Camp Liberty

17 MKO members flee Camp Liberty in Iraq

Seventeen members of the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) have fled Camp Liberty near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. 17 MKO members flee Camp Liberty in Iraq

“Since the beginning of the current year, 17 … MKO members have fled Camp Liberty near Baghdad International Airport,” an Iraqi security official said Wednesday.

The defectors were among the senior and older members of the organization, who left the Iraqi soil after parting ways with the organization, said the official who was speaking on condition of anonymity.

The MKO is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community and has committed numerous terrorist acts against Iranians and Iraqis.

The group fled Iran in 1986 for Iraq, where it received the support of Iraq’s executed dictator Saddam Hussein and set up Camp Ashraf near the Iranian border.

Out of the nearly 17,000 Iranians killed in terrorist attacks since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, 12,000 have fallen victim to the acts of terror carried out by the MKO.

In December 2011, the United Nations and Baghdad agreed to relocate some 3,000 MKO members from Camp New Iraq, formerly known as Camp Ashraf, to the former US-held Camp Liberty.

The last group of the MKO terrorists was evicted by the Iraqi government on September 11 to join the other members of the terrorist group at Camp Liberty and await potential relocation to other countries.

December 21, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

Practical solution to resolve Liberty residents’ situation

The Mujahedin Khalq is no more welcomed in Iraq. The group’s alliance with Saddam Hussein and the innumerable crimes it committed which continued even after the dictators’ overthrow and also their Practical solution to resolve the Liberty residents’ situation resistance to end the several years of illegal occupancy of a piece of Iraq land caused the wrath of the Iraqi nation and consequently led to a sequence of attacks on Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty which resulted in the deaths and injuries to numerous camps residents.

The calamity the Mujahedin Khalq is trapped in caused whoever in concern of the members of the group to be worried about their fate.

The suffering families who have for a long time been deprived to visit their loved ones are more worried than before.

Former members of the MKO who managed to escape the Cult are also restless to see their friends in danger. Over and over they have told their stories to the world, asking international organizations to help those entrapped physically and mentally within the Rajavis’ Cult.

After the deadly incidents in camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty both families and defectors wrote letters and petitions to due international bodies asking for help to find a practical solution to save the residents of the camps.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has several times reiterated the need for the Camp Liberty residents relocation to third countries and has opened several ways for talks with a number of European states in a bid to find a third party to host the Mujahedin Khalq. António Guterres, UNHCR chief insisted: “The residents of Camp Hurriya urgently need solutions to relocate out of Iraq".[1]

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton also called the Permanent resettlement outside Iraq as the only solution.[2]

UN Chief announced a trust fund initiative to help relocate residents of Camp Liberty. Ban ki-moon reiterated the necessity to “pick up the pace of the relocation”. [3]

The United States welcomed the UN initiative and through a statement announced the US plan to donate $1 million to the fund. Marie Harf, the US Deputy Department Spokesperson said: We share the conviction that relocation is the only lasting means of guaranteeing the safety and well-being of those residing at Camp Hurriya. [4]

Thus it seems that all parties concerned have reached to the consensus that the only way to resolve situation of Camp Liberty residents is to relocate them somewhere out of Iraq.

However there are two main obstacles on the way of the Camp residents’ relocation, one of which is the reluctance of third countries to house former terrorists as refugees. What is just before their eyes is the group’s past violent history and anti-social behaviors. So far just three countries Belgium, Germany and Albania have offered to accept a small number of Liberty residents.

Yet the main barrier on the way of the relocation process is unwillingness of the leaders of the Organization.

Martin Kobler, the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, several times deplored the lack of cooperation of the residents and of their leadership with the UNHCR and UN monitors. In an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad kobler said that “residents of an Iranian dissident camp are denied freedom of movement by the exile group.”[5]

Wendy Sherman, the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs also noted that the MEK’s leadership in Paris was obstructing the process to resettle MEK members.[6]

The MEK’s leadership demand is that the members be allowed to relocate together as a single unit, rather than to be relocated individually to different countries. In this way they can preserve the cult hegemony on members and prevent their defection.

The UN Trust Fund according to the UN chief statement is “to cover costs relating to the relocation process”. The UN Chief urged states to contribute to the fund.[7]

Conversely the point is that what is really hindering the relocation process is unwillingness of the MKO leaders rather than lack of fund.

The MKO launched multimillion-dollar campaign to bury the MEK’s bloody history of bombings and assassinations.

