News

US paper: MKO deserves Nobel Prize for killing Iran experts

Were the MeK (MKO) to play the critical role in derailing an Iranian bomb, it would be far more deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize than a certain president of the United States we could mention.”

New York Post editorial

An editorial in a leading US daily has called for the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorists to be rewarded with a Nobel Peace Prize for murdering Iranian scientists.

“Were the MeK (MKO) to play the critical role in derailing an Iranian bomb, it would be far more deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize than a certain president of the United States we could mention,” a New York Post editorial read on Friday.

The remarks come on the heels of a report, published by NBC News on Thursday, citing two “senior US officials” confirming that the Israeli secret service had “financed, trained, and armed,” the MKO terrorists for them to assassinate Iranian scientists.

The US, Israel and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have used this allegation as a pretext to sway the UN Security Council to impose four rounds of sanctions on Iran.

Based on these accusations, they have also repeatedly threatened Tehran with the "option" of a military strike.

In November 2011, some of the US presidential hopefuls openly called for conducting covert operations ranging from assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists to launching a military strike on Iran as well as sabotaging Tehran’s nuclear program.

The calls for the assassinations were not idle threats as a number of Iranian scientists have been assassinated over the past few years. Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, Professor Majid Shahriari and Professor Masoud Ali-Mohammadi are among the victims of these acts of terror.

Ahmadi Roshan, a Sharif University of Technology chemical engineering graduate and a marketing deputy at Natanz nuclear facility, was killed on January 11 when two motorcyclists approached his car and attached a magnetic bomb to the vehicle.

Shahriari and Fereydoun Abbasi were targeted by terrorist attacks on November 29, 2010; Shahriari was killed immediately and Dr. Abbasi, the current director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, only sustained injuries.

“We’d say the [Iranian] engineers basically needed killing,” the US daily wrote.

February 13, 2012 0 comments

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Senior Iraq MP: Iraqi Govt. not recognize Maryam Rajavi

The leadership of the coalition of state law and lawmaker Abbas al-Bayati refused any decision of the government to conduct negotiations with Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK, also MKO, PMOI) leadership. Senior Iraq MP: Iraqi Govt. not recognize Maryam Rajavi

“Iraqi government negotiates with governments not organizations and groups,” al-Bayati told Al-Baghdadia TV. “Political parties or groups have nothing to do with our government, and our relations are within formal frameworks.”

“Our decision regarding the MEK has been made based on our territorial integrity,” he added.

The Iraqi MP went on to say that they will be transferred to another location and “we’ve facilitated their departure to third countries.” “Those who are willing to return to Iran will be provided with necessary facilities.”

Al-Bayati made reference to Rajavi’s recent remarks regarding her willingness to negotiate with Iraqi government and said, “Iraqi government does not recognize Maryam Rajavi, Mujahedin-e Khalq leadership.”

“Mujahedin-e Khalq is an organization which has been used under the Baath regime of Saddam Hussein for political reasons not humanitarian causes,” he continued. “It had been also used as leverage to pressure Iraqi nation in regional conflicts and now we, in New Iraq, do not intend to use leverage against any countries. Thus, we consider them as strangers and not as a group; they must follow Iraq’s laws and regulations.”

Asked if the UN is supervising Camp Liberty, al-Bayati said, “No, the camp is under the control of Iraqi government and (the camp’s control) has nothing to do with the United Nations. “Iraq came to the decision to provide the UN with the reports of the camp, and also let them visit the camp.”

Al-Bayati referred to MKO’s involvement in the 1991 crimes in Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu regions and said that these crimes “must be viewed from a legal perspective.”

Earlier on Thursday, Maryam Rajavi expressed her willingness to travel to Baghdad and negotiate with the Iraqi government in the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq.

Al- Baghdadia TV, Translation and report by Habilian Association

February 7, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Azerbaijan envoy: MKO, PJAK’s ideology oppose to ours

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov denied any support from the country for the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO)terrorist group. Azerbaijan envoy: MKO, PJAK's ideology oppose to ours

He said, “MKO’s ideology is based on Communism and Marxism which is in opposition to ours.”

“Why should we help PJAK? This group stands against our ideology,” said Javanshir Akhundov in response to a question about his country’s stance on MKO and PJAK terrorist groups, Habilian Association (families of Iranian terror victims) database reported.

He further explained that this group is “the enemy of our friends, Iran and Turkey. What is our interest in supporting them?”

Denying any Azerbaijan’s support for MKO terrorist group, Akhundov said that “MKO ideology is based on Communism and Marxism which is in opposition to ours.”

“Communism and Marxism brought about a lot of damages to Azerbaijani people; we do not accept them (in Azerbaijan).”

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran went on to say that," Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization members are living at a camp in Iraq, from which they are increasingly escaping to other countries.”

“Approaching one or two of them to the UN office in Baku is not enough to raise objections against UN office.”

He described all the news and analysis regarding the acceptance of MKO and PJAK by Azerbaijan as “falsification”, adding there is no reason for protecting MKO and PJAK by Azerbaijan.

