NCRI – The United Nations and the European Union have a duty to ensure the protection of thousands of members of the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK), in Camp Liberty in Iraq, Ryszard Czarnecki, Vice President of the European Parliament, said in Brussels on Wednesday.
“As you know we in the European Parliament have been closely following the situation of these Iranian refugees in Camp Ashraf and now in Camp Liberty,” Mr. Czarnecki told a meeting on human rights in Iran at the European Parliament.
“They were moved [to Camp Liberty] from their home in Ashraf some years ago after several massacres in Ashraf at the hands of the Iraqi government,” he said.
“They left all their properties in Ashraf, with a promise by the United Nations and the American government that they would be allowed to sell them to be able to pay for their expenses in Camp Liberty. If they are not able to sell their properties, the PMOI will not be able to pay for the expenses of transferring the residents to safe countries.”
“But the Iraqi government does not allow this. In fact the Iraqi forces with the help of the mullahs in Iran continue to put a lot of pressure on the residents.”
“Recently a group of Iranian regime agents were transferred from Iran to Camp Liberty. They pretend to be families of the residents.”
Mr. Czarnecki said he is shocked that PMOI (MEK) members in Camp Liberty “are being held like prisoners facing daily abuse by the Iraqi authorities and their Iranian sponsors.”
“This is done under the watch of the UN, EU and US, who refuse to lift a finger to help or rescue these men and women. This is totally unacceptable.”
“We call on the Iraqi government and the US government and the UN and EU high representative to respect the rights of the Camp Liberty residents and secure their protection and to prevent the Iranian agents from approaching the camp. We have a moral responsibility towards these Iranian opposition members. Supporting the rights of the PMOI members in Camp Liberty is part of our duty and campaign to protect human rights in Iran.”
“I believe that this can be done only when the mullahs are overthrown. But till that time, we have to speak loudly in defense of the Iranian people and the opposition,” he added.