UN

Letter to United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

Dear Mr. Ad Melkert Letter to United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

Respectfully, we would like to acknowledge that the Iranian Pen Club is consisted of those ex-members of the MKO who managed to free themselves from the mental and even physical barriers of the Organisation. The main object of the Association is of course to try to help the previous comrades in such way that they be able to free themselves too and start a decent normal life again along with their families and beloved ones.

It has been nearly eight months that elderly parents with broken hearts and tearful eyes are looking forward to meet with their children in front of Camp Ashraf have been on sitting that the MKO leaders allow them access to their children inside the camp. but the pmoi’s operatives and officials have prevented them of having any contact with their loved ones since their arrival, and pmoi’s officials have insulted those families as well as labeling them as Iranian intelligence service agents and they have denied their family connection with their loved ones in Ashraf garrison.

According to all international laws and norms it is acceptable for immediate families to visit their loved ones in any circumstances. But as you know, the Mojahedin Khalq obey only their own internal laws, which are different from the rest of the world.

According to articles 25 and 26 of the fourth convention of Geneva which had enabled the MKO’s presence in Iraq, the members could freely have contact with their families. But unfortunately, both the members and their worried and suffering families have been deprived from such benefits.

Unfortunately, the leadership of the Mojahedin Khalq cult, in an attempt to rid itself of any legal or social responsibility, is now blaming the Government of Iraq for not allowing the families of victims confined in Ashraf Garison to have access to them. This is the big lie and the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry have been doing their utmost to facilitate this, which is exactly the opposite of what the Mojahedin Khalq leaders say and do. The Mojahedin Khalq leaders, when they see themselves under pressure by the public and the media, start accusing the families of victims to be agents of the Intelligence Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Also the leaders of this cult , Massoud and Maryam Rajavi , have prepared a formal list which includes names of some members of this cult whom has forcibly declared that they do not want to see their relatives and families by no means. Obviously no common sense believe such a thing and by these kind of methods we find out more about their profound Stalinist thoughts.

Documents and evidence of the violent history of abuse of human rights by the cult of Rajavi (Mojahedin Khalq) clearly shows that during the past two decades, the leaders of the cult have forbidden any kind of affection or love between family members and have considered it as a sin and a punishable crime. The cult members are expected to only show affection and love to the leader solely.

Rajavi, using the opportunity provided by the fallen dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, has used the past two decades to create an atmosphere inside camp New Iraq (formerly Ashraf) in which any marriage, friendship, writing letters, exchanging photos, using telephone, meeting and chatting or any relation between parents and children or between siblings or other relatives has been forbidden and even thinking about it would have resulted in severe, violent punishment and suppression. Seven years ago, Saddam Hussein and his government was toppled , but even after the downfall of Saddam Hussein ,PMOI still act like before and there has not been any breakthrough in pmoi’s policy regarding separation of their members.

We ask you, the governments of Iraq, the US and European governments to become more active concerning the situation of the people trapped in Camp Ashraf by the Mojahedin Khalq leaders, to take more responsibility and act to secure the minimum of human rights, including the right of family visits, right to access to news and media and the right of choosing their future.

With many thanks and regards

The Iranian Pen Club

03.10.2010
Postfach 90 06 63
51116 Köln

Germany
00491756391365

info@iran-ghalam.de
iran-ghalam@hotmail.com

Cc:
– Embassies of Iraq in Germany , France and swiss
– Relevant MEPs
– Office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki
– US State Department

October 5, 2010 0 comment

Letter of Sahar Family Foundation to the UN Secretary General

Demanding the UN Secretary General to send a Special Rapporteur for human rights to visit Camp Ashraf in Iraq along with the former members and the families of present members

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Is it not necessary in such circumstances to send a Special Rapporteur from the United Nations to visit the camp along with the former members
The United Nations Secretary General

You may be aware that Camp Ashraf in Iraq is the main base of Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO). This group has been designated as a terrorist destructive cult by the United States which is protecting it and by Iraq which is hosting it.

At the present time more than 3000 individuals are living in this camp under the cultic training of Massoud Rajavi (leader of MKO) and tough cultic regulations are imposed on them. These people do not have any right to demand contact with the outside world and their families. They live in a totally isolated atmosphere. The way that the leaders of the cult rule their followers is in such a manner that it is a clear example of violating their most basic human rights and an example of new slavery in our era.

Since the inhabitants of the camp have been away from the free world for many years and they are constantly under the influence of the leaders, they are not in a normal physical and mental condition. The phobic fear of the outside world has been planted inside the minds of these victims in such way that they can no longer think or act freely and they have become like robots which carry out the demands of the leaders without thinking.

Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq until now, roughly one thousand members of the MKO have managed to leave the cult at different times. Most of these persons have reported dreadful incidents of systematic brainwashing, solitary confinement, torture, and even murder inside Camp Ashraf. These reports and witness statements have been registered in the Iraqi Judiciary System. Some international human rights organizations have approved these reports.
It is now more than six months that a great number of families of the captive members inside Camp Ashraf have been picketing outside the main gate of the cultic camp under very challenging circumstances. They have announced that they will not leave the place unless they see their beloved ones. The leaders of the cult of course have denied their just demand and in reaction they have mobilized their psychologically manipulated victims to harass the families. Sahar Family Foundation is writing this letter on behalf of these families.

Is it not necessary in such circumstances to send a Special Rapporteur from the United Nations to visit the camp along with the former members who are familiar with the internal situation of the camp, as well as the families of present members? Most certainly the leaders of the cult would not accept such a demand. In this case doesn’t the UN and the UN Security Council possess tools to force the MKO to comply with this demand? In view of the suffering families, the minimum that the Human Rights Commission of the UN can do is to bring up this issue and if the leaders of the cult did not accept such an inspection, to base its report on what the former members have to say from their long experience (some even from their childhood) with the group.

The reports issued by the US Department of State since 1994 up to the present time (2010) and their contents as well as the 2009 report issued by the RAND institute about the MKO in Iraq and the 2005 report of Human Rights Watch about the violation of human rights inside the cult and the comments given by the Prime Minister and the President of Iraq on several occasions as well as the Iraq security authorities’ comments and the continuous confession of the MKO leaders about violation of human rights are enough to condemn the leaders even without trial. If not, at least these should be basis enough for the UN to instigate an investigations into the human rights violations and send a Special Rapporteur to visit this isolated, closed and secretive camp and issue a report. Surely if the leaders of the MKO were honest they would not prevent a mother visiting her son and if the followers have divorced their spouses and their children and the normal life willingly, there is no need to hide things and disconnecting the members from the outside world.

All that the suffering families wish to be assured of is the mental and physical health of their relatives inside the camp as it is the most basic right of an individual to enjoy every Article of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Now, regardless of any political interests, the systematic violation of such rights cannot be acceptable and cannot be ignored. The families cannot help but blame the UN if it turns its face in a different direction and does not fulfill its duties. If the UN in Iraq does not meet these requests for any reason it should be held responsible for misconduct in these matters. One can say that the UN could do something but they did not.
The suffering families picketing outside Camp Ashraf in Iraq are looking forward for your reply and your action.

Sahar Family Foundation
Baghdad, 1 September 2010

Attachments:
1. Reports given by the US Department of State since 1994 until this year (2010) which emphasizes that MKO is a terrorist cult
2. The2009 Report of the American RAND institute about the MKO In Iraq
3. The 2005 Report of Human Rights Watch titled “No Exit” about the violation of human rights inside the MKO
4. The resolution passed by the Iraqi administration in its 27th session dated 17 June 2008 (no. 216) about the MKO being a terrorist cult and its illegal presence in Iraq. This resolution emphasized that the MKO base most be dismantled and their forces should leave Iraq.

Copy to:
UN Human Rights Commission
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
International Committee of the Red Cross
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights
Iraqi and international media

September 6, 2010 0 comment

Right Group Urges Expulsion of MKO Members from Iraq

The Habilian Association, an Iran-based human rights group, called for UN efforts to prepare the ground for the expulsion of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from Iraq’s soil.
"The terrorist organization is now working on many terrorist activities and supporting their presence in Iraq can extend a great help to the continuation of their covert terrorist acts…" the Association said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"The terrorist organization’s continued presence in Iraq is not something that the Iraqi nation wants. Iraq’s political officials have repeatedly recalled the group’s crimes in Iraq and asked for the expulsion of the MKO members as requested by a majority of the Iraqi people," the letter added.

Habilian further expressed readiness to provide the world body with irrefutable evidence and documents of MKO’s terrorist acts.

Habilian Association is a non-government and cultural organization, which has been formed to represent Iranian victims of terrorism.

The association has already registered the names of 16000 innocent victims.
The MKO is behind a slew of assassinations and bombings inside Iran, a number of EU parliamentarians said in a letter last year 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).

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 MKO has been in Iraq’s Diyala province since the 1980s.

Iraqi security forces took control of the training base of the MKO at Camp Ashraf – about 60km (37 miles) north of Baghdad – earlier this 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.

Many of the MKO members have 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.

Numerous articles and letters posted on the Internet by family members of MKO recruits confirm reports of the horrific abuse that the group inflicts on its own members and the alluring recruitment methods it uses.

