Concerns over Iran regime’s meddling in Iraq grow

NCRI – In pursuit of an international campaign against Iranian regime’s export of terrorism and fundamentalism to Iraq, more European and North American lawmakers, Jurists and human rights organizations as well as Iraqi tribal leaders and Sheikhs expressed their concerns in letters addressed to Iraqi foreign minister and the president and the American officials. In their letters they strongly condemned Iranian regime’s campaign of misinformation against its main opposition, the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI).

In a letter to the Iraqi foreign ministry, the clerical regime’s embassy in Iraq made false allegations against the PMOI and called for restrictions to be imposed upon the organization based in Camp Ashraf.

US Congressman, Ed towns from New York raised his concern in a letter to Iraqi foreign Minister and said: "It was brought to my attention that the Iranian government has again started a fierce propaganda campaign against the Mojahedin-e-Khalg opposition organization (MEK). This campaign will assist them to further their brutal agenda in Iraq and in other countries…I have confidence that the MEK is truly behind supporting the Iraqi people for establishing peace and security in their country. The people of Iraq are aware of it and that is exactly the reason that 2.8 million of them signed a petition supporting the Mojahedin and their continued stay in Iraq.

"According to the Iraqis and US military officers who have been in Camp Ashraf in the last three years, MEK also known as PMOI has excellent relationship with the people in neighboring towns who have come in contact with them."

Copies of this letter were sent to US Secretary of State, Iraqi president, Commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq, and US Ambassador to Iraq.

Lord Inglewood of the British House of Lords also expressed his concern to the authorities in Iraq and said in his letter: "It would appear that the Iranian regime is unhappy about the PMOI’s role in exposing the harmful interference of the mullahs in the internal affairs of Iraq, as well as the enormous amount of support that the PMOI has been able to garner from all sections of Iraqi society.
 
"As you are no doubt aware, it is a generally held view amongst Parliamentarians from across Europe, as well as international law experts, that the terrorist label placed on the PMOI had no legal basis, but was instead politically motivated. This was confirmed by the 16-month investigation carried out by Coalition forces, which ultimately gave the PMOI a clean bill of health. Following that, in July 2004, all PMOI personnel in Iraq were recognized as "protected persons" under the Fourth Geneva Convention. As such, all of their rights enshrined in the Convention are protected by international law."

It was within the context of the International campaign against the regime that Lord Corbett of Castle Vale, Chairman of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom underlined his support to the Iranian Resistance and said in his letter: "The majority of MPs and a large number of Peers in the UK Parliament have supported the democratic political coalition, the NCRI whose principal member is the PMOI. The PMOI has been recognised as the main barrier to the spread of Islamic fundamentalism, whose heart beats in Tehran. The Iranian regime is recognized as the most active state sponsor of terrorism in the world.

"The letter of protest by the Iranian regime complaining about the rights and freedoms afforded to the PMOI in Iraq is another example of its persistent efforts to silence its opposition."

In conclusion, Lord Corbett wrote: "I therefore trust that everything to protect the rights and freedoms of the PMOI personnel in Iraq is provided."