Iraq.

"I urge the remaining residents of Camp Ashraf to relocate to Camp Hurriya (Liberty) without delay," UN envoy Martin Kobler said in a statement.

"The relocation process should not be stalled. I am concerned that there will be violence if the relocation doesn’t recommence."

The MKO has been reluctant to leave Camp Ashraf as no world country has yet accepted to let them in, even the US which now acts as the group’s main sponsor and protector.

The first group of the terrorists moved to Camp Liberty[TTL] on February 18, and the UN statement said that two-thirds of them have been moved.

Kobler also called on countries "to include (the terrorists) who are eligible for refugee status in their resettlement quotas" so they can be resettled outside Iraq.

The MKO, whose main stronghold is still in Iraq, is blacklisted by much of the international community, including the United States.

The group started assassination of the citizens and officials after the revolution in a bid to take control of the newly established Islamic Republic. It killed several of Iran’s new leaders in the early years after the revolution, including the then President, Mohammad Ali Rajayee, Prime Minister, Mohammad Javad Bahonar and the Judiciary Chief, Mohammad Hossein Beheshti who were killed in bomb attacks by MKO members in 1981.

The group fled to Iraq in 1986, where it was protected by Saddam Hussein and where it helped the Iraqi dictator suppress Shiite and Kurd uprisings in the country.

The terrorist group joined Saddam’s army during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) and helped Saddam and killed thousands of Iranian civilians and soldiers during the US-backed Iraqi imposed war on Iran.

June 13, 2012 0 comments

Human Rights Abuse in the MEK

The Rights of Terrorists in the Rule of Law

The rule of law has to be followed to safeguard human rights not the interests of the violators

People expect that men of law be alert to the possibility of dangers that threaten their society The rule of law has to be followed to safeguard human rights not the interests of the violators because there are always villains to interpret law in their own interests. But the worst part is when the lawyer collaborates to represent on behalf of the wrong parties to flout the law and to interpret it in the way that pleases them. Obviously enough, some lawyers care about the thickness of the bundles of dollars more than caring about promotion of justice and abating the possibility of threats posed by their clients. Allan Gerson is one among other attorneys involved in representing the terrorist MKO in its efforts to be removed from the State Department List of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

In an attempt to justify the suit on behalf of MKO he said that in his presidential election Obama claimed, “… the rule of law would be followed, and followed strictly. Above all, human rights were to be safeguarded zealously. … The PMOI sued because it was fed up with the State Department’s persistent refusal to remove it from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list despite a previous order of the same Court requiring that this be done unless the State Department demonstrated valid reasons to justify the contrary”.

The Secretary Hillary Clinton, a lawyer herself, had agreed to re-designation of MKO according to the rule of law and based on justifiable, classified and unclassified, evidences and reasons. However, it was not surprising to expect the terrorist group fill a law suit against the State Department, given that the defendant had reasonably dragged its heels to follow directives mandating due process to a designated terrorist group. No law is breached to its real concept. Nobody demurs that the rule of law has to be followed strictly, but a listed terrorist group is in no position to be frustrated by and fed up with the regulations of a legal body whose responsibility is to safeguard the interests of the nation. It is the gaps in the laws and the skill of lawyers that embolden a leashed violator of human rights to wage a law struggle to be unleashed.

It is not so bad a thing to hear a terrorist group renouncing terrorism and trying to prove its decisiveness. But it also has to prove that it respects the principles of human rights for the violation of which it has been repeatedly chastised. Majority of its members residing in two camps in Iraq, Camp Ashraf and Temporary Transit Location TTL, are living under the worst, sub human condition as it claims. The solution is easily provided; the group should, as already agreed, move all residents in Camp Ashraf to TTL to undergo refugee possess as a preliminary to be sent to other countries. The impediment to fulfill the process is MKO itself that well indicates another example of violating human rights. How can the State Department trust that the group will not return to terrorism as it fails to respect the least rights for its own insiders? It has already announced that the key factor to a review of MKO’s tagging is its cooperation in complete relocation of its members to the transit center. Then, when MKO pays huge sums of money and roams the courts of law to sue the State Department it means that neither it respects human rights and obligations nor it intends to fully cooperate with the concerned international bodies.

