Hundreds of families picketing in front of Camp Ashraf held a protest rally on Friday December 23rd and called on the Camp leaders to release their loved ones held as hostages by the leaders.
Families of Ashraf residents started the rally, walking from northern side of the camp to western side and chanted slogans in front of Asad Gate. They vigorously urged on visiting their children.
Relatives of Ashraf prisoners are ready to endanger their life to help with salvation of their family members imprisoned in the cult of Rajavi.
They also played audio messages recorded by some of dissociated members of the MKO, via loudspeakers.
At the end of the gathering families appreciated the cooperation made by all those who make efforts for release of Ashraf residents including, Iraqi, Iranian and American government.
The most unhelpful aspect of the negotiations to close Camp Ashraf and remove the residents from Iraq is that the Western agents continue to act on the myth that the people inside the camp are somehow a single, discrete entity with no connection to the outside world and no say in their own treatment. Thus it is reported without context, analysis or explanation that the Mojahedin-e Khalq will need to be transferred to a separate facility – specifically the former U.S. military base Camp Liberty. Once there they will need to be interviewed by the UNHCR for decisions to be made on their refugee status, with UNAMI overseeing Iraqi conduct at the new camp. And out of this process their futures will be determined.
But even this, ‘the desired outcome’, is being promoted without the actual cooperation of the MEK leader.
This proposed mass movement of the camp’s residents can only give rise to a pseudo angst-ridden hand-wringing which at one time fears mass suicide, at another their mass deportation to Iran where they will be tortured and executed, it fears they are labelled as terrorists and will not be ‘allowed’ to come to the West, and then fears that they will come to the West and pose a security threat. Underpinning the whole Washington-led negotiation process is the basic principle ‘how do we conserve the MEK’.
Behind the naive and unhelpful scenario of convincing Massoud Rajavi to agree the mass relocation of his captives to an open camp over which he has no control lies a blatant violation of fundamental human rights which is taking place before everybody’s eyes but which nobody apparently wants to acknowledge. This is because focusing on this situation would remove any legitimacy from the negotiations. It would expose the reality behind the myth; Massoud Rajavi is nobody’s representative. It would mean acknowledging that Rajavi has falsely imprisoned over three thousand individuals and is daily violating their basic human rights and it would mean moving forward on that basis.
There are currently around 400 families at the gates of the camp. They have come determined to rescue their loved ones and protect them from harm. These are the true representatives of their captured relatives in the camp. Why do they still have no voice? Why do international agencies ignore them and pretend they have no stake in the negotiations and outcome.
Over the past eight years family after family has tried to assert their basic right – to meet with their closest relatives in a secure and private atmosphere outside the control of the MEK. The demand pre-dates the decision to close Camp Ashraf, and will certainly post-date any moves at the camp. Indeed, the biggest scandal is that this demand has nothing to do with the Iraqi determination to close the camp before the end of 2011, but it is still being ignored.
While nobody expected the MEK leaders to welcome the families with open arms, and nobody expected the MEK’s callous and cynical owners to care for the individual welfare of their gladiators and slaves, it is shocking that even internationally renowned human rights organisations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UNHRC have not uttered a word about this situation. These protectors of human rights may as well have been paid by the Rajavis for their spurious appeals to the Iraqis to ‘protect the human rights’ the camp’s residents. Not one single word of criticism has been said against the Rajavi’s blatant and cruel denials of these families’ just demands. Not one word of criticism has been levelled against the Rajavis’ daily abuse of human rights inside the camp in spite of the on-going testimonies of both past and recent escapees.
It is the urgent obligation of every humanitarian agency involved to prefix the mythical negotiations with the unequivocal demand that Rajavi immediately and peacefully open the gate of Camp Ashraf and allow the people inside to have contact with their families. There can be no legal or moral obstacle or objection to such a course of action.
Anne Singleton is the author of the books "Saddam’s Private Army" and "Camp Ashraf"
Baluch families of 16 MKO terrorist cult captives travelled to Iraq, Camp Ashraf on September25,2011 to save their beloved ones who are brainwashed and manipulated by the Cult leaders.
Among them are elderly parents as well as teenagers. They are decided to save their beloved ones from the paws of MKO Cult leaders.
On Wednesday, October 19th, a number of family members of Ashraf residents from Gilan joined other families picketing in front of Camp Ashraf in the hope of visiting their loved ones kept by force in the camp, in a free atmosphere without the presence of the cult officials.
