… Iranian families who have been picketing in front of the military base Ashraf – home to the Mojahedin Khalq organisation in Diyala province – for the last 4 months, asked Christopher Hill, the US ambassador in Baghdad, for his help in negotiating with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (aka Rajavi cult, MEK, MKO, PMOI, NCRI) to give visiting rights to the detainees in Camp Ashraf …
Al adala, Baghdad, May 29, 2010
BAGHDAD – Iranian families, who travelled from Iran and other countries four months ago to sit in front of the headquarters of the Iranian Mojahedin-e Khalq in Diyala province (Camp Ashraf), called on the United States Ambassador in Iraq, Christopher Hill, to intervene and put pressure on the organization’s leaders to end their suffering and allow them to meet with their children, who have been detained within the camp since the 1980s.
In an Open Letter, a copy of which was also distributed to our agency in Iraq, the families demanded the U.S. ambassador in Iraq help with intervention and dialogue with leaders and officials of the [Mojahedin] organization, to allow the families free access to their children outside the walls of the camp in the same way that the three U.S. mothers were able to travel to Iran recently and meet their three children (Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal) who are detained there.
The body of the message addressing Mr Hill said, “Your government successfully arranged for the mothers of U.S. detainees in Iran to visit their children on compassionate grounds… But, if America can negotiate this with Iran, we certainly expect that you can negotiate with this small terrorist group so that its members can meet freely with their families. if America can negotiate this with Iran, we certainly expect that you can negotiate with this small terrorist group so that its members can meet freely with their families.”
The families expressed the hope that the involvement of Ambassador Hill and the U.S. government with leaders of the organization, would create a serious and positive end to their suffering and enable them to meet their children, detainees at Camp Ashraf.
Iraq Beituna Agency – translated by Iran Interilnk
The insistence of the Mojahedin-e Khalq of Iran (MEK), which has been based in Camp Ashraf since the 1980s, on staying in Iraq against the wishes of the Government of Iraq and its people has made it an expensive matter. 
What casts a black cloud over this organization is the recollection of the Iraqi people. This group, which was hosted by the former regime and its head, the dictator Saddam Hussein during his war with Iran, was used to implement the recommendations of the leaders of the former Iraqi army and the intelligence services. The intelligence of the MEK was used to carry out acts of espionage inside Iranian cities and in Iraqi territory, which according to military experts, often helped the warlords in the planning and execution of military operations in the field. After Saddam and his regime, other governments began to sponsor the Mojahedin, and even today the international community has provided the group with various civilian and military facilities and given them many possibilities, the most important of which is Camp Ashraf. They allow the organization’s leadership and to recruit its members to Iraq in various ways – brainwashing, false promises, kidnapping … and etc.
The MKO has obeyed the needs of the former regime in following its aggressive policy of war with Iran, and also performed killing and destruction against the people of Iraq and Iran, as well as the liquidation and assassination of opponents, which separated them in Europe and America. This was the result of the possibilities furnished by the former regime.
Many questions remain in the minds of the Iraqis and Iraqi public opinion now, after the end of the Iran-Iraq war which claimed the lives of millions of people, followed by uprisings among Iraqis in 1991, in which the MKO played the major role in helping Saddam’s forces (the Republican Guard) and Saddam’s security in suppressing the uprising and causing the deaths of thousands of Iraqis in northern Iraq and to the south. After all these tragic events of the past, and now that the Iraqi people have won their freedom after the fall of the dictator, what is the point of having the MKO in Iraq? What are the reasons for insisting on remaining at Camp Ashraf?
The main question is; what is the benefit for the organization to stay in Iraq now, without the presence of the former regime which protected them? The numerous statements made by the leaders and officials of the Mojahedin Organization directed across the world are a show of power and capability of the Organization in defiance of the Government of Iraq in particular, and the international community in general. The claims of the organization’s leadership, under the title of ‘the security risks facing the Organization and its members’, about the activities of the Iraqi forces and the Committee for Camp Ashraf, after the Iraqi government took responsibility for the camp, are nothing but excuses and lies.
