Attempts by Ashraf residents to have the cruel restriction lifted were to no avail, and the patients, two of whom have cancer and are unable to speak Arabic or English and required assistance, were forced to cancel their trip to the hospital in Baghdad.
Previously, when critically-ill patients were able to be transferred to a hospital in Baghdad or Baquba, translators, nurses or their relatives could accompany them.
Imposing cruel medical restrictions is a part of the inhumane siege imposed on Ashraf beginning at the start of 2009 following the transfer of protection to Iraqi forces. It is a blatant breach of numerous international laws and conventions and constitutes a crime against humanity.
The mullahs' regime and its Iraqi agents are trying in vain to pressurise Ashraf residents and break their spirits by preventing the entry of specialist doctors, medicine and medical equipment to Ashraf and terminally-ill patients to hospitals in Baghdad.
Due to the restrictions imposed over the past 18 months, many of the patients, who could have been cured fully in the initial phase of their illness if they had been allowed proper treatment, are today facing further complications and in some cases can no longer be cured.
The Iranian Resistance calls on the United Nations Secretary General, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Iraq and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as U.S. officials and commanders and all human rights organisations to pay attention to the continued suppression and pressures imposed on Ashraf residents and further calls for urgent measures to bring an end to this cruel siege.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 1, 2010