MEK Camp Ashraf

What kind of city is Camp Ashraf?

Mr. Hassan Piransar arrived in Europe a few weeks ago. He is one of the former executive members of the MKO who managed to escape Camp Ashraf by taking refuge with American forces in the TIPF which was established to help people escape the cult. When TIPF was closed earlier this year, Mr Piransar made his way through Iraqi Kurdistan and on to freedom in the west where he is now a political refugee due to his opposition to the MKO and the IRI.

As one of the executive members, he has experienced and witnessed the many abuses and deceptions practiced by the Rajavis not only toward outsiders but in particular against their own members. He attended a meeting of the Iran Delegation of the European Parliament on September 9, 2008 to ask that Camp Ashraf be opened up to humanitarian bodies and that the people trapped inside be rescued. He emphasised that mass of misinformation issued by the Rajavis and their backers such as Robin Corbett, Paulo Casaca and Struan Stevenson, is aimed at keeping human rights organisations out of Camp Ashraf so that Massoud and Maryam Rajavi can continue their inhuman mistreatment of their captives behind closed doors.

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October 4, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Camp Ashraf, a heavily controlled cult haven

Of the most common controlling techniques within MKO is that of collective control. Camp Ashraf plays an important role in keeping full all-out control over all members as well as carrying out brainwashing mechanisms. Strengthening security systems within Ashraf to prevent the members’ exit, resistance against transferring Mojahedin to other places and such activities imply the necessity of collective life for Mojahedin. The first consequence of dispersion of MKO members may be the destruction of intra-organizational controlling systems. Although lifestyle of members located in Ashraf is similar to that of Auvers-Sur-Oise and early headquarters of the organization in Iran, it is better to review the history of the formation of Ashraf in order to gain a better understanding of its strategic significance.

Before the formation of Ashraf, MKO members lived separately in Iran, Europe, Kurdistan and other countries and cities; therefore, it was impossible for the leadership to develop a collective life. It is not clear whether Ashraf was formed due to predefined ideological objectives or its formation was the inevitable consequence of some events like the disintegration of resistance cells of Mojahedin within Iran, and Europe’s disagreement for the collective settlement of Mojahedin. However, it can be claimed that Rajavi made an informed decision to keep the integrity of his organizational running for many years.

strategic failures of Mojahedin, their expulsion from France, Rajavi’s meeting with Tariq Aziz were some main factors that lead to the true prediction that Rajavi was planning to form a camp consisting of Mojahedin’s military and organizational members in order to prevent members’ passivity and disintegration of the organization. Considering Ashraf as the symbol of Mojahedin and a utopia proves the above claims. Ashraf, as the location of the development of the ideological revolution, may be regarded as the controlling lever against dissidents too. Taking a brief look at the labels defined for Ashraf may lead to a better understanding of its strategic role. In this regard, it is said:

Mojahedin’s Heart (Camp Ashraf) is called by a woman’s name, a woman who is to have a major role in the internal ideological revolution of Mojahedin. (1)

There is a kind of dialectic relationship between camp Ashraf and the ideological revolution of Mojahedin:

There is no doubt that the considerable resistance of Ashraf under the hegemony of Mojahed women had its roots in the internal ideological revolution within MKO. (2)

Although Rajavi justified his decision to move to Iraq under the pretext of changing strategy and being close to Iranian soil, his main objective was keeping full control over members. The consequences of the development of the ideological revolution such as the increase of dissidence among members were another factor to make such a decision. The dispersion of members would result in their opposition to leaders’ policies and decisions; however, living in Ashraf would reduce this probability.