For example, the MKO is using not only its own websites but also undeclared spokespeople like Mahdi Akbaii, to claim that the Iraqi government, after taking over responsibility for the camp [in January 2009], is blocking access to food, fuel and medical to Camp Ashraf in an attempt to kill all the members of the organization.
Studies, reports and research by various organizations and agencies, as well as the confessions of the many separated members of the Mojahedin (Batool Soltani, the youngest Farzin, Davoud Heidari, Ali Khaki, Hamid Reza Soleimani, Farhad Quanlo, Mahmoud Sepahe Humayun Khzadi, Ramadan Saeedi. . etc) reveal the reasons for the group’s determination to stay in Iraq. Camp Ashraf provides a distant, isolated place, which serves to allow it to control the minds of its members. The group also needs troops and a military camp inside the Iraqi border, near Iranian territory in order to implement its hostile plans against Iran. In addition, Camp Ashraf is a show of force and power in Iraq.
But these reasons are not enough for the organization to so desperately try to remain in Camp Ashraf. There is another key reason; the search for another dictator, and an alternative sponsor to allow it to achieve its aims. The search for a replacement for the remnants of the Saddam regime of course led the organisation’s leadership to the coalition countries occupying Iraq as the first alternative. So the idea was that the United States and the U.S.’s allies would fill the void left by the former regime. This was anticipated by the decision of the coalition forces to agree a ceasefire with the forces of the Mojahedin Organization in Iraq and for it to hand over all its weapons and military equipment to U.S. forces and accept the decisions of the U.S. leadership and agree to end any combat and military activity against any local or external party (Studies of the National Institute for Research on National Defense U.S. RAND). This, first and foremost, deceived the leaders of the organization (Maryam Rajavi) because the idea was not met with a positive reception internationally when she asked the United States and the West to work to create a suitable environment and enable the Mojahedin to launch a military attack on Iran, supported by United States forces stationed in Iraq, to take advantage of the differences and poor relations between America and Iran since the seventies.
So the fact remains that the main motivation for the survival of the Mojahedin of Iran in Camp Ashraf, at this stage is that the organization’s leaders only hope is for the return of the ousted regime in Iraq. Or, until they find an alternative for this present situation which will allow it to achieve the plans and aggressive ambitions of the organization against Iran and the creation of a crisis which would spark a new war between Iraq and Iran. This then, is what the organization seeks through its association with elements associated with the Baath party and the former regime in Iraq or terrorist movements and organizations linked to Al Qaeda and others who want to worsen the situation in Iraq and its people. The Mojahedin does its best to support and strengthen these elements in Iraq. This shows that the Mojahedin organization does not want Iraq safer from terrorism, free from intrigue and chaos, and does not want stability for the government and the Iraqi people and does not want a democratic system in Iraq. Because, if this comes about, they will have no future in Iraq. So, they are seeking, in time, to achieve two important plans at the same time. The first is to hold on to Camp Ashraf as a symbol of strength and competence. Then, as alleged, they are following the quest to bring back a fascist dictatorship which will take power in Iraq. This is why the Mojahedin of Iran has taken to embracing all political opponents of the Iraqi government and embracing the extremists and the remnant elements associated with the Baath party and the former regime.
At the same time, the Iraqi government knew very well that Camp Ashraf had changed to provide a safe haven for these groups in the first years after the fall of the former regime. What the Mojahedin organization and its leadership want, is a return to the previous conditions, meaning; conditions before the coalition forces invaded Iraq. So they hope to damage the existing good relations based on mutual respect between the two neighbors, Iraq and Iran in the interest of the Mojahedin. The public policy pursued by the organization’s leadership is currently working using bribery and intrigue to bring about the deterioration of relations between the two countries. The group hopes to weaken democracy in Iraq, and create hostility toward the opening up of Iraqi foreign policy to building international relations and strong and peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries. In this way, the Mojahedin hopes to destroy Iraq’s good relations.
