NCRI – In a debate on "Situation in Iraq," the EU's new foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, told the European Parliament session in Strasbourg on Tuesday that the European Union has "consistently and repeatedly" reminded Iraqi government to manage the issue of Camp Ashraf "in full accordance with international law and without any violence."
Camp Ashraf, located in northeast of Baghdad, is home to some 3,400 members of the main Iranian opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). They have been living there for more than 20 years.
"In terms of Camp Ashraf, we consistently and repeatedly reminded Iraq that this complex issue must be managed in full accordance with international law and indeed without any violence," Catherine Ashton told the European Parliament session.
Late July, the Iraqi government ordered its forces to carry out a bloody attack on Camp Ashraf, a place of residence for 3,400 opponents of the Iranian regime. This raid was conducted under the orders of the Iranian regime and left 11 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) dead and 500 seriously wounded. Another 36 had been detained, tortured and beaten. They were released on 7 October in poor health after maintaining a hunger strike throughout their period of detention.
Since mid-2008 the Iraqi government has repeatedly indicated that it wanted to close Camp Ashraf, and that its residents should leave Iraq or face being forcibly expelled from the country.
On December 11, 2009, Amnesty International urged "the Iraqi authorities must not forcibly relocate about 3,400 members of an Iranian opposition group from a settlement north of Baghdad where they have lived since the mid-1980's."
Over the past three months, the Iraqi committee at the Prime Minister’s Office tasked with suppression of Camp Ashraf residents has prevented entry of fuel supplies to the Camp. This inhumane siege has triggered numerous difficulties for the residents particularly in the cold winter months.