The families of Ashraf residents from Khuzestan engaged for release of their children once more.
They went to Camp Ashraf Iraq to assure their loved ones – held as hostages by the cult of 
Rajavi- that they would do everything possible to help them release from the notorious camp Ashraf.
They are determined to disgrace the MKO, revealing the evil nature of the Rajavis who are making efforts in the west these days, paying large amounts of money to politicians to help prevent the Iraqi government from expelling the MKO.
The families wrote letters to Ms. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s High Representative for foreign affairs, and Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Nouri Al-Maliki, regarding the true substance of the cult of Rajavi.
On May 31, 2011 a meeting was held at the Nejat Society office in Arak, Markazi Province, Iran.
The meeting was held by the presence of families of present members trapped inside the MKO cult in Iraq. During the meeting the families whose children are kept captive at Ashraf Camp discussed the ways to release their beloved ones. The families affirmed their active role to release their children and family members.
The families of residents held in camp Ashraf, Iraq, left Tehran to join the others picketing at the Camp gates. Facing the gloomy atmosphere of the camp they are determined to bring hope, love
and emotions back to humiliated hearts of their loved ones held as hostages by the Cult of Rajavi. The Beheshtis have lost one of their sons, Morteza in the MKO. They urge to visit their other beloved son Mostafa who is kept in the Camp but the Cult leaders who consider themselves as the owners of the members’ lives, haven’t allowed Mostafa to visit his family and they have imposed sever psychological pressure on him.
The parents of Mr. Jaberifard who have come to Camp Ashraf for several times, say,”we just want to see our son Musa. Which law bars us from meeting our son?”
Mohammad Ali Maleki’s sister could manage to come to Ashraf after years. “Mohamamd Ali, don’t forget us! We have never forgotten you,” she says.
Families picketing at Ashraf gates are all hopeful to defeat the terrorist cult of Rajavi someday.
They are staunchly firm in their decision until they can witness the release of their children from Ashraf prison.
In the name of God the most compassionate and merciful.
I am Ghadir Atighi, the father of Bahman Atighi, who had been forcefully kept in Camp Ashraf as a hostage of Massoud Rajavi for over 15 years.
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| MEK using unburied bodies as a bargaining tool |
I would like to inform the Iraqi committee in charge of Camp Ashraf and the judicial authorities in Iraq and Amnesty International and the Red Cross, the ministry of human rights in Iraq and all the international community that:
15 years ago in 1376 (1997), my son, Bahman Atighi was deceived by the operatives under the command of Massoud Rajavi to be taken to European countries for work. He was taken to the Iraqi camp, Camp Ashraf, allegedly to provide him with the appropriate European visa; a visa which, of course, was never provided.
He was forced to stay in this camp for 15 years during which time he was deprived from making even a simple telephone call or writing a simple letter to his family. During his 15 years of captivity, he did not have the privileges of an ordinary prisoner; political prisoners, murderers, or any other kinds of prisoners are allowed a 5 minute telephone conversation with their family once a year.
Massoud Rajavi admitted himself (by issuing statements in western media outlets) that my other son Siavosh Atighi has been picketing in front of the gates of Ashraf camp for the last 12 months and they [the MEK] have refused him the simple basic right of visit during this time. One year of picketing and Massoud Rajavi refused to show the smallest sign of humanity in himself, and refused to even show Bahman to his brother for 5 minutes from a 20 meter distance.
You! The ones that now insult our family members (in Western paid media). Have you even felt any humanitarian feeling ever in yourselves? Do you not think of anything except killing people?
God curse you who have kidnapped and kept our young son in the camp under the harshest possible situation for over 15 years. And now have admitted it yourself that his brother has been sitting outside only asking to have a short visit.
Now you hit Bahman from the back and now you killed him. Did I not or do I not have any right as the father of my son?
Your own TV channel announced on 24 Ordibehesht (May 14) that on 19 Farvardin (April 08) Bahman Atighi was shot from behind in his spinal cord and killed and you have been keeping silent ever since.
But your same TV channel announced on 04 Ordibehesht (April 24), that Bahman is in the hospital. On 22 Farvardin (April 10) you brought Bahman to within about 50 metres from the gates of Ashraf with minders and prison guards where his brother recognised him. Now after 15 days they are saying that Bahman has been shot by the Iraqi forces and then the Iraqis have arrested him and due to his injuries they took him to Baquba hospital and he died there!!
