The Swiss Committee in Defense of Ashraf, consisting of Swiss MPs, lawyers and human rights figures issued a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcoming the PMOI delisting and stressing on the UNHCR’s responsibility to guarantee the fundamental refugee rights of 3400 PMOI members residing in Ashraf and Liberty in Iraq.
Iran, through its envoy in Baghdad and the meetings of its defense minister and various other officials with Iraqi officials, including Maliki and his advisor Faleh Fayaz, has issued specific instructions to increase repression and pressures against Ashraf and Liberty residents, the Swiss Committee letter reads.
In such conditions, we demand the intervention of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to provide the residents’ protection and security, lift any kind of siege and guarantee the residents’ freedom of movement; especially since it is obvious that Liberty is not a temporary transit location and this labeling has only led to the imposition of further restrictions and repressive measures by the Iraqi government against the residents, the letter continues.
Therefore, we strongly demand Liberty to be recognized as a refugee camp to guarantee the residents’ rights and prevent conspiracies by Iran and the Iraqi government, the letter adds.
Through these measures you can prevent the depletion of the rights of individuals recognized by the UNHCR as people of concern who enjoy fundamental protections, the letter concluded.
