The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom strongly condemns the assault Friday on Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf by Iraqi armed forces and Iranian agents
Large numbers of terrorist agents, backed by Iraqi special armed forces under the command of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in military humvees, attempted to forcibly enter the camp, as residents peacefully protested. At least 100 residents, including 50 women, were injured as attackers hurled stones, sharp objects, planks of wood and metal.
Committee chairman Lord Corbett of Castle Vale warned of an “imminent humanitarian tragedy” at the refugee camp without immediate intervention by US forces and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq. “This is Tehran’s response to growing domestic unrest and nationwide calls for regime change,” he said.
This attack follows a ruling by Spain’s central court summoning the Chief of Police of Iraq’s Diyala Province for prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity at Ashraf in July 2009, when 11 residents were killed and hundreds injured in a bloody raid of the camp.
The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom is deeply concerned that Iranian intelligence agents are psychologically torturing Ashraf residents using now 180 loudspeakers.
Iran’s foreign minister Mr Ali Akbar Salehi on 5 January met Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad and confirmed that the talks focused on the refugees at Camp Ashraf. Ashraf residents were recognised by US forces as “protected persons” under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the 27 December 2010 Spanish court ruling reiterated the residents’ status.
The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom calls on US forces in Iraq and UNAMI to intervene immediately to prevent bloodshed at the camp. US forces should urgently take over protection of the residents while the UN stations a permanent monitoring team at the camp to prevent further assaults, remove the 180 loudspeakers and end the siege of Ashraf.
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
7 January 2011
The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom is supported by a majority of MPs of all Parties and 200 Members of the House of Lords.