So, the Iranian Organization tries to remain in Camp Ashraf under any pretext in order to be at hand to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq. But the group’s justification for its presence on Iraqi soil, using international laws does not apply at all according to observers and experts in international law. It attempts to plant the seeds of dissent and intrigue for the return of the previous conditions, and to work on the lack of stability in Iraq, because otherwise, stability is fatal to its goals.
The Iraqi government acting on proof that the Mujahideen Khalq Organization was interfering in Iraqi affairs and attempting to bring back dictatorship, took steps to destroy the hopes the Mojahedin of Iran for achieving its goals in Iraq. The Government of Iraq ordered the closure of Camp Ashraf and directed the Mojahedin to leave Iraq through Ministerial resolution No. (214), on 17/06/2008, which calls for two main objectives: first, that these organizations and others that adopt terrorist ideology, have no place in Iraqi territory, so that Iraq can achieve security, stability and prosperity and, secondly, it is the will of the Iraqis to have their full sovereignty, freedom and independence at home, especially after the inglorious history of these groups against the Iraqi people.
D. Amir al-Khalidi, Almutamar Newspaper, Baghdad
Al Motamar reports the meeting between families of the victims of the Mojahedin (MEK, MKO) and UNAMI
The UN Political and Human Rights Director (UNAMI) in Iraq, Mr Mahdu Acharya, stressed that the protest and refusal of Mojahedin Khalq leaders, currently based in Camp Ashraf, to allow the families of Iranians who came from Iran, to meet their children inside the camp is a violation and a breach of human rights law and contrary to ethics, the international community and international human rights organizations and all free people in the world. He asked leaders of the leaders of the organization to deal with this situation in a humane way and consider Iranian families their full freedom to meet their children outside the walls of Camp Ashraf.
This came during a meeting in the building of the UN in Iraq (UNAMI) inside the Green Zone between a number of families who came from Iran to Iraq to meet their children, prisoners and detainees held in the camp.
He said camp Ashraf in Diyala province is part of the Iraqi territory and falls within the responsibility of the government and Iraqi security forces after receiving it officially from the U.S. forces following the the security agreement between Iraq and America in 2009 and full sovereignty of Iraq on its lands. He stressed the fact that Iraq cannot allow any foreign party to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq, especially on the issue of Camp Ashraf and members of the Organization adding that the prime minister has set up a formal committee responsible Camp Ashraf to negotiate directly with the leaders and officials of the Organization in cooperation with UNAMI, the Red Cross and other international human rights organization to close down Camp Ashraf forever and end the presence of the PMOI in Iraq.
In spite of the hardship and pains the families have suffered throughout their 75-long days of stay before the camp, they are waiting to see their children in the bond of the organization’s dark ideology headed by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi for nearly 27 years.
Al-Mmutamar – Baghdad
After investigations by the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Minister Salim said that the presence of the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq is illegal. She stressed that the Iraqi government will deal with them in a purely humanitarian manner, and added that since 2003 it has secured the freedom of 300 of them who wanted to leave the camp.
In a statement summarised by al-sabaah newspaper, Minister Salim said that the government is dealing with the residents of the camp in Diyala province, members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, in a humane fashion. The absence of any official documents in their files of applications for asylum is an indication of the illegality of their presence in Camp Ashraf. However, between 2003 until the end of 2009, 300 have left the camp of their own free will and returned to their own country.
Minister Salim said that delegations from the Human Rights Ministry visit the camp from time to time to review the conditions of its population in coordination with the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations. In less than a year, 36 people have asked to leave the camp under the direct supervision of the Ministry. They asked to return to Iran without any influence from government bodies and they were brought to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which took responsibility for them.