The group spends large sums of money to arrange Maryam Rajavi travels to European countries and to stage events to launch its propaganda campaign to direct the attentions to the ambitions of the leaders of the group.

If the Americans are really worried about the fate of residents of Camp Liberty they should put forth to convince the MKO leaders to let members participate and complete due processes and use the safe and secure relocation opportunities rather than donating for it. The US can also step forward to take at least a number of Temporary Transit Location residents to its own country.

By: A .Sepinoud

References:

[1] Bobb, Donn, UNHCR welcomes Albanian offer to Hurriya residents, unmultimedia.org, March 2013

[2]Office of Catherine Ashton, European Union, EU welcomes Albanian offer, Fully supports Kobler efforts, March 21, 2013

[3] UN News Center, Iraq: launching new trust fund, UN chief urges relocation of Champ Hurriya residents, October 23, 2013

[4] U.S. Department of State, Press Statement, U.S. Pledges Support to UN Trust Fund for Resettlement of Camp Hurriya Residents, Marie Harf, Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC, October 24, 2013

[5]Associated Press, UN Iraq rep urges exile cooperation, June26, 2013

[6] NIAC, MEK leader in Paris obstructing the process to resettle members, October 4,2013

[7] UN News Center, Iraq: launching new trust fund, UN chief urges relocation of Champ Hurriya residents, October 23, 2013

October 28, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

Some Liberty residents decided not to attend UNHCR interviews

Some Liberty residents have decided not to attend interviews with UNHCR to process their cases

Update No. 6

Camp New Iraq (formerly Camp Ashraf) residents and the processing of their cases for solutions*

UNHCR has expressed continued deep concern for the safety and security of the residents in the Hurriya Temporary Transit Location (TTL), following the second deadly attack on 15 June. UNHCR reiterated the urgent need for enhanced physical protection, asking the Government of Iraq to do everything in its power to guarantee the security of the residents.

Invoking their security concerns following the two attacks on Camp Hurriya, a number of residents have decided not to attend interviews scheduled for them with UNHCR to process their cases. Nevertheless, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Government of Iraq of 25 December 2011 on the situation of the residents of Camp New Iraq, UNHCR continues to process the applications of the residents who have been transferred, on a voluntary basis, to Camp Hurriya and who engage with UNHCR.

Camp residents who have submitted requests for international protection are formally asylum-seekers under international law. In the absence of a national system of adjudication in Iraq, UNHCR is considering these requests on an individual basis in an appropriate procedure. Individual interviews are taking place – with those who engage – in a safe and neutral location, and in full confidentiality. Transmittal to States of the cases of those with determined international protection needs is ongoing. Pending their relocation outside Iraq, the residents are in transit in Camp Hurriya, while their claims are being processed, as provided for in the above-noted Memorandum of Understanding.

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) as well as treatment in accordance with basic humanitarian standards – including, most importantly, their security. The primary responsibility for ensuring respect for these standards lies with the Government of Iraq. Freedom of movement is the most desirable state while processing takes place.

UNHCR, together with the Government of Iraq, UNAMI and other concerned actors, including importantly the international community, remains committed to doing its part in finding peaceful solutions to this long-standing problem. Accordingly, UNHCR and UNAMI are continuing their combined efforts to find solutions, including relocation opportunities, for the residents who wish to depart Iraq. To date a total of 135 residents have departed to other countries.

July 29, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

Save Enslaved MKO Members

Those lobbying to return MKO members to Ashraf are building the altar to scarify them

It is no more the question of keeping forces on alert near the Iranian borders looking for an opportunity to strike at the pillars of the regime to inherit the reins of power after its fall. Rather, it is a desperate need to protect very same disarmed forces against any attack that threaten their life just in the middle of Iraq. The members of MKO deserved any form of confrontation when they were fully armed with Saddam’s donated weapons to be used against Iranian and Iraqi people. Now the deplorable condition of these poor men, the outcasts of a failed militia with a countless record of bloodshed, call for a universal decisiveness to save them, now wallowed in the mire of a personality cult.

The UN special envoy to Iraq, Martin Kobler, knows well, if not better than anybody, what is going on within Camp Liberty, the temporary camp that houses these people, when he expressed concern at human rights abuses therein. In his latest remarks, Mr. Kobler cited reports from some residents that camp leaders are keeping residents from leaving, from participating in the resettlement process, from contacting family members outside Iraq, and from medical treatment.

