News

MKO’s Camp Ashraf under Iraqi siege

Iraqi forces have surrounded MKO’s Camp Ashraf, after Baghdad vowed to shut down the camp and end the group’s presence in the country.

"Iraqi soldiers [have taken] positions around Camp Ashraf since Thursday after the MKO [terrorists] refused to evacuate a building inside their camp," an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity on Monday.

The Iraqi soldiers, who have orders from Iraq’s National security Advisor, Mowaffak Al-Rubaie, are not authorized to allow people or supplies to enter or leave the camp, the source added.

After the finalization of a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, the Iraqi government took over the country’s national security issues. Under the interim agreement Iraq has now control over the Camp Ashraf — the Mujahedin Khalq Organization’s headquarters and training base in Diyala Province for the past two decades.

The Iraqi government has vowed to expel the members of the terrorist group from the country, maintaining that their presence ‘in Iraq is not an option’.

The anti-Iran MKO, which identifies itself as a Marxist-Islamist guerilla army, has carried out acts of terror against Iranian nationals and officials.

Outlawed in Iran, the group was relocated in France before being expelled at the order of the then-prime minister Jacques Chirac. Te organization, eventually, moved to Iraq, where it allegedly assisted former dictator Saddam Hussein in the massacre of thousands of Iraqi civilians in the 1990s.

Many countries including the US have blacklisted the MKO as a "terrorist" organization. The US State Department says that the MKO assassinated at least six US citizens in Iran, prior to the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

This is while earlier in January, the 27-nation European Union ruled against the MKO’s seven-year inclusion in the blacklist. The ruling is widely believed to be politically motivated and the result of legal developments combined with intense lobbying by the terrorist group.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Rajanews website said on Monday that the Iraqi government is making efforts to transfer the MKO terrorists from Camp Ashraf to Naqrat al-Salman, near the Iraq’s border with Saudi Arabia.

It added that a delegation of Iraqi government officials has been dispatched to the border region to inspect the base, which is expected to house MKO members.

March 17, 2009 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

MKO members to be sent to Saudi Arabian border

The Iraqi government is trying to send members of terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO) to Saudi Arabian border, an informed source said on Monday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity told IRNA that Iraq is going to send MKO members, also known as Munafiqin (hypocrites), from Ashraf camp to Nugrat Al-Salman region on Saudi Arabian border.

Located on Iraq’s border with Saudi Arabia, Nugrat Al-Salman prison was once the horrendous house to anti-Saddam political dissidents.

March 17, 2009 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq 's Function

MKO called INSA’s statement “false and misleading”

Following the reports by the Iraq’s national security advisor saying that the leadership of camp Ashraf prevented the entry of survey team of the Ministry of Human Rights, MKO’s political wing, NCRI, issued a statement claiming that what the office of Iraq’s National Security Advisor has issued is a “categorically false and misleading statement”. First MKO quotes the exact words of the statement that reads “The leaders of Camp Ashraf have refused to allow a committee from the Ministry of Human Rights to conduct its duty to establish the residents’ choice to return to Iran or leave for a third country.” It further adds that “The leaders of the camp also exercised their hegemony and control and deprived the residents of the camp the freedom of returning to Iran or to choose a third country. The government will not back away from its decision to close the camp.”

In a hasty, angry backlash, NCRI’s statement reads; “These entirely false claims are part of a new plot against the residents of Ashraf and at the same time a cover-up for recent unlawful positions and measures by Iraq’s National Security Advisor against Ashraf residents which have aroused widespread protests by the international community”.

In an attempt to justify its act of preventing the entry of survey team, the statement adds; “The truth is that the residents of Ashraf and its officials have extended their full cooperation to an Iraqi delegation which apparently wanted to interview the residents. Ashraf camp’s officials prepared buildings and premises for interviews at a location desired by the delegation”.

But of the most noticeable part of the statement is its threatening tone stating “the Iranian Resistance warns that such actions prepare the grounds for a human tragedy, and calls on all international organizations and specially the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNAMI to be present in Ashraf and to neutralize the conspiracies dictated by the Iranian regime”.

We also believe that all international, humanitarian organizations should be concerned about the tragic condition of members in Camp Ashraf and watchful of its cultic plots that may lead to a human tragedy. It is natural for a terrorist cult to react against legal moves by a country’s authorized body when it has its own advocates that thoroughly close their eyes on its atrocities and even strive to remove it from terrorist lists. They are also accountable for MKO’s anti-human deeds.

March 17, 2009 0 comments

Iran

Iran summons Czech charge d’affairs Service

The charge d’affairs of Czech Republic embassy in Tehran was summoned to Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday. The charge d'affairs of Czech Republic embassy in Tehran was summoned to Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday.

The Deputy of Iran’s Foreign Ministry Director General for human rights and women criticized the EU double standards on terrorism.

The Iranian official also called on the Czech official who is the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, to follow an unchanging and logical approach regarding terrorism and take stance based on correct information instead of issuing unfounded statements.

The Iranian official then asked the EU not to use human rights as an instrument.

The Czech official pledged to inform the EU of Iran’s criticism and comments.

