NCRI- “France Libertés” Foundation chaired by former French first lady during Francois Mitterrand’s presidency, Danielle Mitterrand, issued a statement calling on the Iraqi government to “recognize the rights of Ashraf residents” who have been residing in Iraq “under the protection of international law and the Geneva Conventions, particularly Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.”
NCRI- “France Libertés” Foundation chaired by former French first lady during Francois Mitterrand’s presidency, Danielle Mitterrand, issued a statement calling on the Iraqi government to “recognize the rights of Ashraf residents” who have been residing in Iraq “under the protection of international law and the Geneva Conventions, particularly Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.”
France Libertés expressed deep concerns about the security situation of residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq, where 3,400 members of the main Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), are located, and called on UN Secretary General, Security Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other international organs to immediately intervene to lift the ban imposed on Ashraf residents.
In its statement, issued on May 28, France Libertés said: “The Iraqi government must recognize the rights of Ashraf residents who have been residing legally in Iraq for 23 years under the protection of international law and the Geneva Conventions, particularly Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.”
“Following the ban by Iraqi authorities on visits by families, lawyers and parliamentarians from other countries, the Foundation France Libertés is deeply concerned about the situation of the residents of Ashraf City in Iraq.”
“Recently, a number of families, including elderly fathers and mothers, children and teenagers, were held for several days at Ashraf gates in adverse weather conditions. There have been no positive responses from Iraqi authorities after requests from lawyers of Ashraf residents and parliamentarians to visit the city. These measures constitute a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law. This raises alarm about preparations for other repressive measures that could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.”
France Libertés also said, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, the ban on visits by families, lawyers and parliamentarians should be lifted without precondition. The Iraqi government, it said, must also respect the principles of non-refoulement and the right to effective judicial protection for Ashraf residents, and remove illegal restrictions against them.
France Libertés has an observer status in the United Nations and is active globally.