And what is the response by the group’s leaders to end the sufferings of the members? We witness everyday protests and demonstrations by sympathizers and supporters of MKO outside UN headquarters and on the streets of the European countries calling for the protection and guaranteed rights of the residents as well as condemning Mr. Kobler. In her recent attack, Maryam Rajavi, the self-appointed president elect of the group, strongly condemned Kobler for what she referred to as deceitful efforts to present false reports to the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General.

The heavy propaganda and lobbying struggle by MKO’s widespread network in European countries demanding to return Camp Liberty residents to their previous camp, Camp Ashraf, is no more considered a humanitarian gesture to save suffering members. Everybody knows that Camp Ashraf does not qualify a more secure place than Liberty. The number of the insiders killed in Camp Ashraf when MKO’s leaders deliberately provoked a few confrontations with Iraqi forces, many of whom were happy to avenge the ethnic cleansing raids the group carried out for Saddam back in the day, exceeds those killed in Camp Liberty’s mortar attacks. Mr. Kobler had also provided a warning of the group’s potentiality in provoking and waging violence at the time.

Is Camp Ashraf really a sanctuary and does MKO care about the safety and protection of the abandoned insiders in Iraq? The first reaction the Iraqi Government received from MKO after announcing its decision to close Camp Ashraf in a decision to expel its residents from the country was an angry backlash and threatening tone. And the first practical approach by MKO was to provoke the Iraqi forces, not acquainted with the group’s self-destructive tactics, to mount an aggressive response to evacuation of Ashraf. Then, anyone can say what would be the fate of the insiders if they were ever permitted to return to Camp Ashraf.

MKO is at the end of line in Iraq and it has enough devoted members active under a pro-democracy masquerade around the world. But MKO is facing a conundrum over the insiders’ future uncertainty in Iraq, a big bulk of members still waiting to be accepted as refugees in third countries. The problem can be solved in the way that would best benefit MKO. What the group needs at the present to fuel its propaganda machine for a full move is sacrifice. Where else can MKO leaders find a better slaughter house than Camp Ashraf to make about 3000 martyrs? In fact, those lobbying to return members to Ashraf are building the altar for MKO to scarify poor insiders.

July 24, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

18 liberty residents fled the Cult of Rajavi

Eighteen individuals who had long been taken as hostages by the Cult of Rajavi, succeeded to escape the MKO Camp Liberty. 18 liberty residents fled the Cult of Rajavi

A number of these former MKO members who managed to run their planned escape, submitted themselves to Iraqi authorities. Some others used the opportunity to surrender to UNAMI and UNHCR officials who had come to visit the Camp. They forcefully got on UN vehicles patrolling in camp Liberty and sought refuge.

Among MKO defectors, a high ranking interpreter ,a few superior commanders and a few high ranking members are found. Their names will be released after passing legal procedures.

The recent events demonstrate failure of the Rajavis’ strategy. Following publication of open letters by several members of the MKO including Iraj Mesdaqi, Esmaiel Yaghmaiee, Karim Qasim and Mohammad Reza Rowhani who criticized the group leaders and their functions, the runaway of 18 beloved friends from the cult of Rajavi gives us the hope for salvation of our other friends.

By Mohammad Karami

July 1, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

Camp Liberty residents’ questions go unanswered

News from inside Camp Liberty – base of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) in Iraq – indicates that the cult leader Massoud Rajavi was seriously relying on the Iranian presidential elections turning into a fiasco. The cult’s Camp Liberty residents’ questions go unanswered leaders had prepared the grounds for an escalation of public unrest and had told the members trapped in the camp that the cult had a bright future, hence discouraging them from fleeing the camp.

When Iran named the Iranian New Year, beginning in March, to be a ‘political epic’, one MEK official told a gathering of the members with ridicule that, “They should beware not to have a political disaster during the elections never mind an epic”.

With reference to the sayings of Massoud Rajavi, one of the MEK officials said, “We lost our chance in the past election in 2009, if we lose our chance this time the overthrow of the regime will not be possible for another 8 years”. Apparently the cult had sent some sabotage teams into Iran who were arrested before they could do anything.

In his internal analysis Rajavi had calculated that when Rafsanjani and Mashai were among those who put themselves forward as presidential candidates, the regime would be in an awkward position. Whether they are qualified according to the Guardians’ Council or not, according to Rajavi the result would be turmoil and disorder. He therefore believed the situation would be ripe for the MEK to add to the difficulties of the Islamic Republic and he could carry out his own goals.