It has to be pointed out that Camp Ashraf prepared the grounds for application of brainwashing mechanisms as well as physical control of members by means of the prisons formed within it. The statements made by the MKO ex-members imply the fact that resorting to mental and physical pressures against dissident members were common activities in Ashraf. Taking a look at the security considerations in Ashraf and calling it as Mojahedin’s symbol, laboratory, heart, utopia, etc may clarify this point. An MKO former member describes collective life in Ashraf and says:

Camp Ashraf turned to a laboratory for testing Rajavi’s theories and members turned to guinea pigs. (3)

He also refers to Ashraf as the Mojahedin utopia in which collective life paves the way for winning full control over the members:

Camp Ashraf is a model of Mojahedin’s utopia promised by Rajavi. Organizational hierarchy is developed based on ranking officials and inferior rank-and-files. There is no separation or collection among members; every one is connected to the ideology. Every one has to obey his superior who is more ideological. Every one needs a leader. Masoul is a person connecting members to leader. The relationship between Masoul and members inferior to him/her is like that of water and a thirsty person in which the latter can not live without the former. In MKO each Masoul is subordinate to his/her Masoul too up to Rajavi at the peak of the organizational pyramid. (4)

The running lifestyle in Ashraf is under full control. Internal as well as external relations of Mojahedin are monitored and controlled using various controlling levers:

Camp Ashraf is located out of the city and is surrounded by barbed wire. Members never leave it except for visiting doctors and accompanied by another Masoul. It resembles military camps in which members are imprisoned voluntarily. Most members have been there for an average of ten years except for military maneuvers. No one visits it but some Iraqi officials. (5)

In a nutshell, according to the supporters and sympathizers of the ideological revolution, Camp Ashraf is a must, a model focusing on collective life due to the ideological considerations. As a result, the significance of such a social life is based on an all-out control over the members and their full submission. In other words, in MKO collective life grants a chance for further monitoring and control of members. Camp Ashraf has been described as follows:

After the strategic settlement of Mojahedin in Iraq, their leader had the chance to test his revolutionary theories in a small society under his own control and free from the outside value systems. Such a society had to be a micro model of a real society consisting of government, president, the parliament in exile, armed forces, police forces, prison, court, mass media, diplomatic relations, economical and logistic systems. (6)

Collective life is common in almost all historical cults and a number of American cults. The place where these cults are located is so significant that sometimes the name of the cult is derived from the name of their location like Alamout castle and the cult called Alamout led by Hasan Sabbah. Likewise Ashraf and Mojahedin have the same connotation today. What is of importance is the fact that all such considerations are taken aiming to control members and to give cultist identity to them.

References:

1. Niyabati, Bijan, Another look at the ideological revolution within MKO

2. ibid

3. Shams-e Haeri, Hadi, The Swamp

4. ibid

5. ibid

6. Niyabati, Bijan, Another look at the ideological revolution within MKO

September 30, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Mujahedin Khalq on the run

Massoud Khodabandeh and Arash Sametipoor join live from Geneva

Massoud Khodabandeh and Arash Sametipoor who are attending the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Participate in a discussion about the future of Camp Ashraf after hand over to the Iraqi Govenment.

(The recorded video file is 44.04 minutes. the discussion on MKO starts in the second part of the programm. 22.56 min)

4 corners, Press TV,

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September 20, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Ashraf, a camp for refugees or captives

Reportedly, in the conference "In Search of Justice, European Committee for De-listing the PMOI" held in Brussels and attended by dozens of parliamentarians form the European Parliament and delegations from national parliaments of Member States, Mr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, president of the conference, announced the formation of a European Committee to challenge the Council of the European Union decision to maintain the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran on the EU terrorist list.

as stated by Mr. Struan Stevenson, the Vice-President of the EPP/ED, in the conference”if what the PMOI is doing constitutes terrorism then the EU Presidency should also include parliamentarians on the list because we support PMOI’s conduct”. The conference also discussed the recent developments regarding the situation of MKO members residing in Ashraf in Iraq and emphasized that those in Camp Ashraf are political refugees and protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention and as such they are protected by the principle of non-refoulement, International Humanitarian law, International Law and enjoy juridical security.

Just on the day before the conference was held, a delegation from Nejat Society, formed by MKO ex-members in an attempt to unbind the comrades still held captivated in the terrorist cult, travelled to Geneva to participate the meeting of United Nations Human Rights Council and to visit the delegations from other international human rights organizations to stop political abuse of those in Camp Ashraf and guarantee their individual rights.