For decades the MKO have been in this camp and have not been regarded as refugees. Now neither the UNHCR nor the International Organization for Migration deal with them on that basis and refuse to cooperate with them. The Ministry has addressed these organisations formally more than once in order to lend a helping hand to them, but they always affirm in their responses that that the MKO is a military organization and has not demilitarized. They can only deal with them once they leave the camp and claim civilian protection.
Minister Salim explained that the laws and agreements on the protection of populations who seek protection on the grounds of suffering because of armed conflicts or war do not apply to them because they are not in a nation in war or conflict.
Minister Salim indicated that since the beginning of the SOFA with the United States which transferred responsibility for the camp from the Americans to the Iraqis, the legal situation has changed completely for them. In particular after review of the records and papers which exist, officials did not find any requests for asylum or protection or evidence that their presence is in any way legal.
Minister Sailm said that in general it is necessary to deal with them in a spirit of humanity and not to deport them to countries where they may be exposed to harm or torture, asserting that the Iraqi government has committed itself to this principle. She expressed surprise at their refusal to be moved to another location which provides services and care since they have not rented and nor do they own the land they currently occupy.
Alsabah, Translated by Iran Interlink
In the new Iraq there is an atmosphere of freedom and institutional work and respect for human rights in various fields, particularly for detainees and prisoners. There are field visits by civic and human rights organisations as well as international and local advocates of those in prisons and detention centres across Iraq.
But a collection of humanitarian organizations and media, tribal leaders, who organized a field trip to Camp New Iraq (formerly Ashraf) in Diyala province, found dozens of families from Iran sitting at the gates of the camp demanding that the MKO leaders allow them access to their children inside the camp.
They say, “We came from Iran to meet with our children, but members of the MKO refuse to allow
our entry into the camp to meet sons and daughters who came here twenty years ago. We have picketed here for thirty days”.
Al-bayyana Al-Jadida met some of the families. Mrs Fatima Babai , 45, said, “We have stayed in these tents for more than a month and the MKO does not allow us to meet our sons who have been detained for more than 20 years”. She added that, “despite the efforts made by the Iraqi government and the Ministry of Human Rights as well as United Nations delegates, the MKO leaders will not let us enter into the camp and meet our children. We do not have any news about them except their names and pictures are at the UN mission.
Inside the camp they are not allowed any media or communication like radio, television, or computer or telephones. They are not even allowed to mix freely with each other.
Mahmoud Piroozi said, “I came from Iran to meet my brother who has been detained in the camp for more than 22 years. I found his name and photograph at the Human Rights Commission of Iraq which is responsible for the camp. But I am denied entry to the camp with ridiculous reasons. I appeal through your newspaper to all humanitarian organizations and the Iraqi government to allow me to see my brother in the presence of officials of the Ministry of Human Rights and the United Nations and with respected elders of the Diyala province”.
The refusal of the MKO to allow family interviews between those who came from Iran to Iraq to meet with their children is a violation of divine laws and international laws recognized all over the world.
Iraq’s Senate confirmed that the MKO organization is not welcome in Iraq, especially because terrorist acts were taking place in areas adjacent to the camp and conferences and forums have been held there which are suspicious and violate the customs and laws on refugees. The MKO continued to host gatherings of notables and tribal leaders.
The families have come to Iraq with the support of the Iraqi government which is encouraging their children to return to Iran or any other country of their choice under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Iraq’s Ministry of Human Rights.
The visit surprised MKO leaders who refuse to allow their members to meet with their families for fear they will leave the organization and Camp Ashraf and return to their homeland and their families. The MKO has thrown up excuses such as lack of names required for the interview with members of the organization, or that the children themselves do not desire an interview with their families or that they refuse to communicate with their families and their relatives.
The families are demanding interviews arranged and supervised with the presence of the media and civil society organizations and for the United Nations to follow-up the issue.
