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Iran-EP: Credibility of Human Rights Watch report against PMOI suspected

European Parliament Iran group questioning HRW report against PMOINCRI, September 21 – Findings of a Euro-Parliamentary delegation on the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran was released in an extensive report in a conference at the European Parliament today.

Following the release of a controversial report last May by the Human Rights Watch making gross allegations of rights abuses at Camp Ashraf in Iraq by the PMOI, a delegation of Euro MPs paid a visit to the camp to verify its credibility.

European Parliament Iran group question HRW report against PMOINCRI, September 21 – Findings of a Euro-Parliamentary delegation on the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran was released in an extensive report in a conference at the European Parliament today.

Following the release of a controversial report last May by the Human Rights Watch making gross allegations of rights abuses at Camp Ashraf in Iraq by the PMOI, a delegation of Euro MPs paid a visit to the camp to verify its credibility.

The conference, organized by the Friends of a Free Iran, a Euro Parliamentary group, was chaired by Mr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roco, First Vice-President of the European Parliament. Participants in the panel included Mr. Paulo Casaca, MEP from Potugal and Mr. Struan Stevenson, MEP from the UK, joint chairpersons of the European Parliament Iran group; Mr. Andre Brie, MEP from Germany; Prof. Raymond Tanter, chairman of the Washington based Iran Policy Committee; Mr. Lars Rise, member of the Norwegian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee; Mr. Mohammad Mohaddessin, chair of the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee; representatives of France Liberte, Foundation of Danielle Mitterrand, and World Organization  Against Torture (OMCT).Image

Mr. Quadras reiterated that the report by the Euro delegation was prepared on the bases of its visit to Camp Ashraf, the site of alleged rights abuses, and face to face interviews and various other sources. He then questioned the methodology employed by the Human Rights Watch which based its report on interviews carried out over telephone with 12 individuals whose identities could not be verified over the telephone line.

The report released today by the Euro group could not confirm any of the allegations made by the HRW which unveiled the political intentions behind its release.

Representative of the HRW did not attend the conference despite an invitation extended to its representative.