Congresswoman Judy Chu: "We have to make sure we protect the people in Camp Ashraf and that we ensure, even with the U.S leaving, that those residents are protected. They are people who have stood up for what is right and we must make sure that their security is protected. So I join with you and I thank you for being such articulate advocates for the people in Camp Ashraf and for the Iranian people and the Iranian community."
NCRI – At a Congressional briefing on Thursday, June 10, several members of the U.S. House of Representatives emphasized the need for the continued U.S. protection of Camp Ashraf in Iraq. The bi-partisan call was made in light of the announcement by the United States military that the U.S. intends to evacuate Camp Grizzly in Ashraf and turn it over to the Iraqi Security Forces by July 1st. Many members at the briefing, which coincided with the anniversary of the uprising in Iran, also called for the removal of Iran's main opposition, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), from the State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). The following is the text of speech by Congresswoman Judy Chu(D-CA).
Thank you for allowing me to join you in this most important briefing. I must tell you that a group from your organization came to see me last week in my district office and told me the whole story of Camp Ashraf from the beginning to now.
And even though I had known about the horrors, I’ve just couldn’t believe it. And I could not believe that relatives who were simply visiting their relatives in Camp Ashraf were executed simply for that act.
The horrors are building one upon the other and this has to stop. This must stop and I will do whatever I can to make sure this stops. I’m even more horrified that a group that took the lead to fight the dictatorship in Iran, PMOI, is still being targeted and designated as a terrorist group.
That is so unjust. And they are still being considered in this designation despite the fact that the EU and Britain have lifted that designation. This is totally unfair to continue for the U.S to have that designation.
So I told my staff today that I want to be added as a co-sponsor for Congressman Filner’s bill.
What is just is just, and we have to make sure we protect the people in Camp Ashraf and that we ensure, even with the U.S leaving, that those residents are protected. They are people who have stood up for what is right and we must make sure that their security is protected. So I join with you and I thank you for being such articulate advocates for the people in Camp Ashraf and for the Iranian people and the Iranian community. You are tremendously effective. Keep up the good work, we will work together to get that bill passed.
Thank you very much.