Nejat Society asks the whole international human rights community to demand justice for the remaining members who really deserve the right to visit their family, choose clothes other than military uniforms, the right to have access to public information resources like newspapers, radio or TV and the right to select their living-place.

It would be a good thing if the EU advocates of terrorist and cultist MKO made a thorough study of group’s atrocities or contacted the ex-members before making a fuss to be included on the list next to terrorists. If they believe that those in Ashraf have to be treated according to the International Law, the least they can do is to provide for the international humanitarian organizations to freely visit Camp Ashraf and the residents individually. Then it will be much easier to stay with the terrorists or avoid them.

September 20, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Ashraf Base in Iraq, from inside and from outside

The Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) is a destructive cult according to all modern psychological and sociological definitions of cults. This cult is of course fully developed and has exposed all known cultic characteristics. All cults behave in a similar manner both from inside and from outside although they defer vastly in their publicized ideas.

All cults are known by three categories where they could be distinguished from other even undemocratic establishments.

1. Charismatic authoritarian leader who has control over every aspect of his followers and owns the lives and properties and chastity and even thoughts of individuals. The leader in a cult practically sits in the place of God and is not responsible against anyone.

2. Totalitarian pyramidal structure where the superior of every individual sits in the place of the leader and plays the same role. Followers are totally dependant to the organization and to their superiors. As they say breathing outside the organization and without the presence of the superior is impossible.

3. Psychological techniques are used to control the minds of the people under the tag of ideology. It is worth noticing that the philosophical or theological ideas of a cult have no significance and are just used as excuses. What keeps the followers attached to the cult and its leader is just utilizing mental methods of brainwashing.

But a cult needs particular facilities to impose those rational techniques to control the minds of the followers. The most important of course is a remote place isolated from the outside world since the cults need to disconnect the contact of their followers from the outside world, particularly from their families and fiends and even from their past, in order to impose their control over their lives and their minds.

Ashraf base in Iraq has provided a good opportunity for the MKO for two decades. The base of the MKO in Paris (Auvers-sur-Oise) and other safe houses of the organization round Western Europe and Northern America are serving the same purpose for the cult.

The MKO is claiming that the Ashraf Base is its strategic vessel (armed struggle) which is based on the National Liberation Army (NLA). This is true, but prior to that the base is the organization’s ideological vessel (or the mental methodology).

The Ashraf base facility has the following advantages for the MKO:

1. Ideologically and organizationally or better to say regarding the mental methods to control the minds of the followers, this base is providing a good opportunity for the organization since the connection of the individuals with the outside world is totally cut off. Such facility for a great number of people would certainly not be found anywhere in the world.

2. Strategically the NLA as an army has two elements from the three basic elements needed (military base, border with Iran, and weapons). The view that the third element (weapons) would be provided keeps the individuals hopeful and therefore fix them to the organization in that base.

3. Politically and regarding propaganda for the MKO the Ashraf base is known as the symbol of power for the organization which has its special effects on Iranian and non-Iranian supporters and western politicians. In fact this base is the major instrument in the organization’s political and propaganda work and also to recruit new members in the western countries.

Therefore the Ashraf base, which the MKO prefers to be on the boarder with Iran, provides a unique opportunity for the organization to sustain and control the followers, to keep the structure of an army although too small, and to show the power of the MKO in its political and propaganda activities.

The MKO is not considered a threat for the Islamic Republic of Iran when it is by itself. But if they can find a substitute for Saddam Hussein as an external backer, then it could be turned into a threat as far as security is concerned. It is worth mentioning that this threat is of course limited to espionage and terrorist activities and the MKO slogans to overthrow the Tehran regime is out of question.

Then the Ashraf base is an opportunity from inside to preserve and control the forces and is an opportunity from outside for propaganda.

But what would happen if the Ashraf base is dismantled?

