Ashraf City, north of Baghdad, is the residence of close to 3,500 members of the main Iranian opposition movement, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Ashraf City, north of Baghdad, is the residence of close to 3,500 members of the main Iranian opposition movement, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Iranians in Geneva held a demonstration across from the headquarters of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. They called upon the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to ensure the protection and respect for the rights of Ashraf residents in accordance with international laws and conventions.
Jean Pierre Labarthe, a human rights activist, expressed support for the Iranian Resistance and said, “Ashraf refugees fight for peace and freedom and that is why I stand with them.” He condemned the violation of Ashraf residents’ rights by some Iraqi officials and prayed for the residents’ safety and ultimate victory.
A representative from the Iranian Association of Experts in Switzerland said: “We invite the US government to stay loyal to its commitments regarding Ashraf City residents.”
London was the scene of the 25th day of protests by exiled Iranians and relatives of Ashraf residents. Across from the Iraqi embassy in London, they were protesting against pressures dictated by the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Addressing the rally, one of the relatives of Ashraf residents said, “In our fourth week of gathering we tell those who stand against the recognized humanitarian standards and human rights laws in the world in order to implement the directives of their masters in Tehran, that we will continue tirelessly with our defense of the legal rights of Ashraf residents.”
In Washington, Iranians gathered outside the Iraqi embassy, and demanded that the Iraqi government immediately removed pressures and restrictions against Ashraf residents. They also detested Muwaffaq al-Rubaie’s measures which are in compliance with the orders of the clerical dictators in Iran.
Also in Washington, across from the White House, speakers called for immediate end to pressures and restrictions imposed by Muwaffaq al-Rubaie against Ashraf residents. They stressed that they would continue until protection of Ashraf residents was guaranteed and the rights of PMOI members in Ashraf were respected in accordance with international law.
On April 8, A similar gathering was held in Stockholm across from the Iraqi embassy. Many of the protestors who took part in the gathering had relatives in Ashraf City. They demanded the lifting of the inhumane restrictions on Ashraf residents which have been imposed on the orders of al-Rubaie.