February 7, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

MKO preventing release of its crimes on media

Daniel Da Cruz serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxemburg to the United Nations Office at Geneva told Habilian that Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK, also MKO, PMOI) infiltrated MKO preventing release of its crimes on media into the media committed to magnifying and engaging in (propagating) the goals of the group.

“It is astonishing to see some European parliamentarians support the Mujahedin-e Khalq, while it has assassinated twelve thousand Iranians,” said Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxemburg to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Daniel Da Cruz.

“Plenty of European Parliamentarians are not aware of various dimensions of MKO crimes,” Daniel Da Cruz told Habilian.

“Mujahedin-e Khalq has infiltrated into the media committed to magnifying and engaging in (propagating) the goals of the group.”

“They are financially supported by MKO to prevent its crimes being published, therefore, many of the Parliamentarians are being deceived by the cult as a result of their lack of information on the nature of the group.”

He emphasized the necessity of revealing the unknown aspects of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK, also MKO, PMOI) more than before by publishing numerous documents and evidences, adding “I will disseminate the information through media for the public enlightenment of my country.”

February 5, 2012 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Camp New Iraq residents and the determination of their refugee status claims

• UNHCR has been for some time and remains ready to undertake verification and refugee Camp New Iraq residents and the determination of their refugee status claims status adjudication for the residents of Camp New Iraq (formerly Camp Ashraf) who are persons of concern. It has mobilized teams on the ground, and has put in place the necessary soft and hard ware support capabilities. Individual interviews will need to take place in a safe, neutral and confidential location.

• The stipulation of the Government of Iraq remains that these processes take place outside Camp New Iraq, in the new location which is being provisioned to enable the residents voluntarily to move there and to stay on a temporary basis in safe and decent conditions. UNHCR has been advising on the technicalities of improving the camp infrastructure.

• UNHCR attaches utmost importance to peaceful solutions being found, including that any relocation outside Camp New Iraq proceed on a voluntary basis, with freedom of movement the most desirable state at the site of relocation.

• UNHCR is currently looking at how to expedite verification and RSD processing so as to enable it to be done on an individual basis fairly, fully but also speedily, in the interests of gaining time against tight deadlines.

Background

• Camp residents who have submitted requests for refugee status are formally asylum seekers under international law whose claims require adjudication. In the absence of a national system of adjudication in Iraq, UNHCR will consider these requests on an individual basis in a fair and efficient procedure. Each individual case will be judged on its merits and in accordance with international law.

• International law requires that asylum-seekers must be able to benefit from basic protection of their security and well-being. This includes protection against any expulsion or return to the frontiers of territories where their lives or freedom would be threatened (the non-refoulement principle).

• UNHCR, together with the Government of Iraq, UNAMI and other concerned actors, remains committed to finding solutions to this long-standing problem, including resettlement and/or relocation to third countries.
———-
* This document will be updated as needed.

February 5, 2012 0 comments

UN urges EU countries to take Camp Ashraf residents as refugees

Martin Kobler, Special representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq, on Thursday urged the EU Member States to receive the Camp Ashraf’s residents in Iraq as refugees. "My message goes to the governments of EU Member States because the final purpose of the whole exercise to move people from one camp to the other for them to undergo the refugees’ status determination is to bring them abroad, " Kobler told a press conference in Brussels this evening.

"And so far the answer of (EU) Member States to receive the Camp Ashraf’s residents as refugees, once recognised in their host country, was not that enthusiastic. And my appeal goes also to Member States, then at the end once they are refugees, to take them into their countries and to give them a live and freedom and liberty in their countries," he added. Camp Ashraf is a camp of more than 3000 exiled members of the Iranian People’s Mujahedin dissident group , which is located some 60 kilometres north of Baghdad . Camp Ashraf was until 2009 under the control of the US military, but has since been controlled by the Iraqi Government. On 25 December, the Iraqi Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding organising the transfer of the Iranian dissidents to a transit location near Baghdad Airport, Camp Liberty.

It would allow the Iranians to undergo the refugees’ status determination with the assistance of UNHCR. On his part, Hugues Mingarelli, Managing Director for the Middle East and Southern Neighbourhood in the EU, stated that the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton will continue to raise the issue with EU Member States in order to look to possibilities to relocate some of the residents of Camp Ashraf.

Ashton has called on the Iraqi government to refrain from all violence and to fully respect the human rights of the camp’s residents. Ambassador Dan Fried, US Special Advisor for Camp Ashraf told the press conference that people from Camp Ashraf need to be considered individually. "And to make determinations about any specific individual we need to know more about them and such information can be obtained only after they moved to Camp Liberty and participate in the UNHCR status determination process, " he added.

February 4, 2012 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Elmar Brok for early relocation of Camp Ashraf residents

The International community and the Iraqi government have to guarantee the safety and well being of the residents of camp Ashraf, says Mr. Elmar Brok, chairman foreign affairs committee.

