French language Swiss daily Le Temps (Geneva), February 12, 2013 -Since the rocket attack on Camp Liberty near Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday(February 9, 2013), Kiumars has no news of his 26 and 26 year old sons who live there along with more than 3000 Iranian dissidents. He only knows that his sons have been injured and is concerned that they may have died since the attack. He has no way of knowing.
Kiumars was protesting the attack in front of the UN building.
According to the Iranian dissidents, Camp Liberty was attacked by 35 rockets. The Camp was established to house the dissident Iranians who used to live in Camp Ashraf. Camp Ashraf was vacated by the dissidents because of the Iraqi government demands. According to a memorandum of understanding between the UN and the Iraq government, Camp Liberty is supposed to be a temporary transit point.
The UN High Commission for Refugee’s plan has failed and only five members of the camp have been able to relocate to a third country since a year ago. More than 3100 are still living in Camp Liberty under unsuitable conditions.
Previous Attacks
The Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf were twice attacked by the Iraq soldiers in the past. In July 2009, Iraqis killed 11 residents of the camp. In February 2011, the Iraqis killed another 36. Camp Ashraf residents agreed to relocate to Camp Liberty if their safety were guaranteed.
Behzad Naziri, a spokesperson for the National Council l of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), states that: the Iranian dissidents from the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) left Iran during the early 1980’s and moved to Iraq. In 2003, they turned in their weapons to the US. When the US turned over the camp security to the Iraqis, the dissident conditions deteriorated. Despite Maliki’s obligation to provide security, they see the Iran’s hand in the attacks. They claim that the attacks are orchestrated by the Iranian regime’s terrorist Quds Force.
There has been an avalanche of condemnations. Martin Kobler, the UN Special Representative to Iraq has requested an investigation. The UN High Commissioner, Antonio Guterres, emphasizes that the residents are under international protection.
Kiumars believes that Camp Liberty is too dangerous for the dissidents and he would like for the residents to relocate back to Camp Ashraf. He believes Camp Liberty is worse than a prison.
French language Swiss daily Le Temps (Geneva), February 12, 2013 -Since the rocket attack on Camp Liberty near Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday, Kiumars has no news of his 26 and 26 year old sons who live there along with more than 3000 Iranian dissidents. He only knows that his sons have been injured and is concerned that they may have died since the attack. He has no way of knowing.
Kiumars was protesting the attack in front of the UN building,
According to the Iranian dissidents, Camp Liberty was attacked by 35 rockets. The Camp was established to house the members of the dissident Iranians who used to live in Camp Ashraf. Camp Ashraf was vacated by the dissidents because of the Iraqi government demands. According to a memorandum between the UN and the Iraq government, Camp Liberty is supposed to be a temporary transit point.
The UN High Commission for Refugee’s plan has failed and only five members of the camp have been able to relocate to a third country since a year ago. More than 3100 are still living in Camp Liberty under unsuitable conditions.
Previous Attacks
The Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf were twice attacked by the Iraq soldiers in the past. In July 2009, Iraqis killed 11 residents of the camp. In February 2011, the Iraqis killed another 36. Camp Ashraf residents agreed to relocate to Camp Liberty if their safety were guaranteed.
Behzad Naziri, a spokesperson for the National Council l of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), states that: the Iranian dissidents Mojahedin left Iran during the early 1980sand moved to Iraq. In 2003, they turned in their weapons to the US. When the US turned over the Camp security to the Iraqis, the dissident conditions deteriorated. Despite Maliki’s obligation to provide security, they see the Iran’s hand in the attacks. They claim that the attacks are orchestrated by the Iranian regime’s Ghods terrorist organization.
There has been an avalanche of condemnations. Martin Kobler, the UN Special Representative to Iraq has requested an investigation. The UN High Commissioner, Antonio Gutierrez, emphasizes that the residents are under international protection.
Kiumars believes that Camp Liberty is too dangerous for the dissidents and he would like for the residents to relocate back to Camp Ashraf. He believes Camp Liberty is worse than a prison.