Initially a place must be found for the 3400 inhabitants of the base. The westerners are striving to send these people towards Iran. Surely they do not welcome these people who are the outcomes of a terrorist cult into their country. But any number of people who can reach to the western countries would not have the same use for the organization and they would not have the same ideological dependency. Many of them after having free contact with the outside world and realizing that they have been subject to psychological methods of brainwashing would gain the potentiality of countering the MKO and revealing the cultic internal relationships (historically the cults are doomed to be dismantled by their defectors).

In the next step the MKO would loose a strategic facility which is the boarder and the military base, and the strategy of armed struggle which is now on the halt would be finished.

And finally the MKO would loose its political and propaganda and recruiting opportunity and would face political and manpower crises in the western countries.

Specifically if the Ashraf base is dismantled and the forces are driven towards the western countries, not only the capability of diplomatic and propaganda of the organization would not increase, it would add to the many problems of the MKO and would face it with a dead-end.

In one word the cult would loose its main vessel and without that no content of the MKO would exist.

But this does not mean that the cult would go down completely since the organization could live as a cult in a very limited form with the facility of Auvers-sur-Oise (the European base of the MKO in France) and other safe houses they have in the western countries, but it would not have the same function as a political force.

September 16, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

In Harmony with Ashraf Residents

In a statement issued on 8 September by the French International Human Rights League (FIDH), it called on the Iraqi authorities and the US to commit publicly that they will not forcibly send MKO’s members held in Camp Ashraf back to Iran and that the Multi-National Force will continue with its protection of Camp Ashraf, or Ashraf City as they call it. The statement is one of the many MKO’s provoked activities in recent weeks to safeguard its cult bastion in Iraqi soil following the justly taken decision by the Iraqi government to take the control of the camp to have a more close control over the group’s suspicious activities that jeopardize the country’s domestic order. The first question that forms in one’s mind is where and when Iraqi and the US authorities have publicly announced they would extradite MKO’s members to Iran which has worried FIDH? And the second question is why nobody, including FIDH, is really concerned about the members’ grave condition and human rights violations within Camp Ashraf?

In respect to the issue of handling over the control of Ashraf to Iraqi government and its decision to expel its residents from the country, it has to be pointed out that it is a matter of internal affair adopted according to the Council of Ministers’ decision. As stated in the published statement, according to “A decision of the Council of Ministers of Iraq dated June 17 stresses that control on the People’s Mujahidines Organization of Iran (PMOI) should be handed over to the Iraqi government by the US-led Multinational Force in Iraq and the necessity to expel the PMOI members from the country. According to various media reports, this decision was followed over the last two months by repeated declarations by Iraqi officials that the PMOI should be expelled from Iraq”.

The Iraqi government is well aware of the fact that the group is a terrorist organization in close contacts with the remnants of Saddam’s regime and other terrorist, insurgent groups that intend to lead the country to the precipice of a bloody internal war. The Iraqi government recognizes MKO a terrorist group as it is on the list of many other countries. In spite of many existing evidences of the group’s collaboration with Saddam’s regime against Iraqi people, the Iraqi government has announced that it will treat MKO according to the international laws and under the surveillance of international humanitarian bodies.

If FIDH, ICRC, and other humanitarian groups and committees are really concerned about Ashraf residents, the best they can do is a close cooperation with the Iraqi government so a decisive and secure decision can be taken. To release members from the bond of a terrorist cult and prepare for them to find a secure living-place wherever in the world is the most appropriate humanitarian duty these organizations can accomplish. And the least they can do is to beware of misleading propaganda activities by the group to act as its mouthpiece.

September 16, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Ashraf – when is a city not a city?

Apparently we – the ‘rest of the world’, that is – are not ‘allowed’ to refer to Camp Ashraf as anything other than Ashraf City. Says who? Says Massoud Rajavi, leader-in-hiding of the Iranian Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation (MKO, MEK, aka Rajavi cult). Why?