After a calm and hassle-free election with a big voter turnout – which all media and political sources agreed was the case, except of course Rajavi who claimed insistently that nobody participated and people shouted slogans – and after the ‘most-unlikely-candidate-to-win’ according to Rajavi actually won the election, questions were raised amongst the MEK members to which the cult officials had no answer. Although they had created the grounds for these queries in the first place, they could only, as it is customary inside the cult, accuse those raising questions of repeating the regime’s nonsense.

The other matter which raised many questions inside the MEK is the recent resignation of two prominent members of the National Council of Resistance (NCR, the MEK’s western style front group), Mr Karim Ghasim and Mr Mohammad Reza Rohani, and the consequent revelations by two other members, Ismael Vafa Yaghmai and Iraj Mesdaghi. The cult leaders briefed the members by claiming that Ghasim and Rohani were supposed to have been fired six months ago but the Council had deferred it to an appropriate time before they eventually got rid of them. This is quite the opposite to the Council’s public statement that emphasized how shocked they were to learn that the two had resigned and blamed it on infiltration by the Iranian regime into the NCR.

The Rajavi cult is also trying to link the replacement of Mr Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the UN General Secretary to Iraq, to their hostile efforts against him and show it as a victory gained by them. The truth is that Mr Kobler’s mission in Iraq came to an end and he has now been appointed to a new mission in the Congo and of course the policy of the UN will not change just because one Special Representative has moved on and another has been appointed. It should be noted that Mr Kobler will certainly thoroughly brief his successor about the cultic behavior of the MEK.

The other news is that cult officials inside Camp Liberty try to pretend that those who were sent to Albania did not wish to go and they had to force them to do so. They do this to discourage people from volunteering to leave the camp so that the leaders can pre-select the people they choose to allow to go.

June 26, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

A Third Window to Freedom

Martin Kobler, the UN Special Representative for the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), welcomed the relocation of a third group of MKO members residing in Camp Liberty near A Third Window to Freedom Baghdad airport to Albania. The latest transferred group of 27 makes it a total of 71 out of the 210 offered to be accepted by Albania.

“A total of 71 men and women now have safely arrived in Albania and have benefited from the Government of Albania’s offer to accept 210 of the Camp’s residents,” said Martin Kobler.

Some 3,000 residents, most of them members of a group known as the People’s Mojahedeen of Iran, are temporarily housed in a transit facility called Camp Liberty, also known as Camp Hurriya, while the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) carries out a process to determine their refugee status.

Mr. Kobler said in addition to Albania, Germany has offered to relocate some 100 residents. The departure of the group from Iraq is in accordance with the memorandum of understanding of 25 December 2011, which foresees the relocation of the residents to third countries.

“I once again thank both countries’ governments for their generosity and call on other Member States to receive residents as well,” the UN envoy said.

The relocation comes just days after two people were reportedly killed and dozens injured in a mortar attack to the camp. “Last week’s tragic events have once again shown how important it is to relocate the residents to third countries as quickly as possible,” Mr. Kobler noted.

When Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, made the humanitarian offer to take about 210 members of MKO, many began to consider it a promising sign that could be the beginning of an end to the residents’ sufferings and the beginning to promote cooperation of other countries and to pave the way to take more refugees. The offer was at first rejected by the group’s leaders and the group’s propaganda machine kept lashing Mr. Kobler and condemning him for pressing relocation of residents:

“Kobler misused the humanitarian act of the Albanian government in accepting 210 of the residents for his own propaganda purposes in order to avoid the urgent security crisis and to divert attention from his own destructive role in forcefully evicting the residents and transferring them from Ashraf to the Liberty killing field”

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has made remarks concerning the outright refusal of MKO to accept the offer of resettlement in Albania saying:

“We had worked out an arrangement with the Albanians to take about 250 people, but then the people in the camp themselves declined to go. So we’re trapped in a kind of round robin.”

June 25, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

Iraqi group claims responsibility for attack on MKO

Iraq’s Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the Saturday’s attack on Camp Liberty, where it houses around 3000 members of the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization .

MKO’s transient home near Baghdad International Airport came under mortar attack on Saturday, killing 2 and wounding 27 members of the terrorist group. Wathiq al-Battat, a top member of Iraq’s Hezbollah movement

In a statement, Wathiq al-Battat, a top member of Iraq’s Hezbollah movement, claimed the group was behind the mortar attack, Habilian Association reported on Sunday.

