According to a report published in agency’s website “the UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming told journalists in Geneva on Tuesday (September 24) that UNHCR was ‘gravely concerned’ about the safety of seven former residents of the Camp New Iraq (formerly Camp Ashraf), who remain unaccounted for since it was attacked on September 1. More than 50 residents died in the attack in central-eastern Iraq.”
“According to reports reaching UNHCR, the missing persons are reportedly being held somewhere in Iraq and may be at risk of being returned involuntarily to Iran, which would be a serious breach of international law,” Fleming said. “These seven are all known by UNHCR to be asylum-seekers, and UNHCR wants to have the opportunity to interview them,” she added.
“In light of the numerous and persistent reports over the past week that these individuals may be at risk of forced return to Iran, she said that UNHCR was calling on the Iraqi government to locate them, to ensure their physical security and to safeguard them against return to Iran against their will,” the report said.
“UNHCR furthermore urges the government to ensure the protection of the residents of Hurriya temporary transit location and calls on the international community to find solutions outside Iraq as a matter of urgency,” Fleming stated.
Camp Liberty (Camp Hurriya) houses Iranian dissidents of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) who have been living in exile in Iraq since over 2 decades ago.