Well, the MKO’s military camp is now under the control of the Iraqi government. American forces handed it over this week. In spite of a deeply insulting scaremongering campaign by the MKO, which claimed that the Iraqis would stage a ‘Srebrenica-style massacre’ if they got their (dirty, barbaric) hands on the MKO, the handover to Iraqi military personnel has gone ahead, as planned, without incident. The Iraqi government will now work with MNF and international agencies to find a satisfactory solution to the illegal presence of foreign terrorists in its territory.

The MKO response to the inevitable loss of its main base for ideological indoctrination has been interesting. Aside from the ‘massacre’ tactic, the group has also gone all out for an ostrich-like pretence that it is not really a uniformed military group and that the people in Camp Ashraf – sorry, ‘Ashraf City’ – are just like ordinary citizens living in a small, thriving town.

Last week, Iranians were amused to watch Voice of America television when it gave air time to MKO spokesman Alireza Jafarzadeh. In the programme Jafarzadeh extolled in glowing terms the great achievement of the MKO in creating this wonderful “city” and described the facilities ‘enjoyed’ by the MKO there.

Without contradicting his words, let us have a little glimpse at this ‘city’ and compare it with our own towns and cities, the places we all live and work and send our kids to school.

Ashraf

has an extensive cemetery but no maternity hospital

has huge, well-equipped salons for mass meetings but no arrangements to register or celebrate marriages or births

has (gender segregated) swimming pools but no nurseries, primary schools or high schools and no playgrounds

has prisons but no court of law

has strictly enforced regulations (including compulsory hijab) but no council elections

has gas stations (segregated, with different opening times for men and women) but no place to drive

residents work up to 18 hours a day but there is no bank because they don’t get paid – unpaid workers need no shops – they have no money to buy anything

residents only wear military uniforms – so there are no shops to buy pretty dresses and make-up, or smart suits or casuals

has air-conditioned, gender segregated accommodation but no hotels for visitors from out of town to visit their families

has no internet cafes, no newspaper deliveries, no radio or television sets for individual use, no satellite channels to choose from

has no public telephones and no mobile phones

Is anyone allowed to keep a pet?

Does this sound like the town you live in, or would want to live in?

No?

So when is a city not a city? When it’s a cult’s military and ideological headquarters of course.

Over forty people who have escaped from Camp Ashraf have arrived in Europe in the past few weeks. They are happy to talk about current conditions inside the MKO. Please contact Iran-Interlink for further details.

September 14, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

SFF statement on controlling the Ashraf Camp

Communiqué no 3 (6 September 2008) In the past two statements, it was emphasized that the families of the members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) captured in the Ashraf military camp are demanding an urgent meeting with their beloved ones in a place other than the Ashraf camp and without the presence of any person but the members of the family and for adequate duration. They also urged the Iraqi government to fulfill its resolution on the MKO. The text of the 6 article resolution which is the last resolution ratified by the Iraqi administration is as below: In the Name of God Resolution ratified by the Iraqi Administration Number: 216, Year: 2008 The Iraqi Administration, in its 27th ordinary session held on 17th June 2008, ratified the followings: To approve the binding measures described below regarding terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO): 1. Emphasizing on past resolutions regarding the MKO as a terrorist organization and its expulsion from Iraq. 2. Putting the MKO, currently on Iraqi territory, under full control of the Iraqi government until they are expelled from the country. In this respect any interaction with them must be done according to the Iraqi laws. 3. Any interaction with the terrorist MKO by any organization or party or establishment or entity (whether Iraqi or foreigner) inside Iraq is forbidden and anyone having any interaction with them (breaching the law) is liable of being prosecuted according to the terrorist acts of the country. 4. It is essential that the multinational forces to give up the organization and hand over all check points and points of observation to the responsible Iraqi authorities. 5. Activating the judicial sentences issued against the terrorist MKO elements who have committed crimes against the Iraqi people. 6. Cooperating with the ICRC in order to find basic real solutions for the problem of the presence of the MKO in the Iraqi territory and to activate the past resolutions about their expulsion from Iraq. Ali Mohsin Ismail The General Secretary of the Iraqi Administration

