The International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) salutes Camp Ashraf residents for their commendable endurance of psychological torture by 180 powerful loudspeakers that entered its second year on February 8. It calls on the European Union and the US government and forces in Iraq and the UN to take affirmative and urgent measures to end this despicable campaign that has no place in the 21st century.
The issue that makes this psychological torture more revolting is the profanity used by the agents of the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) against the women of Ashraf through the loudspeakers. This is a shameful act for today’s modern world. The Iranian regime has great hatred and enmity towards the women in Ashraf who are forerunners of the resistance against tyranny and role models of resistance and firmness for Iranian women. This regime and its Iraqi proxies, by violating all human and moral norms and broadcasting tapes of profanity and rude words in the southern flank of the camp which is very close to the place of residence of the women, have marked an unprecedented record in suppression and gender violence.
It is evident that these insults are clear violations of the Geneva Conventions and the UN Social and Political Charter and many other conventions and international laws that seriously prohibit insults against the dignity of protected persons, especially women. Thus, the Iraqi government and its Prime Minister are responsible for these flagrant infringements of law. Silence and inaction by the US government and forces is a violation of their international obligations.
This silence and inaction has emboldened the Iraqi Prime Ministry and the committee responsible for Ashraf suppression that is under this complete control, to take further steps in enforcing pressure and suppression including measures such as issuing arrest warrants for the Iraqi lawyers representing Ashraf residents at the behest of the Iranian regime. This kind of suppressive measure is typical of a dictatorships and Iraq is supposed to be a democracy.
In addition, according to reports obtained by ISJ, Iraqi forces under the orders of the suppression committee have prevented entry of medicine into the camp purchased by Ashraf residents under the supervision of the head of the Iraqi hospital in Ashraf. The Iraqi forces also arrested the driver who delivered the medicine to Ashraf and placed him under pressure to reveal the identities of the individuals who provide medical stuff and medical services to Ashraf residents in order to have them arrested later.
According to the Spanish National Court writ on December 27, 2010, Ashraf residents are all ‘protected persons’ under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The serious breaches of the Geneva Convention, such as torture and serious physical harm or severe damage to the dignity and psychological torture of the residents are considered war crimes and crimes against the international community, and the perpetrators must be prosecuted in international tribunals.
The cruel siege on Ashraf and the psychological torture of its residents in Iraq is parallel to the physical torture and execution of political prisoners especially Ashraf residents’ families inside Iran. The main purpose of these measures is to control the explosive condition inside Iran and prevent the Iranian people from once again flaming the fire of their uprisings around the country.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Vice President, European Parliament
President, International committee In Search of Justice
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