Europa Press reports: At least 19 people have died in an attack by Iraqi forces against Iranian refugee camp Ashraf, near Baghdad, according to a statement by the People’s Mojahedin organization of Iran (PMOI).
Among the dead is also the group’s deputy general secretary, Zohreh Ghaemi, according to the organization representing Iranian exiles who were forced to flee their country with the arrival in power of Ayatollah Khomeini and live for years in constant episodes of stress and violence with the Iraqi authorities.
The attack began at midnight – 23:00 pm yesterday (Spain local time) – and according to the PMOI lasted for seven hours. “The forces that attack us are Iraqi Army battalions and Special Action Units”, said the movement’s leadership, which last December finally disappeared from the list of terrorist organizations drawn up by the United States.
More than 3,200 refugees living in Ashraf were relocated last year in the former U.S. base Camp Liberty, also near the capital, but many of them decided to return given the appalling living conditions of the new destination.
“So far a large number of residents have died and others have been taken hostage,” according to the spokesman of the organization, Shariar Kia. “The resistance requested urgent action by U.S. Embassy in Iraq and the United Nations to immediately make an appearance in place to prevent the continuation of this slaughter, ” he said.