The plan by the UN to temporarily relocate the residents of camp Ashraf to a safer location, where the UN will be able to check whether they are entitled to refugee status, is definitely the first step in the right direction, Brok said in s statement issued here.
Mr. Elmar Brok, chairman foreign affairs committee.
“Yesterday I met Mr Kobler, the UN special representative for Iraq. He assured me that this new camp and its facilities meet international humanitarian standards and that the UN is ready to deploy monitors to ensure that the residents are relocated safely,” he added.

“I therefore appeal to the leadership of the camp to engage in this process without delay and I call on the government of Iraq, which has a clear responsibility to respect human rights and humanitarian law, to organise and agree the transport arrangements and other related issues with the residents without delay,” he added.

Relocation to this temporary camp and determination of the residents’ refugee status are the necessary first steps towards resettlement in other countries.

“For my part, I will continue to monitor the situation and have I invited Mr Kobler to address the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the earliest opportunity,” he added.

By Shahid Abbasi – thenewstribe.com

February 4, 2012 0 comments

UN certifies that Camp Liberty meets international standards

United Nations refugee and human rights officials said today that they have confirmed that the infrastructure and facilities at a new camp in Iraq for residents of the settlement formerly known

Special Representative Martin Kobler. UN Photo/Bikem Ekberzade

as Camp Ashraf meet international standards, as stipulated in last month’s agreement on voluntary relocation between the UN and the Iraqi Government.

The UN and the Iraqi Government on 25 December signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the voluntary relocation of several thousand Iranian exiles living in Camp New Iraq, previously known as Camp Ashraf, in the north-eastern part of the country.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the human rights office of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said arrangements for the relocation of Camp New Iraq residents to the new Camp Liberty are progressing after it was confirmed that the facilities and the infrastructure had met international humanitarian standards.

“I am grateful to the UNHCR and the human rights team for their expertise,” said Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq. “This brings us a step further in ensuring that proper conditions are in place for voluntary relocation of Camp New Iraq residents.”

UN monitors are ready to start round-the-clock human rights monitoring during the transport of residents from Camp New Iraq, as well as on their arrival at Camp Liberty, currently built to accommodate 5,500 people. UNHCR is also ready to start refugee status determination as soon as residents start arriving in the new camp, according to a press release issued by UNAMI.

The Iraqi Government will organize the modalities of transporting people from Camp New Iraq to Camp Liberty and other relevant issues with the residents. The UN stands ready to facilitate those efforts if requested, Mr. Kobler said.

“It is important that [the] MoU is implemented in letter and spirit,” he added, noting that the agreement “stands only for a peaceful solution and a voluntary relocation of Camp New Iraq residents.”

“The United Nations’ consistent position is that a violent outcome is unacceptable. The MoU paves the way for UNHCR to conduct the verification and refugee status determination (RSD) processes, which is a necessary first step to resettle the residents in other countries and enjoy their freedom and liberty,” he said.

“Member States have a crucial role in helping to resolve the situation of Camp New Iraq residents and I do urge them again to accept residents in their countries. This is a critical contribution to the humanitarian solution we are all seeking,” Mr. Kobler added.

Situated in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, Camp New Iraq camp houses several thousand members of a group known as the People’s Mojahedeen of Iran.

UN News Centre,

February 2, 2012 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

PMOI close to resettlement, envoy says

A memorandum outlining the voluntary relocation of Iranian dissidents in Iraq must be honored for the sake of peace, the U.N. special envoy to Iraq said. Kobler said the United Nations is ready to help Iraq organize the voluntary relocation.

In December, Baghdad and the United Nations signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the voluntary relocation of members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran from their enclave in Diyala province to Camp Liberty in Baghdad.

Maryam Rajavi, who considers herself the head of an Iranian government in exile, said after the signing that 400 residents of the Diyala camp were ready to relocate to Camp Liberty. There are an estimated 4,000 people in the Diyala enclave and the Camp Liberty facility can house more than 5,000.

Martin Kobler, U.N. special envoy to Iraq, said ensuring the Camp Liberty facility meets international humanitarian standards moves voluntary relocation plans closer to reality.

"The United Nations’ consistent position is that a violent outcome is unacceptable," he added.

Kobler said the United Nations is ready to help Iraq organize the voluntary relocation.

Members of the PMOI were used as a paramilitary force by Saddam Hussein but surrendered to invading U.S. forces in 2003. Europeans have relaxed their stance on the organization, though Washington lists it as a terrorist group.

February 2, 2012 0 comments

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Removing MKO from terrorism lists condones violence against Iraqis

Majeda al-Tamimi MP: "Removing the Mojahedin Khalq organization from the list of international terrorists disregards the blood of the victims"

National Alliance MP Majeda-Tamimi announced that the attempt to remove the name of Mojahedin Khalq Organization from the American list of international terrorists is an insult and disregards the blood of the victims who died at the hands of this gang.

Speaking to the reporter for Ashraf News, Majeda al-Tamimi asked international organizations and human rights organizations to come to Iraq and to identify the huge amount of crimes that were until recently carried out by this group in order to implement their own agendas, which led to them killing a great many civilians. Any attempt to remove the name of this organization from the list of terrorism is equivalent to [condoning] what was done against Iraq and its people.

Ashraf News, Translated by Iran Interlink

February 1, 2012 0 comments

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