Al-bayyana Al-Jadida – Zuhair Fatlawi
Al-khaddran: We have set up a lawsuit against the Mojahedin Khalq
Governor of Khales, Khalis Uday Al-khaddran, said he had filed a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens of Khales against the Mojahedin organization for the crimes perpetrated against them. Al-khaddran said that the MKO has held around 6000 dunums of land in Khalis district for more than 18 years. This organization was the right hand of the deposed (Saddam) regime and played a prominent role in sheltering and supporting what he described as (criminals of the state).
Al-khaddran added: "We hope the new government will remove this Organization from the land of Iraq and enforce the Constitution, which provides that Iraq not be used as a base for aggression and harm to neighbouring countries that enjoy good relations with them". At the same time I am requesting from humanitarian and international organizations that they find an alternative place for the organization and take them out of Iraq.
Diyala has seen a significant improvement in security since last July after the Camp of New Iraq (formerly Ashraf) came under the control of the Iraqi government, which has in turn offered MKO members that they may return to either Iran or to any other country. They do not come under the rules which apply to refuges or those with families within Iraq according to International law.
Al Dustour, Translated by Iran-interlink
According to officials in Diyala province, the Justice and Accountability Committee’s exclusion of Saleh al-Mutlaq from the elections has dealt a severe blow to terrorism and the Mojahedin Khalq Organization of Iran. Saleh al-Mutlaq is considered as the supporter and funder of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq in Diyala, who have been involved with the Saddam regime in the genocide of the opponents of the repressive Baath Party. The Director of the Association for Former Political Prisoners in Diyala under Saddam’s regime, Yousef Jassem al-Sadiq, said Iraq is our home and “the exclusion of al-Mutlaq is a cause for great joy for political prisoners in Diyala and represents the victory of the people and is a severe blow to al Qaeda and the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization”.
The District Commissioner of Khalis, Uday Adnan Alkhaddran, said, the decision to ban MP Saleh al-Mutlaq from participating in the elections is the latest big blow to the Mojahedin-e Khalq, adding that this will deprive it of one of its most prominent political allies in Iraq and the decision is considered a victory of the Iraqi people’s will.
Alkhaddran added that “al-Mutlaq is a strategic ally of the Mojahedin-e Khalq, who are terrorists, and is supportive of all armed organizations that are working to kill Iraqis. He demanded that the central government speed up the removal of the Organization beyond the borders of the country as a popular demand of the people of the province.
Adustour, Baghdad,Translated by Iran Interlink
Iraq’s appeal panel allowed 28 banned candidates to stand in parliamentary elections.
Out of 177 candidates who had submitted contests, the panel allowed the participation of 28 candidates only, spokesman for Justice and Accountability Commission Ali Mahmoud told AFP.
MPs Saleh Al Motlaq and Zafer Al Ani are not allowed in elections, Mahmoud added.
The official Fatah movement website, Voice of Palestine announced yesterday that they are removing all material from their website from Iranian sources opposing the Iranian regime.
The following is a translation of excerpts from the Arabic item:
Voice of Palestine deletes all news concerning the PMOI of its website and announced not to deal with their news
Eshtewi general supervisor for Center for Media and Information – The Voice of Palestine – Fatah announced that the New Department of the web page was deleting all news concerning PMOI [AL: People’s Mujahedeen of Iran] from the servers and that the Center would not deal with any news of the MEK[AL: Mujahedin-e Khalq – another name for PMOI] from now on. The Technical Center team is working to delete all the links present to these items in global search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and the Director of the Center hopes that the process of deleting the links from the web site will be completed in the next 24 hours, so that the servers will be completely free from any news for the MEK.
The move is to resolve the impact of news published by the Editor web page entitled "Commander of the Iranian Resistance message on the occasion of the uprising of the Iranian people" which was carrying with it the words insulting to the Iranian regime, in Persian…
Eshtewi said that the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Palestinian Authority and Fatah is the fraternal relationship and the Iranian regime would not be offended from the pages of electronic media and that the Palestinian Fatah will not allow news of any form to be distributed which affect the fraternal relations between the two countries.
Dr. Aaron Lerner – IMRA
