Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

Iraqi govt threats to Iranian refugees in Ashraf condemned

We condemn the threatening remarks of Iraqi government against the Iranian refugees in Camp Ashraf

by Dirk Claes
August 3, 2012

According to news agencies in a meeting in Baghdad, on 31 July, Faleh Fayaz, the national security advisor of Prime Minister Maliki said that extension for the closure of Camp Ashraf has ended and from now Iraq will take measures towards its lawful and legitimate responsibilities to enforce Iraq's sovereignty. He was quoted as saying, "Iraq says will force out Iran dissident group".

His threatening remarks to use force and violence was after Iraq was encouraged by the remarks by the UN envoy in Iraq, Martin Kobler against Ashraf residents on 20 July at the UN Security Council which he thanked Iraq for its “patience” and “generosity”. So far nearly 50 residents including 8 women were brutally massacred in two separate attacks in 2009 and 2011.

Under pressure from the Iranian government, Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki decided to close Camp Ashraf and move the inhabitants to camp 'Liberty' near Baghdad airport which according to the ‘Council of Europe' , this camp is more like a prison. To prevent further bloodshed, Mrs Maryam Rajavi - the president of the Iranian resistance, encouraged the residents to move to Camp Liberty. Around 2000 Iranian dissidents, in Camp Ashraf have moved to Liberty. Nearly 1300 remain In Ashraf.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

But the residents have not been allowed to bring their property from Ashraf; have not been given access to sufficient water and electricity; and are not even allowed the minimum constructions for the disabled and people with special needs. In Liberty, they are now being held in appalling conditions with inadequate water, sewage facilities or electricity generation. They are denied the right to leave the camp. Lawyers and politicians have been denied access to Liberty.

A recently published report by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, considers the situation of residents in Liberty as violation of international laws, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Contrary to the recent remarks by the US State Department, it is not the Ashraf residents and their leadership that are inflexible, but it is Iraqi government that is refusing to provide the minimum humanitarian needs of the residents and even preventing the residents from providing them by themselves. In spite of continuous violation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Iraq and the prison-like conditions of Liberty and the lack of minimum humanitarian needs, Ashraf residents have illustrated their maximum cooperation and good will by relocation of 2000 people.

If there is any genuine desire by Iraq for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, it should facilitate the provision of these needs for the relocation of the remaining residents in Ashraf to resume without further delay.

These needs are: Connection of Liberty to the city water network or pumping water from a river adjacent to the camp, transfer of the main generators of 1.5 Mega Watt, allowing the sale of the movable and immovable properties, minimum constructions particularly of special facilities for disabled and ill people, transfer of the six utility vehicles, 6 trailers for the disabled, transfer of 5 forklifts and 50 passenger cars.

We call on the EU, Baroness Ashton and the Belgian government to carry out their responsibilities and to prevent another human catastrophe. Any violence against these defenceless refugees and their forcible displacement is absolutely unacceptable and this message must be conveyed to the Iraqi government immediately to prevent a third attack and massacre.

As is has been stressed time and again, Ashraf residents are eager to keep their promise and relocate to Camp Liberty as soon as minimum humanitarian conditions are realized at the Camp.

Dirk Claes
Senator/Mayor
Leader of Flemish Christian Democratic Group in Belgian Senate
President of Belgian Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.