The EU has already removed the name of Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from its terrorist black list. The move provoked strong condemnation in Iran.

The group carried out a large number of terrorist attacks in Iran and then fled to Iraq after Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The group helped the former Iraqi President Saddam Hossein in his attacks against Iranian territory.

March 17, 2009 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Camp Ashraf leaders prevent the entry of survey team

Baghdad – The Iraq’s national security advisor, on Friday, said that the leadership of camp Ashraf prevented the entry of survey team of the Ministry of Human Rights who were supposed to perform their duty to identify options for the inhabitants either to return to Iran, or to select a third country.

The national security advisor said in a statement [A copy of which received by Aswatal Iraq]:”The committee in charge of putting an end to Camp Ashraf case, held their regular meeting, chaired by the representative of the national security advisor, and in the presence of all members of the committee discussed topics on the agenda included the Ashraf camp case.”

The statement quoted the representative of the national security advisor, saying that “leadership of the camp is still authoritarian and confiscated the freedom of the residents of the camp , preventing the entry of the Ministry of Human Rights’ survey team into the camp, to identify options for the inhabitants, to choose between the return to Iran or the selection of a third country,”stressing that”the government would not backtrack on its decision to close the camp.”

The statement reads:”MKO leaders, under the same practices, continued to prevent making the necessary arrangements to facilitate the visit of families with their children who are inhabitants of Camp Ashraf. This is a clear violation of human rights, despite attempts by the Iraqi government to facilitate such visits in the framework of obligations in accordance and with respect to human rights and international conventions”.

The statement noted that”such acts are illegal and hinders the Iraqi government from providing Ashraf Refugee Camp inhabitants with humanitarian assistance and facilities and discourages the Iraqi government from humanitarian dealing with the camp . Such actions are a clear proof of the Camp Ashraf Leadership adherence to terrorism and hostilities against Iraq and its people.”

The statement called on international organizations”to condemn such actions which are a clear violation of human rights.”

The People’s Mojahedin Organization [MKO/PMOI/MEK] based in Camp Ashraf in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad with the support of Saddam Hussein.

After the U.S. invasion to Iraq in 2003, they were disarmed. The Organization has been under American protection in spite of being classified a terrorist organization.

After signing the security agreement between Iraq and the United States government, Iraqi government took the responsibility of the Ashraf refugee camp provided that the American forces to remain in the camp. ..

March 14, 2009 0 comments

The MEK Expulsion from Iraq

MKO imminent expulsion from Iraq

Iran has been the first and main supporter of the Iraqi government after the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abawi said on Saturday.

"We have excellent relations with Iran and Iran has always supported us ever since the downfall of Saddam and the two sides have signed dozens of Memoranda of Understanding," Abawi told FNA.

He further noted the increase in the visits to Iran by Iraqi officials, and reiterated, "Our trip with Mr. Jalal Talabani to Tehran was aimed at deepening of relations with our neighbor Iran and took place at the invitation of Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."

On the issue of the security pact between Iraq and the US and the US president’s statements on the withdrawal of the countries’ troops from Iraq, Abawi said, "We are in full harmony with Iran and our position is completely transparent (on this issue). During this trip, we didn’t speak about the (Iraq-US) agreement."

Asked about the Iranian diplomats who have been arrested by the US forces in Iraq, he said Iraq has pressured Americans to release the Iranian diplomats as soon as possible, adding that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has informed Iraqi officials that two of the Iranian inmates will be freed in the near future.

Elsewhere, he pointed out that the anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), will be expelled from Iraq and that his country is searching for a third country to host the group members.

Labawi expressed pleasure in his visit to Iran, and described his meetings with Iranian officials as fruitful, stressing that Iraq wants to further strengthen ties with Iran.

March 9, 2009 0 comments

Iran

MKO still being monitored by Germany

Iran: Boroujerdi warns EU of downplaying MKO and Pejak terror threats

The Chairman of the Foreign Policy and National Security Commission of Majlis Alaeddin Boroujerdi warned the European Union of downplaying the terror threat of group like MKO and Pejak.

Meeting with Klaus-Dieter Fritsche, the top intelligence coordinator of the German chancellery in Berlin on Thursday, Boroujerdi said Germany and the EU had to have a realistic approach towards terrorist groups like MKO and Pejak.

Although the EU has removed the name of MKO from its terror list, the notorious MKO terror group is still being monitored by Germany’s domestic Verfassungsschutz intelligence agency, a high-level German government official, requesting anonymity told IRNA recently in Berlin.

“Just because the EU has lifted the ban, it does not mean that we don’t have our own national security considerations,”the official said.

“For instance, parts of the German Left party are being subjected to surveillance by the Verfassungsschutz although they are not blacklisted by the EU,”he added.

The official made clear that Germany’s federal secret service and its state branches will continue the MKO observation.

Each German state has also its own Verfassungsschutz intelligence apparatus.

The MKO has been involved in the mass murders of thousands of innocent Iranians over the past 30 years.

Furthermore, the Israeli-backed MKO terror group has also collaborated with the former Saddam regime, in brutally massacring tens of thousands of Iraq Kurds and Shias.