It was the second attack on the remaining members of terrorist MKO in Iraq since February. The previous one took place in February 9, which led to a number of deaths and injuries. Al-Battat took responsibility for that attack as well, and warned of further attacks until they leave Iraq.

Al-Battat said they had 120 rockets ready to hit Camp Liberty on Saturday, but they managed to fire 13 of them. He again threatened further attacks against members of the terrorist group in Iraq.

Iraqi group claims responsibility for attack on MKO MKO’s socializing with Iraqi politicians supporting al-Qaeda and other militant groups was the stated motivation behind Saturday’s attack.

Some 3000 MKO members have been relocated from their decades-long paramilitary base in northeastern Iraq to a former US military base in Baghdad.

The relocation was in line with the memorandum of understanding signed on December 25, 2011 between Iraq and United Nations to temporarily transfer them to a transient home for the UNHCR to determine their refugee status.

Albania became the first country to offer a home to over 200 MKO members. Forty-four MKO members have been so far resettled in this country in two groups of 14 and 30.

June 18, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

UN officials strongly condemn attack on camp liberty in Iraq

Two United Nations officials today strongly condemned an attack on Camp Liberty, an Iranian exile camp in Iraq, and called on the Government to assist and protect camp residents in need.
According to media reports two people were killed and dozens injured in a mortar attack to the camp, which is located near western Baghdad.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Martin Kobler and the country representative for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Claire Bourgeois, said they are “deeply concerned that today’s tragic violence has occurred despite their repeated requests to the Government of Iraq to provide Camp Liberty and its residents with protective measures, including T-Walls.”
More than 3,000 residents, most of them members of a group known as the People’s Mojahedeen of Iran, are temporarily housed in Camp Liberty – a transit facility also know as Camp Hurriya – while UNHCR carries out a process to determine their refugee status.
The camp had previously been attacked in February while most of the residents were sleeping. The attack resulted in six deaths and various injuries.
Camp residents were previously situated at Camp Ashraf in eastern Iraq, but were relocated last year, in line with an agreement signed in December 2011 between the UN and the Iraqi Government.
Mr. Kobler reminded the Government of its responsibility to guarantee the security and safety of Camp Liberty as well as Camp Ashraf’s residents, throughout the relocation process.
He also called on authorities to do everything possible to provide immediate assistance to the injured.
“Today’s second terror attack on camp Liberty is a reminder to third countries to come forward with serious offers to resettle Camp Liberty residents outside Iraq,” Mr. Kobler said. “Third countries must step forward and open their doors to relocation.”

June 17, 2013 0 comment

Camp Liberty

MKO Members Escaping Camp Liberty

Members of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCRI) are running away from the group’s transient settlement facility, Camp Liberty, before they are sent by their leaders to other countries, an informed source disclosed on Saturday.

According to a report by Ashraf News website, an informed source in the committee supervising the Camp Liberty affairs said that five MKO members had fled the Camp two days ago.

The informed source named the defectors as Arshad Shekarzehi and Hassan Sha’bani as well as three other members who were not named.

They surrendered to the Iraqi security forces and were transferred to the UN mission in Baghdad, the source added.

Many of the MKO members have abandoned the terrorist organization while most of those still remaining in the group are said to be willing to quit but are under pressure and torture not to do so.

A recent Human Rights Watch report accused the MKO of running prison camps in Iraq and committing human rights violations.

According to the Human Rights Watch report, the outlawed group puts defectors under torture and jail terms.

The group, founded in the 1960s, blended elements of Islamism and Stalinism and participated in the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979. Ahead of the revolution, the MKO conducted attacks and assassinations against both Iranian and Western targets.

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

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

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

Since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the group, which now adheres to a pro-free-market philosophy, has been strongly backed by neo-conservatives in the United States, who argued for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list.

The US formally removed the MKO from its list of terror organizations in early September 2012, one week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent the US Congress a classified communication about the move. The decision made by Clinton enabled the group to have its assets under US jurisdiction unfrozen and do business with American entities, the State Department said in a statement at the time.

In September 2012, the last groups of the MKO terrorists left Camp Ashraf, their main training center in Iraq’s Diyala province. They have been transferred to Camp Liberty which lies Northeast of the Baghdad International Airport.

Camp Liberty is a transient settlement facility and a last station for the MKO in Iraq.

June 2, 2013 0 comment

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