Following the attack by the Iraqi forces on the Ashraf camp last night and the injury of five camp residents, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice President of the European Parliament wrote an urgent letter to President Obama today to take necessary measures – within the framework of the US international obligations and in accordance with the agreement signed between every single resident of Ashraf and the US forces – to guarantee the protection of Ashraf residents.
Following the attack by the Iraqi forces on the Ashraf camp last night and the injury of five camp residents, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Vice President of the European Parliament wrote an urgent letter to President Obama today to take necessary measures – within the framework of the US international obligations and in accordance with the agreement signed between every single resident of Ashraf and the US forces – to guarantee the protection of Ashraf residents.
Dr Vidal-Quadras wrote: “As you are aware, the majority members of the US House of Representatives have recently submitted a resolution that is “Deploring the ongoing violence by Iraqi security forces against the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq” and calls upon the President to “take all necessary and appropriate steps to support the commitments of the United States under international law and treaty obligations to ensure the physical security and protection of Camp Ashraf residents.” (111th CONGRESS, 1st Session, H. RES. 704) . For over two months, the Iranian regime, in conjunction with various Iraqi organs, has dispatched number of agents from its Ministry of Intelligence and Security posing as families of Ashraf residents to gather outside the camp to conduct a psychological warfare and pave the way for another massacre in the camp. With full Iraqi support, these agents have been threatening the residents with repatriation to Iran ruled by the clerical dictatorship or massacre in the camp. Regrettably, the US forces and the representatives of UNAMI have not taken any effective steps to end this situation.
In the absence of an appropriate reaction, the regime and the Iraqi forces have been emboldened and increased the pressure. In support of the agents gathered outside the camp, the Iraqi forces carried out an assault on Ashraf residents late last night, Thursday, April 15. At least five camp residents were wounded when the Iraqi forces beat them with truncheons and electric batons. The attackers also tried to take over some installations located at the entrance of the camp. There is no doubt that the incidents in Camp Ashraf are in open violation of international law and conventions and pave the way for a humanitarian catastrophe. These are clear examples of crime against humanity.
We at the European Parliament and the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), supported by more than 2,000 parliamentarians, in line with majority members of the US Congress call on you to take necessary measures to guarantee the protection of Ashraf residents and urge the United Nations to prevent another humanitarian catastrophe by assuming the protection of Ashraf residents."
Office of Alejo Vidal-Quadras,
Vice President of the European Parliament