The rule of law has to be followed to safeguard human rights rather than the interests of the violators. Regardless of the struggles of the paid lawyers, and so far as the regulations warranty the priority of human rights, a lawyer should be observant of serious threat to the world security and peace, otherwise he is a collaborator with his clients.

June 13, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Simple Answer to MKO’s Financial Resources Puzzle

It was about 3 months ago that US Treasury department appeared to begin an investigation to figure out the sources of payments offered to prominent former American officials over their speeches in support of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization . Americans are prohibited by law from doing business with designated terrorist groups.[1]

Besides, Security Council of the United Nations on September 28, 2001, issued Resolution 1373 calling on “all states to combat international terrorism". By resolution 1373 the council established a committee of the council "to monitor the resolution’s implementation and called an all States to report on actions they had taken to that end.”[2]

“the council also decided that States should prohibited their nationals and persons or entities in their territories from making funds, financial assets, economic resources, financial or other related services available to persons commit or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts”, according to the resolution." States should also refrain from providing any form of support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts; take the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, commit terrorist acts and provide safe havens as well.”[3]

The resolution also calls on the states to intensify and accelerate the exchange of information regarding terror acts and forged or falsified documents made by terrorist groups. Thus, it doesn’t seem so difficult to figure out financial resources of the MKO if the US Treasury Department is truly concerned about them – and it must be concerned.

While the MKO’s spokesman Ali Safavi said the funds for the pro-MKO campaign come from Iranian Americans [4], there are various reports and testimonies on the group’s affluent resources.

According to the Guardian article, some US officials who suspect Safavi’s claim, say because of the amounts involved, money is coming from other sources, mostly likely Saudi Arabia and Israel.[5]

The report somehow confirms what former CIA official Philip Giraldi had previously revealed on the MKO-Israel relationship-both financial and military.”The group appear to have ample financial resources, and it is generally believed that at least some of the money comes from Mossad,” he writes.” the MEK is able to place full-page ads in major US newspapers and is also known to pay hefty speaker’s fees to major political figures who are willing to speak publicly on its behalf.”[6]

Justin Raimondo, the editor of antiwar.com finds it fair to ask where all this unaccounted for cash is coming from. "while the Rajavi-ites use the familiar methods employed by cults to strip their members of all their assets -see the AlJazeera video for a heart-rending account of how a major MEK spokesman ripped off his own elderly parents- it seems likely that, during their sojourn as Saddam Hussein’s favorite assassins, the MEK received compensation from the Iraqi dictator for slaughtering the Kurds and other regime opponents so efficiently and ruthlessly,” Raimondo asserts. He concludes that those former US officials are actually “recipients of Saddam’s gold.”[7]

It sounds that Saddam Hussein has been the group’s basic financial resource including funds illegally siphoned from the UN Oil-for-Food program until the fall of Iraqi dictator in 2003.[8] The report is confirmed by testimonies of former members of the group. Mrs. Maryam Sanjabi, a former member of the MKO’s elite council said that based on agreements held between MKO ringleaders and Iraq’s officials in 1987,saddam’s regime allocated the revenues gained from selling 50000 barrels per day of oil to the MEK in addition to arms and logistic, reported FNA.[9]

Sanjabi revealed that the group used to smuggle the Iraqi oil supplies to foreign markets after Kuwait war and the UN oil embargo against Saddam’s regime! the group used its front companies to sell Iraqi oil. Ali Hussein Nezhad who was Rajavi’s Private interpreter in the MKO, escaped the group in late April. Immediately after his defection, he published an announcement in which he denounces the “cult of Rajavi” . regarding the group’s financial resources, Hussein Nezhad writes:”As we see, Rajavi’s claims of Iranian’s financial support for the group and all his tricks in fundraising programs are shallow and just like a cover to hide the oil resources they plundered from Iraqi people; like a justification to whiten their multi-million operating cost.”[10]

He reveals facts of Saddam’s generosity towards Massoud Rajavi:”in his last visit with Saddam Hussein in August 2000, Rajavi asked Hussein to increase his oil share up to 100 thousand barrels a day (3 million barrels a month), according to documents and letters I translated or reports composed by his closest comrades that I could read.”

