NCRI – In a press release on Tuesday, The Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup at the European Parliament welcomed the decision by the Central Investigative Court to investigate Iraqi Government’s crimes against Ashraf residents. Following is the text of the press release:
Euro MPs welcome the decision of the National Court of Spain to investigate crimes committed on 28 and 29 July against residents of Ashraf Camp by Iraqi authorities.
The court rules that Ashraf residents are under the protection of the Fourth Geneva Convention
Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup in the European Parliament which consists of a large number of MEPs from various political tendencies, welcomes the decision of the Central Investigative Court, Number 4, of the National Court of Spain, on 26 November 2009, to investigate the crimes committed on 28 and 29 July against residents of Ashraf Camp, home to 3,400 members of the Iranian opposition movement, People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) .
The Court decision is based on the fact that the attack on Camp Ashraf, with 11 persons dead, hundreds wounded and disabled and over 1000 beaten up, could constitute a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions and should be investigated.
The European Parliament adopted a historic resolution on 24 April 2009 on Ashraf Camp, insisting on Geneva Conventions. Now a competent court in Europe has ruled on the rights of PMOI members in Iraq, under the protection of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The complaint filed in the Court also refers to the role of some Iranian Authorities in exerting pressure on the Iraqi government in the framework of its aim to eliminate the PMOI.
We would like to congratulate the residents of Ashraf for this important legal decision that states clearly that it is the obligation of the Iraqi authorities to ensure their physical integrity and treat them according to the Geneva Conventions.
We once again call on the Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki not to stand face to face against the international community on the basic rights of people who have lived lawfully in Iraq for many years. Iraq should cooperate fully with the National Court of Spain, sending to the Court all the required documents to investigate these crimes and identify those responsible.
On behalf of FOFI:
• Alejo Vidal-Quadras , Vice-President of the European Parliament- (Spain)
• Stephen Hughes, First Vice President of the Socialist & Democrats Group (UK)
• Tunne Kelam, EPP (Estonia)
• Jim Higgins, Quaestor (Ireland)
• Soren Sondergaard, GUE/NGL (Denmark)
• Filip Kaczmarek, EPP (Poland)
• Chris Davies, ALDE (UK)
• Alexander Alvaro, ALDE (Germany)
• Edit Bauer, EPP (Slovakia)
• Leonidas Donskis, ALDE (Lithuania)
• Sari Essayah, EPP (Finland)