March 7, 2009 0 comments

Iraq

Iraq wants Iranian opposition out

BAGHDAD, Xinhua – Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Monday that Iraq wanted to expel the Iranian rebel Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO) that opposes the Islamic regime.

Talabani made the remarks in a joint news conference with Iran’s former president and current Expediency Council head Ali Akbar Hashemi who arrived here earlier in the day for a visit.

Speaking to the reporters, Talabani accused the MKO, also known as the PMOI (People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran) of supporting former Saddam Hussein regime and Iraq wants Iranian opposition camp out committing crimes against Iraqis.

"We here in Iraq, our constitution prohibit the presence of any foreign armed group in Iraq and the Iraqi people know that this organization is terrorist one," said the Iraqi president, adding "the Iraqi people want them out from Iraq."

MKO, a main militant group which was founded in 1981 with an aim to establish "a democratic and secular government" in Iran, bases in Iraq’s Diyala province in a camp named Camp Ashraf, which contains more than 3,000 Iranians opponents and their families.

The Shiite-dominated Iraqi government repeatedly demands MKO members to be removed from the country.

After the U.S.-led invasion, the U.S. troops disarmed the MKO fighters and since then, the camp became under the U.S. military police protection for five years before the Iraqi government partially took over security responsibility in the camp.

This is Rafsanjani’s first visit to Iraq since Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979.

Talabani met with the former Iranian president in his residence at the edge of the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad that houses the Iraqi government offices and some foreign embassies, including the U.S. one.

Rafsanjani is also expected to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other top Iraqi officials before touring holy cities in Iraq.

At the news conference, Rafsanjani said that his country "is entirely ready to support and cooperate with the Iraqi brotherly people."

Iraq and Iran fought a bloody eight-year war in 1980s, resulting in the loss of one million lives. The relation, however, has been picking up since the Saddam Hussein regime was toppled in2003 and the Shiite came into power.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/03/content_10930887.htm

March 3, 2009 0 comments

Iran

EU should revise approach to MKO

Prosecutor-General: EU should revise approach to MKO

Prosecutor-General Qorban-Ali Dorri Najafabadi on Saturday advised the European Union to revise its decision to remove MKO from its list of terrorist groups.

Those who have de-proscribed MKO are accountable to the international community as well as the Iranian nation, he said.

It should be clarified whether the EU has ignored the crimes of the group in the past or they have viewed the case through political considerations, he pointed out.

The so-called advocates of human rights have closed their eyes on assassination of thousands of innocent people by the group and therefore they should be accountable to their families of victims and millions of Iranian citizens, Dorri Najafabadi said.

The group spared no efforts to assassinate many Iranian civilians through bombing, violence and looting, he said.

The group also targeted a number of high ranking Iranian officials and politicians to attain their sinister goals, said the prosecutor-general.

Those who have not committed any crime can be pardoned by Islam, he said.

The prosecutor-general called on the EU to revise its illogical approach which runs counter to international norms and avoid bothering the Iranian nation and instead help the Islamic Republic of Iran bring the culprits to justice.

March 2, 2009 0 comments

The MEK Expulsion from Iraq

Anti-Iran Group Seeks Base in Egypt

An anti-Iranian organization is seeking to base its new headquarters in Egypt, a move that could further sour relations between Tehran and Cairo.

The People’s Mujahidin of Iran, also known as the Mujahidin Khalq Organization (MKO), is an Iranian opposition movement outlawed in Iran.

The movement has had camps in Iraq since the early 1980s and sided with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war. Its leaders fled to France during the 1980s.

Today, Baghdad seeks to expel MKO members from the country and MKO leaders are looking for alternative bases in the region.

Egypt recently agreed to accommodate the MKO on its soil, Iraq sources told the Iranian Mehr news organization.

Last month, European states removed the organization from its list of banned terrorist groups. However, the United States State Department still designates the MKO a foreign terrorist organization.

If Egypt accepts the MKO on its territory, this would strain already tense relations between Egypt and Tehran.

Iran cut its diplomatic relations with Egypt following the late president Anwar Sadat’s signing of the Camp David peace agreement with Israel in 1979.

Sadat’s welcoming of the shah of Iran following the collapse of his regime in 1979 sharpened the tensions between the two countries.

This was compounded when Iran named a street after Khalid Al-Islambouli, the man who assassinated Sadat in 1981.

More recently, Egypt and Iran have expressed willingness to restore diplomatic ties.

Analysts say any thaw in these relations would be subtle rather than drastic, so as not to jeopardize Egypt’s delicate relations with the United States.

Tension recently surged between Iran and Egypt over the latter’s involvement in the Gaza crisis.

If Egypt indeed agreed to host the MKO on its soil, this would signal the end of any reconciliation efforts between the two countries, said Walid Kazziha, a professor of political science at the American University in Cairo.

“This is a militia that has been antagonizing the regime in Iran since its inception,” Kazziha told The Media Line. “I imagine Egypt will not allow them as an armed band because Egyptians are very sensitive about this. But if they allow them political refuge here, the result will be eternal enmity with the Iranian regime and the question is whether this is in Egypt’s national interest.”

Written by The Media Line Staff

February 23, 2009 0 comments

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