NCRI – sixty-four members of the Iraqi Parliament have written to the UN’s special envoy to Baghdad condemning the brutal attack by Iraqi forces against Camp Ashraf on April 8.
The deadly assault against the unarmed civilians of Camp Ashraf, members of the main Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), is a “crime against humanity” and a “massacre,” they said.
They called for an independent international investigation into the attack and urged the UN representative, Ad Melkert, to ensure the protection of Camp Ashraf, saying that the Iraqi Prime Minister has called for the expulsion of the residents and seeks to increase pressures on the camp.
Below is the English translation of the Arabic text of the letter by 64 members of the Iraqi Parliament to the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Iraq, Mr. Ad Melkert.
His Excellency Ad Melkert
UN Secretary General Special Representative for Iraq
April 12, 2011
As you are well aware, on Friday, April 8, on the orders of the Iraqi Prime Minister, military forces carried out a brutal attack against Iranian refugees residing in Camp Ashraf, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). This attack, which constituted a massacre and crime against humanity, has thus far left 34 people dead and several hundred wounded among the defenseless residents as a result of the use of direct firing of live ammunition.
The pictures, as well as western and Arab media reports, clearly show the scope of the catastrophe and human rights violations committed during this attack. There must be an international probe into this incident.
The attack has further stained the Iraqi government’s record on human rights.
The only side that has praised this crime and cheered the Iraqi government for it has been the Iranian regime and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, who are themselves responsible for the deaths and massacre of many Iraqi citizens as well as American forces.
Mr. Ambassador,
Regrettably, instead of answering questions about this crime, the Iraqi Prime Minister has resorted to announcing ultimatums to expel the residents of Ashraf in order to cover up the crimes. …
What can be concluded from such actions is that the government continues to seek to mount pressures on Ashraf and suppress its residents.
The repeat of attacks, which also occurred two years ago, but this time with a much greater scope, has made it imperative for the United Nations to take over the protection of the residents of Ashraf and end the presence of Iraqi armed forces in the camp.
We, the undersigned parliamentarians, urge you to prevent the occurrence of more crimes in Camp Ashraf and intervene more actively, working to immediately expel the armed forces from the camp and have the UN take responsibility for the protection of Camp Ashraf.
Sincerely,
Secretary of the Human Rights Committee of the Iraqi Parliament and Spokesperson for the al-Iraqiya faction,
Total signatures: 64
