The uprising of Iranian people will continue despite Khamenei’s futile attempts
NCRI – The Iranian Resistance’s President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, described the attacks by Iraqi forces against Ashraf residents as a clear example of crimes against humanity and war crimes, and in a speech at the Italian Parliament this afternoon, she called on the international community and especially the US government to act in accordance with their obligations in regards to this humanitarian catastrophe. The attacks, which took place yesterday and today, have left at least seven people dead and 400 wounded. The wounded are prevented from accessing medical treatment.
Mrs. Rajavi emphasized that the responsibility to protect Ashraf residents lies with the US government and demanded immediate intervention by the UN Security Council and human rights organizations to prevent the killings.
Mrs. Rajavi also emphasized that this criminal operation was carried out at the request of the clerical regime and its Supreme Leader personally from the Iraqi government. She said the Iranian Resistance, those wounded, and families of those killed will file complaints at relevant international tribunals against the Iraqi government and its Prime Minister who carried out the directives of the regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and directly commands the attack.
A large number of those wounded are in critical condition. Because of shortage of resources and the siege on Ashraf, they cannot be treated and the Iraqi forces prevent the entry of doctors into Ashraf to provide medical treatment to them.
The Iranian Resistance's President-elect stressed that the attack against Ashraf, a place which is an inspiration to social dissent in Iran, is the other side of the coin of suppression of the Iranian people's nationwide uprising for freedom. Khamenei, who failed to quell the uprising of the Iranian people through suppression, arrests, and killings, seeks to compensate for his defeats during the uprising by giving new directives to the Iraqi government and carrying out a massacre against Ashraf residents. However, this will serve to increase the hatred and revulsion of the Iranian people towards this regime and will only strengthen their resolve to bring about change in Iran. The uprising will not stop and Khamenei and his criminal cronies have no way of escaping from it.
Mrs. Rajavi recalled the US government's specific responsibility with regards to Ashraf residents and called on the US president Barack Obama to personally intervene and end this human catastrophe. She stressed that in the current situation the US government must assume the protection of Ashraf residents. She also called on all EU governments to decisively condemn the Iraqi government and take necessary measures to defend the rights of Ashraf residents.
The Iranian Resistance's President-elect urged the UN Secretary General to immediately send a delegation to Iraq to investigate this crime and monitor the situation in Ashraf. She also invited international authorities and human rights organizations to send medical aid for the treatment of those injured.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 29, 2000