The most shocking of such stories includes accounts given by former British MKO member Ann Singleton and Mustafa Mohammadi — the father of an Iranian-Canadian girl who was drawn into the group during an MKO recruitment campaign in Canada.

Mohammadi recounts his desperate efforts to contact his daughter, who disappeared several years ago – a result of what the MKO called a ‘two-month tour’ of Camp Ashraf for teenagers.
He also explains how the group forces the families of its recruits to take part in pro-MKO demonstrations in Western countries by threatening to kill their loved ones.

Lacking a foothold in Iran, the terrorist group recruits ill-informed teens from Iranian immigrant communities in Western states and blocks their departure afterwards.

June 28, 2010 0 comment

UNAMI continues to monitor Camp Ashraf

Report of Secretary-General to Security Council May 2010

Link to the full report
Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 1883 (2009)
UNAMI continues to monitor Camp Ashraf
I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 6 of resolution 1883 (2009), the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to report to the Council on a quarterly basis on the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The present report is the third submitted pursuant to that resolution.

2. The report provides an update on United Nations activities in Iraq since the last report (S/2010/76), dated 8 February 2010, with a focus on the steps taken to implement resolution 1883 (2009). It presents a summary of key political developments during the period under review, as well as regional and international events concerning Iraq. The report provides an update on the activities of my Special Representative for Iraq, as well as operational and security matters.

II. Summary of key political and security developments in Iraq

A. National elections

3. The reporting period witnessed the holding of general elections for the Council of Representatives on 7 March 2010. UNAMI provided support to the Independent High Electoral Commission and the Government of Iraq throughout …

(…)

52. In March, there were allegations from the Governor of Ninewa that detainees from that governorate were held in a prison facility in Baghdad, outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, and were subjected to abuse and torture without due process. I note that the Government of Iraq has closed the facility. As with other cases in the past, the United Nations urges that these allegations be investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

53. UNAMI continues to monitor the situation in Camp Ashraf in Diyala Governorate. In recent months, Iraqi security forces have not made any further attempt to relocate members of the Peoples Mujahedin of Iran resident in the camp. Although no significant outbreaks of violence have occurred during the reporting period, distrust and tensions between both sides remained, with limited cooperation
regarding access to services and supplies in the camp.

54. UNAMI, while reiterating the right of the Government of Iraq to exercise its authority over Camp Ashraf and the obligation of the camp’s residents to fully respect the law and the authority of the Government of Iraq, has continued to advocate for the residents’ unhindered access to goods and services of a humanitarian nature, as well as for their right to be protected from arbitrary mass displacement or forced repatriation against their will in violation of the universally accepted principle of non- refoulement. UNAMI remains committed to assisting both

parties find an acceptable resolution to this problem.
Security, operational and logistic issues
Security

55. Hostile groups continued to demonstrate their determination ….
(…)

Link to the full report
United Nations, Security Council

May 24, 2010 0 comment

The Iranian Pen Club letter to UNAMI

Dear Mr. Madhu Acharya

Respectfully, we would like to acknowledge that the Iranian Pen Club is consisted of those ex-members of the MKO who managed to free themselves from the mental and even physical The Iranian Pen Club letter to United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq barriers of the Organisation. The main object of the Association is of course to try to help the previous comrades in such way that they be able to free themselves too and start a decent normal life again along with their families and beloved ones.

Fortunately , after the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s reign , The Former Dictator of Iraq, and relative political stability in this country , there has been begotten a new atmosphere of freedom, and respect to human rights in various grounds in Iraq, particularly for detainees and prisoners. There are field visits by civic and human rights organizations as well as international and local advocates of those in prisons and detention centers across Iraq. But why this issue and human rights violations in the castle headquarters of the People’s Mojahedin in Ashraf?

It has been nearly three months that elderly parents with broken hearts and tearful eyes are looking forward to meet with their children in front of Camp Ashraf have been on sitting so the MKO leaders allow them access to their children inside the camp. But the refusal of the MKO to allow family interviews between those who came from Iran to Iraq to meet with their children is a violation of divine laws and international laws recognized all over the world.

According to all international laws and norms it is acceptable for immediate families to visit their loved ones in any circumstances. But as you know, The Mojahedin Khalq do obey only their own internal laws, which are different from the rest of the world.

Leaders of MKO said in their announcement that UNAMI is inside Camp Ashraf. If so, why UNAMI has not come to the gate of Camp Ashraf to see these families who are waiting to meet with their children, what is going?

While we support the families in front of the gates of camp Ashraf and the efforts of your Excellency, demand a stronger involvement of UNAMI in the human rights violations inside Camp Ashraf and more cooperation from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees And the Iraqi government for the families and parents to meet with their children who are prisoners in Camp Ashraf.