September 9, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

Members Reluctant To Continue Cooperation With MKO

Iranian Diplomacy’ interviews Hossein Alaei, a senior Iranian analyst in political and strategic affairs about the current status of the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in Iraq and the possibility of their deportation from the country Q: Iraqi troops arrived at Camp Ashraf on Monday and took control of the base. However, the Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh has said the army presence at the camp is only aimed at removing some of the problems of the MKO members in accordance with human rights principles. What is your comment on this? A: Ever since Iraq came under the US occupation, one of the important issues for the Americans has been the way they should treat the Mujahedin Khalq who had been operating as an arm of Saddam Hussein against Iran and against the Intifada as well as the political currents opposed to the Saddam regime in Iraq. From the very beginning of the occupation, the US let the MKO and its forces stay inside their camps the most important of which was Ashraf Camp near Baghdad. It assigned the MKO to manage the affairs inside the camp and took control of the external issues itself. The aim was for the MKO to operate inside Iraq under the US control. After the coming to power of a legitimate government in Iraq, one of the important security topics discussed in the security negotiations between the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq has been to decide the fate of the MKO as an anti-IRI terrorist organization. Iran demands dismantling of the MKO bases in Iraq and handover of their members to Tehran. However, the US has not let this happen. The Americans thought they could use the MKO as an organization for both espionage and intelligence in Iran and as a tool for negotiations with the IRI. For the same reason they let them continue operation; some of the MKO leaders were sent abroad under the US control and some others are still in Iraq and under control of the US policies. Under the status quo, the US wants to solve this issue in a way to take the IRI pressure off its shoulder. For the same reason, it has agreed to apparently delegate administration of Camp Ashraf to the Iraqi government. But the Americans will continue to decide the policymaking and treatment of the MKO. In fact, the Iraqi army will act as a tool in the hands of the US as far as administration of the camp is concerned. In other words, the MKO is not fully under the control of the Iraqi government. For the same reason, the Iraqi government is trying to gradually expand its authorities concerning the MKO and take control of the region. Naturally, the remarks made by the Iraqi government spokesman (Ali Dabbagh) are in line with this policy. Considering that at the time of Saddam Hussein, the MKO was run with the money of the Iraqi government and later with the financial aid of the US and Europe and in some cases with the support of the (post-Saddam) government in Iraq, those remarks (by Dabbagh) are meant to indicate that the MKO are under the Iraqi control. It seems that changes have taken place in MKO management inside Iraq with the Iraqi government playing a bigger role than the Americans. Q: It is said the MKO has received a deadline until eid-ul fitr (end of Ramadan – early October) to leave Iraq. Is this true and feasible at all? A: The Iraqi government is under pressure both from Iran and Iraqi officials who have received blows from the MKO in the course of the Intifada. Therefore, it is just natural for them to try to solve the problem. Perhaps the best way for them and for the Americans is to move the MKO members and spread them out in various world countries. On this basis, it may be said that the Americans plan to form MKO cells in various European and Arab states and even in America. What they have in mind is formation of new MKO cells which could embark on political activities against IRI and at the same time maintain their organization. The Americans are concerned that the MKO members would be handed over to Iran and this could lead to practical dissolution of the terrorist organization. That is why they are trying to do this through the Iraqi government. The important thing for the Iraqi government is that MKO members would no more stay in their soil. Q: Wouldn’t this be to Iran’s detriment when it could exercise the least control over the MKO (after they are out of Iraq)? A: This may be the case in the long run. But in the short term it may be in Iran’s interest because it would help disorganization of MKO which is regarded an armed paramilitary organization. Their concentration in one place would enable the MKO to launch military operations against IRI. This dispersion would probably encourage many MKO members who are looking for an opportunity to split away from the organization to do so and this would cause the organization not to be able to maintain its former consistency. But at the same time, the IRI must pay attention to the point that the Americans may try to create a new organization for MKO. Washington may put an end to MKO military activities and turn them into political cells opposed to Iran in certain parts of the world, including countries which have issues with Tehran such as Europe and America in the future. Q:It is said that Iran has announced it would allow repentant MKO members to return to their home country. Do you think this is an effective step? A: Iran has always been seeking to return (repentant) MKO members to the bosom of their families here, particularly those who have not committed murders or assassinations. The aim is to lead the terrorist organization towards gradual disintegration by breaking their members away from it. This is a policy that has been executed so far and hundreds of them have returned home and reunited with their families. This has been a successful policy. Perhaps, under the present conditions that the MKO is under growing pressure the same policy could be pursued more seriously. According to information coming out of Camp Ashraf so far, many MKO members are reluctant to continue cooperation with the organization. They believe the way the camp is being administered is very despotic and oppressive. They feel they have been wasting their lives for long years with the MKO and are now looking for a peaceful and trouble-free life. Therefore, giving assurances to such persons that they could return home and live a normal life provided that they would not take their past course again, is probably an effective measure.

September 8, 2008 0 comments

MEK Camp Ashraf

MKO members free to choose a destination

Document – Iraq: No Iranians in need of protection should be sent to Iran against their will

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT

AI Index: MDE 14/023/2008

28 August 2008

Iraq: No Iranians in need of protection should be sent to Iran against their will

Amnesty International has written to both the Iraqi and US governments reminding them of their obligations under international law and urging them to continue to provide protection to people affiliated to and members of the People’s Mojahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), an Iranian opposition group based in Iraq.

In its letters, Amnesty International reminds both governments that members of the PMOI in Iraq are ‘protected persons’ under international humanitarian law and, therefore, should not be expelled or forcibly returned to Iran.

In its letters to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Amnesty International expressed concern at recent statements made by senior Iraqi officials criticising the presence of members of the PMOI (also known as Mojahedeen Khalq Organization – MKO) at Camp Ashraf in Iraq’s northern governorate of Diyala. On 3 July 2008 ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, one of the main political parties represented in the Iraq government, reportedly said that the "MKO’s presence in Iraq lacks any legal or international covers," and accused the organisation of "aiding and abetting the former regime in killing Iraqis…." He is also reported to have accused the MKO of seeking “to fuel” sectarian conflict in Iraq and adopting an “aggressive position toward the parliament and the elected national government".

Earlier, on 18 June 2008 Iraq’s government spokesperson Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh said that the Iraq cabinet had “decided to emphasize the decisions made previously that consider the MKO as a terrorist organization and should leave Iraq.”

Amnesty International considers that those living in Camp Ashraf would be at grave risk of torture or other serious human rights violations if they were to be returned involuntarily to Iran, whether by the Iraqi authorities or by the US-led MultiNational Force (MNF). The organization has told the Iraqi and US governments that it strongly opposes any such forcible returns, either of those at Camp Ashraf or of other Iranian nationals who currently reside in Iraq having left Iran for political reasons or to escape persecution.

Amnesty International urged both governments to provide promptly a firm assurance that they will prevent the forcible return to Iran of any Iranian refugees and asylum seekers, currently in Iraq, who would be at serious risk of torture or persecution there, respecting the principle of non-refoulement.

The organization emphasised that before any final decision to remove an individual to their country of origin, there should be an independent, individual assessment of the potential risk of serious human rights violations, including the death penalty and torture. No person should be returned, either directly or via a third country, to a situation where they would be at risk of torture or other serious human rights abuses.

Amnesty International urged the Iraqi and US authorities to work together with UNHCR, and others as appropriate, to find a satisfactory long term solution to the situation of PMOI members and supporters currently at Camp Ashraf.

Background Information

Amnesty International has been monitoring the situation of members and supporters of the PMOI in Camp Ashraf. Following the US-led military intervention in Iraq in 2003 about 3,400 members of the PMOI were disarmed by the US-led forces at Camp Ashraf. Since that time PMOI members living in the Camp, which is managed by the MNF, have been designated as “protected persons” under Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prevents extradition or forced repatriation to Iran as long as the US-led Multinational Force (MNF) is present in Iraq.

September 6, 2008 0 comments

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