Thank you for inviting me. It is an honor to be here. Madam Rajavi. The PMOI is the most and the main Iranian opposition group; the backbone of the resistance. I will try to mention some aspects.
First, about the EU terror list: The EU has to remove the name of the PMOI from the terror list. The designation lacks legal basis and was a part and parcel of a political conciliation vis-ÃÂ -vis the clerical regime, as far as I see it.
The struggle against religious disctatorship must not be labeled as terrorism. That is not only my political opinion; it is my legal opinion as well. There is no doubt that the greatest threat, the most dangerous threat to peace and tranquility in the region, today is the clerical regime – the mullahs’ regime.
Camp Ashraf: I have had the fortune to visit Camp Ashraf, as Marc said, in 2004. To all the people of Camp Ashraf, I am very impressed by all of you and your struggle and to all the Scandinavian-speaking people in Camp Ashraf … [in Norwegian] ….
The people of Camp Ashraf are – and this is my legal opinion – protected by both the Fourth Geneva Convention and international law and the internal Iraqi law.
When I went to Camp Ashraf, I had a meeting with several Iraqi lawyers and judges, and all of them said the same, and all of them agreed that everybody in Camp Ashraf was protected by the Fourth Geneva Convention, international law, and the internal Iraqi law.
The people of Camp Ashraf are political refugees and involuntary displacement would be a war crime, in my opinion.
Camp Ashraf is the property of the people of Camp Ashraf. They have built Camp Ashraf – their property.
It is important that the Iraqi government fully respects international conventions and international law regarding the PMOI and their right to stay in Iraq.
I would like to take this opportunity to review important rights and protections under international law. The residents of Camp Ashraf have the right to protection from danger, violence, persecution, and intimidation and to special protection for the dignity and the rights of women. They have the right to help in contacting their families outside Camp Ashraf, and their families have the right to help in protecting them. They have the right to seek assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and international humanitarian organizations. They have the right to freedom of thought, religion, expression, inter-community associations and political opinion. They also have the right to freedom from persecution and forced and paid labor. They have the right to food, healthcare and a quality of living which meets the standards of the local residents in the territory and which they are protected. They have the right to fair treatment under the law in accordance with the Iraqi domestic law and international standards. They have the right to pursue employment, opportunities, and profit-making activities which are consistent with local laws and can be taken without compromising their overriding right to personal safety. They have the right to speak with representatives of the Coalition, the protecting powers, privately and with confidence in the Coalition’s humanitarian interests in their situation. And they have the right to refuse to return to the country of nationality regardless of their legal status in the country in which they are protected. They have the right to depart the territory of conflict at any time for their country of nationality or for any other country for which they possess valid travel documentation.
All of these rights are essential for the protection of the residents of Camp Ashraf under the terms of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
This is not only my legal opinion. This is the opinion of William H. Brandenburg – he is a Major General in the U.S. Army and from the headquarters of the Multi-National Force. This is from October 7, 2005, and I say and I believe that this is still valid.
I do agree with Mrs. Rajavi; there is no military solution to the Iranian problem. The only viable solution is democratic change in Iran by the people and their legitimate resistance. I hope — I have to believe that the legal opinions that we all hear do have some impact for the political situation. I hope to see you all in the streets of a free Tehran soon.