Again in another part, again in the same TV Channel, they claim that he died in the hospital inside Camp Ashraf due to insufficient medical attendance.
None of their words make sense. Not one of their sentences matches the next sentence.
As a father I claim all the rights belonging to Bahman. We claim the right for this case to be investigated. We claim that if there is any truth in this and if there exist any corpse belonging to Bahman, then it should be given a post mortem examination and the case should be examined so it becomes clear who has committed this crime. I believe that there is no one else except themselves [the MEK] who have committed this murder.
When they found out that Siavash has been sitting by the gates and insisting on visiting his brother so as to ask him if he wants to come with him, they resorted to this devious tactic to first hide him and then to physically eliminate him as they did.
I, as the father of Bahman Atighi and the father of Siavash Atighi, return Massoud Rajavi’s insults to himself and ask all the authorities, lawyers, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq and in other parts of the world to help and investigate in this murder case. I ask for the rights of my son and myself to be respected. Siavash, my son, is appointed by me to follow the case as far as possible.
In the end I would like to say that I want the body of Bahman to be returned to me to take to Iran (for burial) …
Transcript from Video file by Iran Interlink
Link to the original Video file
A delegation of Nejat Society, Khuzestan office including Mr. Hamid Dehdar Hassani, Mr. Ali Ekrami , Mr. Ali Sorkhian and Ms. Khabazan were welcomed by families of MKO captives on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011. Nasiri Teymours, Ebrahimi Nezhads,Rahimis,Rashidis and Kaleh Jooiees were families of five captured members in the Cult of Rajavi.
During the visits, the families were very hopeful to have their loved ones back among them.
Members of Nejat Society reported the recent activities and situation of families picketing at Ashraf gates.
Families appreciated efforts of Nejat NGO to release their loved children. Besides, they told their memoirs of visits with their beloveds at Camp Ashraf where they were not allowed to visit their children freely without the control of MKO officials.
Families also declared their readiness to offer help to Nejat Society with their activities for salvation of Rajavi’s victims.
The Habilian Association, an Iran-based human rights group, reported that the yearlong protests by the family members and relatives of the members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization outside the terrorist group’s main training camp in Iraq have yielded positive results.
According to a report published by the website of the Habilian association – a human rights group formed of the family members and relatives of the Iranian victims of terrorism – the MKO ringleaders have already adopted numerous measures to confront those relatives who have camped outside the Camp of New Iraq (formerly known as Camp Ashraf) in Iraq’s Northern province of Diyala for over a year now.
The MKO ringleaders have not allowed a visit between the group’s members and their families.
The report said despite all the suppressive moves made by the MKO, the yearlong protests by the families have yielded good results as families insist on their demand for the release of their beloved ones who are said to be held inside the camp against their will.
Defection and escape of a number of MKO members from the camp, increased support of the Iraqi people for the families and demonstration of the Iraqi people outside the Camp of New Iraq are among the positive outcomes of the families’ continued protests, the report continued.
The Habilian website added that the move has also provoked an angry and suppressive reaction of the terrorist group against the families, a reaction that has further unveiled the true nature of the suppressive and terrorist group.
Meantime, different groups of the Iraqi people have on various occasions gathered outside the main training center of the MKO in Iraq and called for the expulsion of the terrorist group from the country’s soil.
Iranian relatives of some MKO members also joined the protesters.
The MKO has been in Iraq’s Diyala province since the 1980s.
The MKO, whose main stronghold is in Iraq, is blacklisted by much of the international community, including the United States.
Before an overture by the EU, the MKO was on the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations subject to an EU-wide assets freeze. Yet, the MKO puppet leader, Maryam Rajavi, who has residency in France, regularly visited Brussels and despite the ban enjoyed full freedom in Europe.
The MKO is behind a slew of assassinations and bombings inside Iran, a number of EU parliamentarians said in a recent letter in which they slammed a British court decision to remove the MKO from the British terror list. The EU officials also added that the group has no public support within Iran because of their role in helping Saddam Hussein in the Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988).
Many of the MKO members abandoned the terrorist organization while most of those still remaining in the camp are said to be willing to quit but are under pressure and torture not to do so.
A May 2005 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 also argue for the MKO to be taken off the US terror list.
Iraqi security forces took control of the training base of the MKO at Camp Ashraf – about 60km (37 miles) north of Baghdad – last year and detained dozens of the members of the terrorist group.
The Iraqi authority also changed the name of the military center from Camp Ashraf to the Camp of New Iraq.