He explained how the MKO managed to turn Saddam’s gifts into dollars: ”Rajavi received his oil share in coupons which were then sent to Europe to be changed into dollars.”[11]
Rajavi’s quota from Iraqi oil also included other amounts of oil funneled to his cult by Saddam Hussein out of UN Oil for Food program, according to Hussein Nezhad.[12]
Naturally, the MKO revenue from oil resources was invested in European banks and industry, the former MKO member revealed.

Considering various reports and testimonies on the group’s financial resources, it actually seems simple to discover the origins of their funds. It won’t be so difficult to find the affiliated companies working with this terrorist designated group and definitely simple to prove the felony committed by their material supporters.

By Mazda Parsi

References:
[1] Shane, Scott, US Supporters of Iranian Group Face Scrutiny New York times,March13,2012
[2] Security Council, Press release SC/7158,4385th Meeting (night) Security Council unanimously Adopts Wide-ranging Anti-terrorism Resolution/September28,2001
[3] ibid
[4]McGreal, Chris, Banned Iranian Terror Group lobbies for legitimacy on capital Hill,Guardian,May22,2012
[5]ibid
[6]Giraldi, Philip. The MEK’s Useful Idiots, Antiwar.com, March 08,2012
[7]Raimondo, Justin, Hillary’s Terrorists, Antiwar.com , May16,2012.
[8]US Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2009
[9]FNA, defected member unveils MKO’s major share in Saddam’s Oil Revenues, June5, 2012
[10] Sahar Family Foundation, Hidden sources of MKO funds revealed, Translated by Nejat Soceity,June02, 2012
[11]ibid
[12]ibid

June 13, 2012 0 comments

UN envoy concerned about delay in relocating MKO members

The United Nations top envoy in Iraq today [11 June 2012 ] voiced his concern about the delay in the relocation of the residents of Camp New Iraq – formerly known as Camp Ashraf – to a new location, Camp Hurriya, prior to resettlement in third countries.

“I urge the remaining residents of Camp Ashraf to relocate to Camp Hurriya without delay,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Martin Kobler, said. “The relocation process should not be stalled. I am concerned that there will be violence if the relocation doesn’t recommence. Any violence would be unacceptable.”

“I call on the Government of Iraq to avoid any forceful relocation. Each relocation must be voluntary. The United Nations supports only a peaceful, humanitarian solution and stands ready to facilitate,” he added in an UNAMI statement.

The Mission added that the relocation to Camp Hurriya has been stalled since the arrival of a fifth group of residents on 5 May.

Camp New Iraq – made up of several thousand Iranian exiles, many of them members of a group known as the People’s Mojahedeen of Iran – has been one of the main issues dealt with by UNAMI for more than 18 months.

In line with a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2011 by the UN and the Iraqi Government to resolve the situation, some two-thirds of the residents, or 2,000 people, were re-located to a temporary transit location near Baghdad known as Camp Hurriya – and formerly known as Camp Liberty – where a process to determine refugee status is being carried out by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

UNAMI added that the relocation process has come a long way since February 2012. Two thirds of the residents have already moved to Camp Hurriya, prior to resettlement abroad. Among them are hundreds of people with special needs, suffering from disabilities and serious medical conditions.

“I also urgently call on States to include residents who are eligible for refugee status in their resettlement quotas and to offer them a path to a more hopeful future outside Iraq,” Mr. Kobler said.

UNAMI staff monitor the human rights and humanitarian situation during the relocation process and provide round-the-clock human rights monitoring at Camp Hurriya.

Under the memorandum of understanding from last December, the Government of Iraq is responsible for the safety and security of the residents during their relocation and for the duration of their stay at the camp.

June 12, 2012 0 comments

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