With many thanks and regards

The Iranian Pen Club
30.04.2010
Postfach 90 06 63
51116 Köln
Germany
00491756391365
info@iran-ghalam.de
iran-ghalam@hotmail.com

Cc:
– Embassies of Iraq in Germany , France and Swiss
– Relevant MEPs
– Office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki
– US State Department

May 2, 2010 0 comment

Al Motamar reports the meeting between families of the MEK and UNAMI

Al Motamar reports the meeting between families of the victims of the Mojahedin (MEK, MKO) and UNAMI

The UN Political and Human Rights Director (UNAMI) in Iraq, Mr Mahdu Acharya, stressed that the protest and refusal of Mojahedin Khalq leaders, currently based in Camp Ashraf, to allow the families of Iranians who came from Iran, to meet their children inside the camp is a violation and a breach of human rights law and contrary to ethics, the international community and international human rights organizations and all free people in the world. He asked leaders of the leaders of the organization to deal with this situation in a humane way and consider Iranian families their full freedom to meet their children outside the walls of Camp Ashraf.
This came during a meeting in the building of the UN in Iraq (UNAMI) inside the Green Zone between a number of families who came from Iran to Iraq to meet their children, prisoners and detainees held in the camp.
He said camp Ashraf in Diyala province is part of the Iraqi territory and falls within the responsibility of the government and Iraqi security forces after receiving it officially from the U.S. forces following the the security agreement between Iraq and America in 2009 and full sovereignty of Iraq on its lands. He stressed the fact that Iraq cannot allow any foreign party to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq, especially on the issue of Camp Ashraf and members of the Organization adding that the prime minister has set up a formal committee responsible Camp Ashraf to negotiate directly with the leaders and officials of the Organization in cooperation with UNAMI, the Red Cross and other international human rights organization to close down Camp Ashraf forever and end the presence of the PMOI in Iraq.
In spite of the hardship and pains the families have suffered throughout their 75-long days of stay before the camp, they are waiting to see their children in the bond of the organization’s dark ideology headed by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi for nearly 27 years.

Al-Mmutamar – Baghdad

April 29, 2010 0 comment

Letter to The Secretary-General of the UN

Iranians’ Letter to The Secretary-General of the United Nations on Britain’s recent decision

Your Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Since with certainty terrorism deprives individual right to life, freedom and security of people, and because of this it can be said that terrorism is the violation of human rights.

Since acts of terrorism are clear violations of United Nations principles and objectives, and a serious threat against international peace and security, and to-date over 10 conventions have been ratified for the prevention and fight against terrorism, and also there is a collective of international documents according to which commits states to fight terrorism.

In a political move, the British High Court’s decision, the terrorist label was wiped from the Mujahedin Kalgh Organization (MKO). The same organization that shed the blood of many Iranians, and began a form of new genocide in Iran and Iraq, and as a paramilitary group, committed the worst types of terror attacks in the form of bombing public places and political party headquarters, killing of women and children, assassination of the intelligencia of the civil society, all of which have been embedded in our memories as equal crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge. The decision of this Court has taken the name of a group from the list of terror groups, which the international community recognizes as a terror group.

The thing that exists in this Court’s reasoning and which amazes experts is that all the information that the Court had based on its decision, only dated back to four years at the most, to a time when under pressure from the US-led Coalition the group were disarmed in Iraq. The question that arises is, can a terrorist group who was disarmed and quarantined by the United States following the fall of Saddam Hussein, still conduct armed terror attacks?

Can the reasoning that because the group has not committed any terror acts in this period of four years, have a legal and contextual aspect?

Can the past record and history of terror campaigns of this group be ignored just because the group was forced to disarm? And this is while no clear changes have been made in the MKO’s original manifesto, and in their training and in the media the group still stresses on the correct strategy being armed campaigns.

As the citizens of a country that for years has been suffering the inhuman and barbaric campaigns of the MKO, we call upon the international community and the UN System as the flag-bearer of human and humanitarian rights to within your capacities to review the situation of this terror group, and the new and dangerous decisions that have been made.

We also call upon the British government to carefully consider the recognized dark past of MKO and the dangerous consequences of the High Court’s decision regarding the activities of this group in Britain, and to review the hasty decision of the High Court and prevent the certain consequences form occurring. Because from this moment on whatever acts of terror this group commit, the responsibility will be that of the British government.

Since your Excellency have executive responsibility for the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN is a place for the investigation of the aggression and oppression committed by states and powers against humans, and also the UN supports asylum-seekers and victims of violence, we ask you to set up a group to study and review the reason behind the British government’s decision to support a group that has a long history of terrorist activities?

Undoubtedly, your investigation and the British government’s answer will remain in the historic memory of our nation.

CC: Right Honourable Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party

December 6, 2008 0 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts