samedi 14 septembre 2013

International Condemnation of Terrorist Attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq (15 June 2013)

Violation of Refugee’s Rights

Two dead in Iraq rocket attack on Iran exiles


AFP Updated June 16, 2013, 3:10 am

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A deadly rocket attack struck a camp near Baghdad housing Iranian exiles on Saturday, killing two residents, the second such assault on the group this year as its members await resettlement outside Iraq.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack involving at least half a dozen mortar rounds, which came as Iran tallied ballot papers from Friday's presidential election there.
"I can confirm that there was a deadly attack," Eliana Nabaa, spokeswoman for the United Nations mission in Iraq, told AFP.
A police colonel, speaking on condition of anonymity, put the toll at three dead and 11 wounded from six mortar blasts.
But Shahriar Kia, a spokesman for members of the People's Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran, or the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), at Camp Liberty, said two people were killed -- one woman and one man -- and more than 30 others wounded.
"Dozens" of rockets hit the camp, setting fire to multiple trailers, he said.
Kia criticised the United Nations for not agreeing to move Liberty residents back to their original base at Camp Ashraf near the border with Iran.
The MEK's parent organisation, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, issued a statement in Paris sharply criticising the UN for inaction and making "false promises".
Saturday's attack was the second assault this year on Camp Liberty, which has some 3,000 residents.
In February, dozens of mortar rounds and rockets fired at the camp killed six people, according to the US State Department.
UN special envoy to Iraq Martin Kobler condemned the attack, and said the "tragic violence has occurred despite their (the MEK's) repeated requests to the government of Iraq to provide Camp Liberty and its residents with protective measures, including T-Walls," referring to concrete walls that protect against explosions.
"Today's second terror attack on camp Liberty is a reminder to third countries to come forward with serious offers to resettle Camp Liberty residents outside Iraq," Kobler added in a statement.
MEK members were moved to Camp Liberty late last year at Iraq's insistence from Ashraf, their historic paramilitary camp of the 1980s.
Camp Ashraf was the base that now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein allowed the group to establish in Diyala province during Iraq's eight-year war with Iran.
The MEK was founded in the 1960s to oppose the shah of Iran, and after the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted him it took up arms against Iran's clerical rulers.
It says it has now laid down its arms and is working to overthrow the Islamic regime in Iran by peaceful means.
Britain struck the group off its terror list in June 2008, followed by the European Union in 2009 and the United States in September last year.
But the US State Department holds the group responsible for the deaths of Iranians as well as US soldiers and civilians from the 1970s to 2001, and in its note about delisting the MEK it stressed it had not forgotten the group's militant past.
A senior US official said at the time that Washington does "not see the MEK as a viable opposition" within Iran.
Several countries have made offers to take in members of the group. Most recently, 14 MEK members left Liberty last month for Albania, which has offered to take in more than 200.
The latest attack came as ballots were being counted from neighbouring Iran's presidential election, with moderate candidate Hassan Rowhani holding the lead.


New details on third missile attack against Camp Liberty

Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2013 11:31
Missile attack was carried out with assistance from governmental forces and was designed to inflict high casualties
Attack on Liberty was predictable given warnings issued by residents, Iraqi government’s positions, and threats by terrorist Quds Force
Based on international law and multilateral agreements, United States and United Nations are answerable concerning residents’ protection
NCRI - New details from inside the clerical regime that have reached the Iranian Resistance on the third missile attack against Camp Liberty clearly show that this criminal operation was carried out by the terrorist Quds Force in cooperation and complete coordination with government of Iraq and Iraqi security forces. In this operation, where 40 107mm missiles were fired into Camp Liberty in ten minutes (from 1:15 pm to 1:25 pm, local time), two members of the PMOI were slain and 70 others were injured and millions of dollars in property damage was incurred by residents.
1. These missiles were fired from an area southeast of Camp Liberty using four launch pads installed on a truck, each capable of launching 12 missiles. The number of missiles fired was over 40 and 35 impact points inside Camp Liberty have so far been identified with two missiles failing to explode.
2. Ali Khamenei, the regime's Supreme Leader himself gave the go ahead for the attack and the responsibility for carrying out the attack was left to the terrorist Quds Force. This deadly operation was organized for the day after the sham presidential election and concurrent with announcement of the outcome of the election. The terrorist Quds Force and its affiliated groups such as Kataeb Hezbollah and Asaib al-Haq had made the preparations, but its implementation awaited Khamenei’s final go ahead command to the Quds Force the night before the attack, i.e. end of election day.
3. Intelligence and operational coordination for this missile attack was made through the prime ministry office and the regime’s ambassador in Baghdad as well as commanders of the terrorist Quds Force. Only through using state resources attackers would have been capable of preparing an exact plan to fire over 40 missiles. In typical terrorist operations in the cities, 107mm missiles are fired only in a limited number using one-barrel launch pads. Moreover, attack was launched in the middle of the day and rush hour and the site of launching the attack was a high security area. Preparing a launch pad to fire requires at least 20 minutes and given the state of security in Baghdad, transfer of this volume of weapons and ammunition passed inspection points needed prior coordination and support from the security forces.
4. This criminal operation was carried out by trained professional teams and according to the plan, residents’ gathering sites and dining facilities were to be attacked at launch hour. Without residents’ preparedness and watchfulness, casualties would have been much higher.
5. The way the attack was carried out and the missile impact points demonstrate that attackers had detailed information from inside Camp Liberty and places of gathering of the residents. Previously, residents had numerously objected to Kobler’s special agents harassing acts in taking pictures and films for no reason. In Liberty’s Daily Report of May 30, 2013, sent to U.S., European and UN officials one reads: "Today one of UNAMI's Monitors by the name Masoud Durrani in his multiple visits to the camp was taking a lot of photos from living places of the residents and streets in a strange manner. All the residents were doubtful of such an act of taking pictures and were saying it is not clear why he is taking pictures in such manner while this team is in the camp every day and there is nothing new for them and what is behind such photo and how Martin Kobler is going to misuse these pictures."
6. While Martin Kobler’s special agents, especially an individual called Masoud Durrani, were in Camp Liberty on a daily basis harassing residents, their sudden absence on the day of the attack (June 15) raises many questions.
7. On May 29 at the European parliament Martin Kobler wickedly stated: “The European Parliament that I thought stands for human rights,… overlooks the structures in Camp Liberty where people are kept in sections, having 30 canteens in order to prevent all the people gathering in one canteen,... Is this a human rights policy?”
8. Subsequently, residents in their statement with 3000 signatures stressed: “We call on the U.S. government, United Nations and European Union to impel the Iraqi government to agree with the construction of a mortar-resistant dining facility with a capacity of 3,000 people... all at our own expense. .... We will then most certainly close down all 30 dining halls claimed by Mr. Kobler.... While the Iraqi government has not agreed with any of our protective necessities in Liberty and not even one T-wall has been brought into the camp and Mr. Kobler hasn’t raised any objections to this issue and has feloniously cloaked this fact in the European Parliament, he intends to gather us in an unprotected dining facility so we would become targets of the regime’s massacre. This is called collaboration with the henchman.”
9. In the four months since the February 9 missile attack, residents and their representatives warned the Secretary-General, as well as other UN and US officials in dozens of letters that future attacks are on the way and requested security measures in Liberty and the returning of residents to Camp Ashraf. The Government of Iraq explicitly declared that it is incapable of preventing missile attacks on Liberty (AP – February 9). Elements of the terrorist Quds Force in Iraq assumed responsibility for the February 9 attack and declared that they would hit Liberty again (Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Hayat, and AP of February 25-26, 2013). These hirelings stipulated that they implement their military operations upon Khamenei’s orders and “promised they would inflict a second crippling blow on the PMOI” and stressed: “We consider striking and killing them as a religious and ethical duty and we would target them again in near future.”
10. On April 30, the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance Mrs. Maryam Rajavi wrote to United States President stating the the April 29, 2013 rocket attack “was a serious warning as far as the safety and security of more than 3,000 defenseless residents are concerned. Some 80 days after the previous missile assault, the Iraqi government has prevented the implementation of security measures at Liberty. Neither a single T-Wall has been returned, nor have the protective helmets and vests been allowed to be brought from Ashraf. The residents have not been permitted to engage in construction or expand the area of the Camp and denied permission to transfer their medical equipment from Ashraf to Liberty. Camp Liberty is only 0.2 square miles and consists entirely of trailers that are very vulnerable to missiles, rockets and mortars. Since there are no immediate prospects for the resettlement of all the residents to the United States or Europe, the only practical option to avert another massacre and to ensure the safety and security of the residents is their temporary return to Ashraf and gradual resettlement from there."
11. On May 5, 2013, residents’ representative wrote to U.S. Secretary of State: “As the current crisis in Iraq has made Al-Maliki even more dependent on the orders of the Iranian regime and because of Kobler's positions, more bloodshed is inevitable. The only way to avoid it is an active US intervention and specifically taking immediate measure for the return of the residents to Ashraf, the removal of Kobler from the residents dossier and undertaking the responsibility of the Ashraf and Liberty dossier by the UNHCR within the mandate of the UN.”
12. On May 3, 2013, Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras, Vice-President of the European Parliament and President of the International Committee In Search of Justice, wrote to the U.S. Secretary of State: “The firing of 20 missiles at Liberty on April 29, that fortunately left no human casualties, showed once again that Liberty residents have no security and Liberty is prone to massacre at any given time… the residents’ vulnerability is much higher than that of regular Iraqi citizens because all there is at Liberty are trailers, the population concentration is very high, and more importantly, due to the prison conditions at Liberty, the residents have no escape and are confined to Liberty’s perimeters at the time of danger.”
13. Since the first missile attack on the camp on February 9, 2013, the residents and their representatives have urged for providing of five minimum security necessities at Liberty by writing hundreds of letters and also through meetings and contacts with UN, US and Iraqi officials. These necessities included: returning T-walls, transferring protective helmets and vests from Ashraf to Liberty, transfer of primary medical equipment, allowing minimum construction in Liberty, and increasing camp area. On 16 April 2013 the GOI representative, in the presence of UNHCR representative and UNAMI deputy, agreed with the transfer of tall T-walls. Following a May 8 visit by a delegation of UNAMI officers and representatives of Government of Iraq from gathering sites of Camp Liberty, they informed residents’ representatives that they have only approved entry of 2600 T-walls for protection of gathering sites. Finally, the GOI representative announced in the presence of UNAMI and UNHCR representatives that all minimum necessities had been rejected.

14. The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran announced on 5 April 2013 that after his visit to Iraq, Heydar Moselhi, mullahs’ intelligence minister, had stressed in his report to Khamenei’s office, Maliki and Faleh Fayyaz have reassured him that they would treat residents of Camp Liberty in the harshest way and that returning of the protective T-walls, extending the area of Camp Liberty and construction in the camp, as well as the entering of sandbags requested by the PMOI to increase the security factor in Camp Liberty would be prohibited.”

15. Martin Kobler, who is well aware of Iraqi government’s disregard to minimum security necessities, in at least eleven letters to residents’ representative after the missile attack and in his speeches at the Security Council and the European parliament, in amazing falsifications, bragged about his efforts to provide security to Camp Liberty, the progress made, and the good intentions of Iraq. On March 4 he wrote to residents’ representative: “we fully support your requests to improve security in camp liberty at the highest levels.”
And then on March 15 he again wrote: “we continue to fully support your security demands vis a vis the government of iraq. i hear progress has been made during the last week. we continue to follow up during the week to come” Kobler’s deputy wrote on April 11: “Work under way for improving security at CL, followed closely by our monitors, is progressing.”
On April 13 Kobler wrote: “I have in front of me the latest statistics on where we stand on large t-walls, small t-walls, bunkers, sandbags, personal protection equipment (PPE) and the emergency equipment in the clinic.” He craftily implies that part of the essential security requests of residents has been implemented.
16. It is crystal clear that by preventing the provision of essential security necessities, the GOI intends to inflict more casualties on the PMOI in further attacks. This is a point the residents have warned of time and again. On 15 March 2013, more than 3000 residents wrote to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “While threats by the Iranian regime and its elements and hirelings in Iraq for future attacks on Liberty continue, the Iraqi government stonewalls the least protective measures in the camp. It has not allowed a single T-wall into the camp. Likewise, it prevents transfer of our protective vests and helmets from Ashraf… thereby intentionally left the containers vulnerable to any attack. There is no doubt the goal of Iranian regime and the GOI is to inflict further casualties on us in later attacks.”
On June 11 and after the GOI announced its opposition to all minimum necessities, the NCRI announced, “its opposition to the minimum security provisions at Camp Liberty vividly demonstrates that this government not only lacks any intention to resolve Liberty residents’ problems with their protection, but in fact wishes them to suffer most damage in future attacks.”
17. Both PMOI members who were slain on June 15 were hit inside their trailers by shrapnel; also, the wounded were injured mainly due to shrapnel hitting trailers. In some cases, a small shrapnel had passed through 3-4 trailers and then hit an individual. Had the T-walls not taken away, none of the residents would have been killed and the number of injured would have been much less. If the residents had personal protective equipment such as helmets and vests, those who were hit on their head, face and chest by shrapnel would have not been injured.
18. Following the February 9th attack, the GOI agreed on 500 small bunkers to be brought into the camp from the area around Liberty. However, after bringing a number of them, the GOI stopped their transfer two months ago. The number of transferred bunkers into the camp is very insufficient to face emergency conditions.
19. Comparing the two missile attacks against Camp Liberty on February 9 and June 15, 2003, which left 10 killed and more than 170 injured, with the 22 attacks against Camp Ashraf during years 1992-2011, including attacks by SCUD-B missiles and some air attacks that left only one killed, shows how insecure Camp Liberty is and opposing the transfer of residents to Ashraf is a deliberate grand crime.
20. Therefore, because of residents’ warnings, as well as the stance of the Iraqi government and threats by groups affiliated with the Quds Force, doubtless the attack of June 15 on Camp Liberty was predictable for both UN and U.S. and hence preventable. Thus they are deeply responsible for this attack and its casualties. The following facts clearly demonstrate that the United States and the United Nations in view of international law, in view of law derived from bilateral and multilateral compacts, and politically are thoroughly responsible for protection of PMOI members in Liberty and Ashraf:
a) The U.S. government and the MNF-I acknowledged status of all Ashraf residents in 2004 as protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
b) The U.S. government has signed an agreement with each and every Ashraf resident assuming responsibility for their protection in return for consolidation of their weapons until their final disposition.
c) According to U.S. Secretary of State’s statement of 25 December 2011, as well as her messages to provide safety and security to Ashraf residents, they accepted relocation to Camp Liberty. In that statement Ms. Clinton emphasized: “officials from U.S. Embassy Baghdad will visit regularly and frequently.” Since February 9, 2013, U.S. representatives have only visited Camp Liberty twice.
d) In the quadrangle agreement between the U.S., UN, Iraq and Ashraf residents on 17 August 2012, U.S. obligated itself to support “safety and security” of residents. Based on this agreement groups six, seven and eight went from Ashraf to Camp Liberty.
e) Based on repeated statements by UNHCR, all Liberty residents are asylum-seekers and people of concern and should enjoy international protection. In its March 1, 2013 statement UNHCR stressed the need to provide a safe and healthy environment to residents.
Given the abovementioned and the fact that similar attacks to those on February 9, April 29, and June 15 may happen at any moment and any day, the Iranian Resistance once again calls for immediate action by the international community, especially the U.S. and the UN, to return Liberty residents to Ashraf and their transfer from Ashraf to third countries.

Terrorist Attack on Camp Hurriya in Iraq

Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 15, 2013

The United States strongly condemns today’s brutal, senseless, and utterly unacceptable rocket attack on Camp Hurriya that killed and injured camp residents.
At the highest levels, we have personally urged the Government of Iraq to render all possible medical assistance to the victims and ensure the safety of the camp’s residents, consistent with its commitments and obligations. We’ve also called on the Government of Iraq to investigate this attack and bring the terrorists responsible to justice.
We are consulting with the Government of Iraq and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to ascertain the full extent of this unprovoked terrorist attack.
No matter the circumstances, on this point we remain absolute: the United States remains committed to assisting the Government of Iraq and UNAMI in implementing the December 25, 2011 agreement to quickly relocate the residents of Camp Hurriya outside Iraq. We must find a permanent and long term solution that ensures their safety.

Press release

Foreign Office Minister condemns Camp Liberty attack in Iraq


Published:16 June 2013
Minister: Alistair Burt MP
World location: Iraq
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-minister-condemns-attack-on-camp-liberty-in-iraq
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt calls on Government of Iraq to fully investigate the attack yesterday on Camp Liberty in Iraq.
Responding to the news of the attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq, FCO Minister for Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said:
I strongly condemn the attack on Camp Liberty that took place in Iraq yesterday. The British Government calls on the Government of Iraq to fully investigate the attack and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
We also call on the Iraqi Government to do all that they can to ensure the security and safety of the residents of Camp Liberty.

 

Baird Warns of Growing Violence in Iraq

June 16, 2013 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
Canada condemns in the strongest terms the most recent attack on civilians at Camp Liberty. We call on the Government of Iraq to take urgent steps to improve security for this vulnerable population, investigate the terrorism behind this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Canada supports international efforts to strengthen the security at Camp Liberty and urges patience until residents can be relocated.
Canada is deeply concerned by the growing intensity of sectarian attacks in recent weeks. In an increasingly fragile region, Iraq’s future is threatened by the deteriorating situation in Syria and the aggressive ambitions of Iran.
“I am confident that Iraq's leaders—and the Iraqi people—will prevail against the threat of sectarian conflict.”
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
Follow us on Twitter: @DFAIT_MAECI

 

MEP Struan Stevenson condemns 'vicious' Liberty attack

Published on Wednesday, 19 June 2013 14:50
NCRI - Leading MEP Struan Stevenson has condemned the latest 'vicious' rocket attack on Camp Liberty which left two dead and more than 70 injured - and blamed Iran for ordering it.
Mr Stevenson - president of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq and of chairman of its Friends of a Free Iran - said the camp's residents must now be urgently returned to Ashraf before more lives are lost.
He said in a statement: "The most recent terrorist attack on June 15 which left two dead and more than 70 people wounded, proved once more that the most urgent question now is the security and safety of the 3,100 people of the Iranian opposition People's Mujahedin of Iran trapped in Camp Liberty.
"The only practical solution, while relocation isn't happening, is to return them to Ashraf.
"Reports indicate that the Iranian regime's Quds force, instructed by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in coordination with security forces of the Iraqi government, took part in this vicious attack during lunch time Saturday, firing 40 rockets on the defenseless Iranian refugees.
"This atrocity was planned to coincide with the Iranian regime's sham presidential election. Together with many colleagues in European Parliament, we had repeatedly written to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warning that another atrocity was imminent and that his discredited envoy in Iraq, Martin Kobler, was spending more time appeasing the brutal and venal governments of Iraq and Iran, than looking after the interest of these 3,100 refugees, who were supposed to be in his care."
He also described the attack as a 'major indictment' of the failure of the UN to protect the refugees.
He added: "Not a single hard hat or armored vest has been provided to the residents of Camp Liberty, despite our repeated pleas following the past two rocket attacks, one of which in February took the lives of eight people. Not a single concrete T-wall has been restored to the camp, despite the fact that thousands of them are in the immediate vicinity of Liberty."
More than 300 MEPs had now signed a statement criticizing Baroness Ashton and the EU Member States who have remained silent since this crime was committed, and thereby permitting the Iranian regime and the government of Iraq to continue with their program of murder and aggression, Mr Stevenson said.
He continued: "It seems more than ever that the rapid transfer to third countries of these refugees is a myth and despite Martin Kobler's false promises, after one and a half years, only half a percent of the whole population have been moved outside of Iraq."
Similar condemnations the attack have been issued by governments in Britain, Italy, Canada and the US.

 

 

UNHCR Chief Guterres strongly condemns second deadly attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq


Press Releases, 15 June 2013
15 June 2013 The High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres strongly condemns today's rocket attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq that reportedly killed two people and wounded dozens.
This is the second deadly attack on Camp Liberty this year. The first, on 9 February, claimed the lives of eight people and left scores injured.
"This is another unacceptable and horrific act of violence," Mr. Guterres said. He also expresses his deep condolences to the families of the victims and his sympathy and concern for the injured.
"I call on the Iraqi Government to take immediate measures to ensure the safety and security of the residents and to prevent any further such attacks," he said.
The High Commissioner also calls on all countries to help find urgent solutions for the Camp Liberty residents.

 

UN officials strongly condemn attack on Iranian exile camp in Iraq

15 June 2013 – Two United Nations officials today strongly condemned an attack on Camp Liberty, an Iranian exile camp in Iraq, and called on the Government to assist and protect camp residents in need.
According to media reports two people were killed and dozens injured in a mortar attack to the camp, which is located near western Baghdad.
The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Martin Kobler and the country representative for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Claire Bourgeois, said they are “deeply concerned that today's tragic violence has occurred despite their repeated requests to the Government of Iraq to provide Camp Liberty and its residents with protective measures, including T-Walls.”
More than 3,000 residents, most of them members of a group known as the People's Mojahedeen of Iran, are temporarily housed in Camp Liberty – a transit facility also know as Camp Hurriya – while UNHCR carries out a process to determine their refugee status.
The camp had previously been attacked in February while most of the residents were sleeping. The attack resulted in six deaths and various injuries.
Camp residents were previously situated at Camp Ashraf in eastern Iraq, but were relocated last year, in line with an agreement signed in December 2011 between the UN and the Iraqi Government.
Mr. Kobler reminded the Government of its responsibility to guarantee the security and safety of Camp Liberty as well as Camp Ashraf's residents, throughout the relocation process.
He also called on authorities to do everything possible to provide immediate assistance to the injured.
“Today's second terror attack on camp Liberty is a reminder to third countries to come forward with serious offers to resettle Camp Liberty residents outside Iraq,” Mr. Kobler said. “Third countries must step forward and open their doors to relocation.”

PUBLIC STATEMENT
Iraq government urged to investigate deadly attack on Camp Liberty
AI Index: MDE 14/010/2013                                              Date: 17/06/2013
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE14/010/2013/en/ce1e0b37-251c-42d0-af48-bda5275b1af2/mde140102013en.html
Amnesty International urges the authorities in Iraq to immediately investigate Saturday’s rocket attack on Camp Liberty which reportedly left two residents dead and dozens injured.
In the early afternoon of 15 June 2013 Camp liberty, home of around 3200 Iranian exiles, came under rocket attacks. Kolthoum Sarahati, a female resident, reportedly died instantly in the attack. A second resident, Javad Naghashan, is believed to have died later in hospital as a result of his injuries. At least 27 others were said to have been injured during the attack.
This is the latest in a series of attacks on the Iranian exiles. On 9 February 2013 Camp Liberty was attacked with dozens of rockets which left eight residents dead and scores wounded. No investigation is known to have been initiated by the government. In April 2011, Iraqi troops stormed Camp Ashraf in Diyala governorate, which had housed the Iranian exiles for many years before they were moved to Camp Liberty near Baghdad Airport. The troops used arbitrary and abusive force, including live ammunition, against the residents who tried to resist them. At least 36 people were killed and more than 300 injured. The government failed to conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigation into the incident, which is contrary to international standards, including the UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions.
Under international law the Iraqi government is obliged to protect Camp Liberty residents who are asylum seekers undergoing refugee status determination process. In previous attacks on Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty, the government failed to investigate such attacks and no one has ever been brought to account for them. In fact, senior Iraqi government officials have in the past, including during visits to Iran, made it clear that the Camp residents were not welcomed in Iraq.
Background: Camp Ashraf was the home of some 3400 Iranian exiles, mostly members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) who were allowed to move to Iraq by Saddam Hussain’s government in the 1980s. After the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq the Camp and its residents were placed under US protection but this ended in mid-2009 following an agreement between the US authorities and the Iraqi government. Barely a month later, on 28-29 July 2009, Iraqi security forces stormed into the camp; at least nine residents were killed and many more were injured. Thirty-six residents who were detained were allegedly tortured and beaten. In 2011 the Iraqi government announced the closure of Camp Ashraf after relocating its residents to a new location, Camp Liberty in north-east of Baghdad.

 

Al-Azhar 'statement on attack on PMOI (MEK) movement camp'

Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2013 08:42
Source: Al-Azhar* Al-Sharif website
"Al-Azhar underscores that would follow up news media reports on the attack that targeted Camp Liberty and left dozens killed and wounded, the camp in which the Iranian refugees from the opposition to the Iranian government from the Mujaheddin-e Khalq movement are residing.

With purely humanitarian motives, Al-Azhar condemns this behavior contrary to the universally agreed laws and customs, and calls for maintaining the security and safety of refugees everywhere, and maintaining their human dignity, and preserving their human rights regardless of their intellectual and political circumstances."

Al-Azhar University is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world

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