More than two million Iraqis have signed a petition demanding urgent protection for Camp Liberty and an investigation into the September 1 massacre at Camp Ashraf.
The demand comes after a campaign by the National Council of Iraqi Tribes, and also calls for the deployment of UN observers in Camp Liberty and an end to Iranian regime hegemony in Iraq.
The petition, which included signatures from lawyers, scholars and tribal chiefs, said: “By provoking sectarian war and terrorist activities in Iraq, the Iranian regime has spilled the blood of tens of thousands of the innocent and driven out millions of Iraqis from their homes, placing the sovereignty of Iraq under its extensive influence.
“The hegemony of the Iranian regime over Iraq has reached a point where, through the Iraqi government and its agents in this country, it has carried out seven savage attacks on Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Oragnization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) who are under international protection, and resulted in 116 killed and 1375 wounded.
“This is while they are protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention and government of Iraq had given written assurances to US and UN for their protection.
“Forces under the command of the prime ministry did not stop at these massacres but took hostage seven Ashraf residents, including six women.”
The signatories added: “Based on a contract with each and every member of the PMOI, the US has a responsibility towards them. In our view, the silence on the part of US and UN in face of these atrocities and pressures emboldens the Iranian regime and its Iraqi hired hands to intensify these crimes and pressures.
“We vehemently condemn this matter. PMOI members are the honorable guests of the Iraqi people and they have always had brotherly relations with the Iraqi people and stayed by their side in all circumstances.”
The 2,155,000 signatories called on the United Nations and the United States to: compel the government of Iraq to promptly release the Ashraf hostages; deploy UN observers to provide minimum security standards at Liberty; conduct an impartial inquiry into the Ashraf massacre, and end the Iranian regime occupation in Iraq.
