VICE PRESIDENT – Press Release
20 August 2012
On 17 August 2012, as a goodwill gesture, the Iranian resistance leader Maryam Rajavi issued a statement on the transfer of the 6th convoy of people from Ashraf to Liberty on 23 August.
Her decision came at a time when the erroneous policies of the US government in appeasing the Iranian regime and the regrettable conducts of the UN envoy in Iraq, had resulted in a deadlock that even they could not break. With such a clear and unambiguous proposal, the United States has to face its responsibility.
Around 2000 Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf have already moved to Liberty. Nearly 1300 remain In Ashraf. 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. The residents are being held in appalling conditions with inadequate water, sewage facilities or electricity generation. They are denied the right to leave Liberty. Lawyers and politicians have been denied access to Liberty.
The continuation of the American blacklisting of the Iranian main opposition PMOI-MEK has been the cause of two massacres in Ashraf. We call on USA to de-list PMOI to accelerate the relocation and resettlement of residents of camps Ashraf and Liberty.
As mentioned by my colleague Struan Stevenson MEP, President of European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq, “The approach by the European and other democratic countries towards Ashraf in not accepting the residents is shameful. We call on the leaders and foreign ministers of the European countries as well as Baroness Ashton to open the doors to Iranian refugees in Ashraf and Liberty to end this immense humanitarian issue; otherwise they would be complicit in any future humanitarian tragedy.”
We will do our best to make sure that the US, EU and the UN will take the necessary steps as referred to in Mrs Rajavi’s statement of August 17. These steps are:
1. Immediate removal of the PMOI from the FTO list of the US.
2. Assuring the protection and security of Liberty residents by the US government. European
3. Providing and guaranteeing the eight minimum humanitarian needs of the residents most of which have been obstructed by the Government of Iraq until now.
4. In view of the rise in number of Liberty residents, recognition of the camp as a refugee camp and increasing its area have become most essential.
5. Free access to lawyers and freedom of movement frequently asserted by the UNHCR should be fulfilled.
6. The process of reconfirming the refugee status of all the residents that is required for their resettlement should be speeded up.
7. Active contribution by third countries particularly the EU member states to accept the residents.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Vice-President of the European Parliament
President, International Committee In Search of Justice
