NCRI – Contrary to what Askari, Maliki’s spokesman in Iraq’s Defense Ministry, said that the Iraqi government is ready to cooperate for burial of 34 martyrs of Ashraf and would provide necessary means for it, a few hours ago, on the order of Nouri al-Maliki, the directorate of military operations abjectly denied what Askari had said, proving Askari’s remarks have been nothing other than an empty propaganda gesture made due to international pressures.
The directorate of military operations notified Ashraf residents through a mediator that only two groups of 150 residents can participate in burial ceremony separately, and after all of them have been searched. The ceremony should not last more than 2-3 hours from the beginning to the end, no music should be played during the ceremony, and carrying the emblems or flags of the PMOI and Ashraf is forbidden. The ceremony will be carried out with the presence and supervision of Iraqi armed forces and armored units.
On behalf of the Iranian Resistance in Paris, Mrs. Rajavi strongly condemned this abject way of dealing with the martyrs’ corpses on the order of Maliki and announced that Ashraf residents shall never accept such conditions. Accordingly, the United Nations and the US forces should guarantee the burial ceremony of 34 martyrs by handing over the Pearl Memorial to Ashraf residents.
Secretariat of National Council of Resistance of Iran
April 15, 2011