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In this Issue:
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Raids on homes of families of the Ashraf residents in
Tehran,
NCRI Press Release,
February 22, 2009
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Elaph meets with Iranian families
near Camp Ashraf in Iraq,
Elaph Website,
February 22, 2009
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Al-Rubaie's "promises" to Tehran hurts Iraq,
Al-Ghabas daily, February 23, 2009
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Iraqi Senior Parliamentarian Speaks of Ashraf
in Interview with Lebanese TV ,
NCRI Website,
February 21, 2009
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Iran 'offered to halt attacks on UK troops'
in nuclear pact ,
Daily Telegraph,
February 21, 2009
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"Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their
persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and
practices, and their manners and customs.”
Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention
“In no circumstances shall a protected person be transferred to a country where
he or she may have reason to fear persecution for his or her political opinions
or religious beliefs.”
Article 45 of the Fourth Geneva Convention
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Raids on homes of families
of the Ashraf residents in Tehran
NCRI Press Release
February 22, 2009
On Friday February 20, 2009, the mullahs’ Ministry of Intelligence and Security
(MOIS) conducted simultaneous raids of many homes across Tehran belonging to
families of members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)
residing in Ashraf City, Iraq. While the families were resting in their homes,
the regime’s suppressive forces broke doors and windows, entered the households
while terrorizing the families and brutally beating them. A number of them were
arrested and transferred to the notorious Evin prison without even being allowed
to change into proper clothing. The regime’s suppressive forces also damaged or
confiscated personal belongings such as CDs, books, family photos and satellite
receivers...
Last December, the Iranian Resistance published the names of 87 relatives of
Ashraf City residents who were arrested and imprisoned after visiting their
children, and presented the list of names to international authorities.
The Iranian Resistance once again calls on the UN Secretary General and High
Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as other international human rights
organizations, to condemn the cruel suppression of PMOI and Ashraf resident
families, and implement immediate measures to end these arbitrary arrests and
free the detainees...
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Elaph meets with Iranian families near Camp Ashraf in
Iraq
Elaph website
February 22, 2009
Following is a translation from Arabic text
The situation of Iranian families who wanted to see their relatives, members of
the opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), is still
unresolved with many complications and problems. They came in secret without the
knowledge of the Iranian regime to see their children after spending arduous
years apart. Less than 600 meters away from the entrance of Ashraf City, the
bastion of the PMOI, these families eagerly await to be allowed to enter the
city.
They are 6 families, altogether 19 individuals, brought into two units located
in front of Ashraf City for inspection and security matters. These are two small
units which cannot fit all the families inside. There are no facilities for
personal hygiene, and it has been two weeks since they last had a chance to
shower. They cannot exit the units and only have some basic goods sent from PMOI
members in Ashraf City. The PMOI and the Iraqi government are locked in a war of
words with one another regarding the entrance of these families to Ashraf.
Authorities in Ashraf City vehemently deny the Iraqi government’s accusations
and insist that they [the PMOI] will under no circumstances lower themselves to
the level of playing games with the fate of these innocent families; Families
whose only crime is to wish to see their children after spending years apart.
The Iranian opposition in Paris has revealed classified information about the
pressures imposed by the Iranian government to its Iraqi counterpart in order to
inflict damage to Ashraf City residents. Iranian opposition sources have told
Elaph that they have emails and other relevant documents in this regard, which
they can provide to any independent international organization or the UN
fact-finding mission in Geneva. Witnesses are also ready to testify in court in
case the need arises...
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Al-Rubaie's "promises" to Tehran hurts Iraq
Al-Ghabas daily (Kuwaiti Arabic daily)
February 23, 2009
The above are excerpts from Arabic text
… After the EU court ruling it has become clearer for the world who the real
victim is. The 27-member EU’s decision to take the PMOI off its list of
terrorist organizations was only made possible by a realization of the PMOI’s
innocence and the legitimacy. … The removal of the allegation from the
organization automatically translates into the lack of legitimacy for the
Iranian regime in Tehran.
At last the world woke up and adopted its decision in Europe, and now it stands
with the PMOI and Ashraf City residents in Iraq. … This solidarity will continue
to strengthen. While the world takes a stand for the PMOI’s rights and the
suffering of its members in Ashraf City, we expected civilized political
positions from countries in the region and especially neighboring Arab countries
which have been burning in Tehran-inspired flames and fundamentalism...
But, Mr. [Muwaffaq] al-Rubaie continues to lead the campaign against these
values and gets rather closer to the list and ideology of Tehran. Everyone must
understand that the PMOI’s presence in Iraq in itself limits the Iranian
regime’s role, hostile acts and pressures on the Iraqi government.
It appears that Mr. al-Rubaie is alone in his decisions. He expresses enthusiasm
towards a suppressive Tehran which even cracks down on him and his colleagues.
In the inner circles, there are also those who oppose him. In this regard, we
regard Massoud Barzani, the governor of the Iraqi Kurdistan and president of the
Kurdish Democratic Party, as very clear, progressive and principled. A Kuwaiti
reporter asked him “What is Kurdistan’s position regarding this issue especially
since you as Kurds have tolerated pain and suffering like everyone else?” He
said in response, “We oppose forced hand over of anyone (PMOI) or their forced
expulsion to Iran. Finding a solution to their problem is within the purview of
the federal government. We will certainly support whatever decision the federal
government adopts in this regard, on the condition that it does not include
forced extradition or forced displacement” (al-Ghabas and Kurdistan satellite
TV, November 5, 2008).
But, we do not know how Mr. al-Rubaie, the Iraqi National Security Advisor,
dared to go to Tehran and speak about the PMOI’s hand over to the Iranian
government and closure of “Ashraf” as soon as possible…. Indeed, what is the
motivation for all this kowtowing and flattering of the Iranian regime? Is it
because of a previously agreed upon deal? Is it paying a debt? Or perhaps it is
to create a common identity and fate, or something even beyond all these.
This position forced the Iraqi government spokesman, who is well aware of his
government’s obligations towards the international community and the US, to
announce that, “The government will not forcefully expel the Iranian opposition
from Iraq” (The Associated Press, January 24, 2009). Moreover, President
Talebani immediately intervened and announced that, “Brother Muwaffaq al-Rubaie
has no authority to express this position since he is not a government
spokesman. We have Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh who is the official spokesman” (al-Arabya
TV, January 30, 2009)...
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Iraqi Senior Parliamentarian Speaks of Ashraf in
Interview with Lebanese TV
NCRI Website
February 21, 2009
Following are excerpts from an interview with Mr. Ayad
Jamaluddin, a prominent member of Foreign Affairs Committee in Iraq's parliament
on February 18.
Seyed Ayad Jamaluddin: ... One of the indications of Iranian influence in
Iraq is the foolish campaign waged against the People’s Mojahedin Organization
of Iran (PMOI) in Iraq, which is conducted by some Iraqi political forces. This
is first and foremost a demonizing campaign. They say that the PMOI was involved
in suppressing the people’s uprisings and its hands are tainted with Iraqi
blood. This is a sheer lie. It is untrue, and amounts to nothing but an
unfounded fabrication, which has no truth to it at all. The PMOI has never
participated in the suppression of Iraqi revolts...
The burden of proof here is on those who make the allegations. Everyone is
innocent until proven guilty. If Iranian agents in Iraq had even a shred of
evidence against the PMOI, they must have presented it to the supreme criminal
court, as they did with Saddam, Chemical Ali and others. Why have they not tried
even a single PMOI member?...
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Iran 'offered to halt attacks on UK troops' in
nuclear pact
Iran offered to halt attacks on British soldiers
deployed in Iraq in return for a secret pact that would enable it to continue
its nuclear programme, a senior British diplomat has said.
London Daily Telegraph
February 21, 2009
Sir John Sawers, the British ambassador to the United Nations, revealed that
Iranian officials openly acknowledged complicity in attacks that killed scores
of British soldiers in southern Iraq.
In private talks in hotels around Europe, the unnamed Iranians floated a grand
bargain that would have derailed efforts to impose sanctions on Iran to stop its
covert nuclear programme.
"There were various Iranians who would come to London and suggest we had tea in
some hotel or other," Sir John tells the final part of a BBC documentary on the
Islamic Republic's relations with the West, to be broadcast on Saturday. "They'd
do the same in Paris, they'd do the same in Berlin, and then we'd compare notes
among the three of us.
"The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing
our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their
nuclear programme: 'We stop killing you in Iraq, stop undermining the political
process there, you allow us to carry on with our nuclear programme without let
or hindrance'."
Iran supplied arms, training and strategic direction to Shia Muslim militias
that were battling British forces for control of Basra and other southern
cities. Iran supplied the militias with a deadly bomb, the shaped-charge
explosive device, that required precision engineering at its military factories...
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About Humanitarian Crisis for
Iranian Dissidents and their Families In Camp Ashraf
Nearly 3,500 members of Iran’s
main opposition, the People’s Mojahedin (PMOI/MEK), residing in Camp Ashraf in
Iraq, are faced with a humanitarian crisis.
Tehran has put the Iraqi
government under tremendous pressure to take over the protection of Camp Ashraf
from the US-led Multinational Force-Iraq. Under current circumstance in
Iraq, such action would be in violation of the 4th Geneva Convention and
International Humanitarian Law. Since 2004, Ashraf residents have been formally
recognized as “Protected Persons“ under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Ashraf Residents are expatriates
holding dual nationality or refugee status of various Western countries. Their
families and relatives are greatly worried for their loved ones in Ashraf.
International Humanitarian Law Obligate U.S. to Provide Continued Protection for
Camp Ashraf Residents in Iraq
On July 2, 2004, the United States formally
recognized members of the PMOI in Camp Ashraf as “protected persons” under the
Fourth Geneva Convention.
Both the U.S. and Iraq are parties to all four
1949 Geneva Conventions.
Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention specifies that:
“Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their
persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and
practices, and their manners and customs […]”.
Article 45 of the Fourth Geneva Convention specifies that:
“In no circumstances shall a protected person
be transferred to a country where he or she may have reason to fear persecution
for his or her political opinions or religious beliefs.“
Under the present circumstances in Iraq, the U.S.
is the only party qualified and capable of ensuring Camp Ashraf residents’
safety and security under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The U.S. forces must
continue to protect Ashraf residents as long as US forces are in Iraq.
About
the U.S. Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents:
The U.S. Committee for Camp Ashraf
Residents (USCCAR) was established in December of 2003 by families and relatives
of residents of Camp Ashraf. The purpose of the Committee is to ensure the
safety and security of those Iranians and others living in Camp Ashraf. The
Committee will defend the proposition that the protections of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, as well as of other treaties and customary international law, must
be applied to the Iranians in Iraq. For more information please visit:
www.usccar.org
About
Ashraf Monitor
Ashraf Monitor newsletter is a
compilation of news and commentaries about the developing humanitarian
crisis for nearly 3,500 members of Iran's main opposition, the People's
Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. Ashraf Monitor is
compiled and distributed by the US Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents (USCCAR).
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