NCRI – A Palestinian minister and 8 members of Parliament have condemned the psychological torture of Camp Ashraf residents using 240 loudspeakers by Iranian regime agents, and underscored US and UN responsibilities in protecting the camp based on the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In a statement, Issa Qaraqe’, Palestinian Minister of Detainees, joined by 8 parliamentarians, deplored increasing pressures against Camp Ashraf, which have been demanded by the Iranian regime from the Iraqi prime Minister, and called on the US and UN to protect the camp.
The statement noted that on January 5, the Iranian regime’s foreign minister demanded more practical measures against the residents of Ashraf from Iraq’s Prime Minister.
It also mentioned a number of instances where attacks have taken place against Ashraf, including the January 7 assault with the cooperation of Iraqi forces, leading to 176 injuries among the residents, including 91 women.
“Iraqi forces refused to allow treatment for the injured and expelled them from the hospital,” it said.
It added that on July 28 and 29, 2009, an attack by Iraqi forces against the camp left 11 residents dead and more than 500 injured.
“These measures constitute grave violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to the residents of Ashraf. On the basis of the Spanish court ruling and the statute of the International Criminal Court, these measures are considered to be war crimes and crimes against the international community.”
The Palestinian officials added, “In accordance with international law, the UN and the US must ensure the protection of Ashraf.”
They added, “We call on Mr. Ad Melkert, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Iraq, and Ms. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to call on the Iraqi government to take the following steps:
1. Disband the Committee to Close Asharf and place Ashraf under the monitoring of the Iraqi Parliament.
2. Immediately put an end to the psychological torture of the residents of Ashraf by the Iranian regime’s intelligence agents who are using 240 loudspeakers for their purposes.”
In addition to Minister Issa Qaraqe’, the statement was signed by the following members of Parliament: Dr. Nejat Ahmad al-Astal, Dr. Saha Adel Sabet, Fayez al-Saqa, Jamal Mohammad Abu al-Rab, Naeema al-Sheikh Ali, Dr. Nejat Abu Bakr, Ahmad Haza’, and Ala Yaghi.
Camp Ashraf, Iraq, is home to 3,400 members of the main Iranian opposition, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
