STOP CRIME AGAINST HUMNAITY IN IRAQ

Camp Ashraf residents, political dissidents of the Iranian religious dictatorship, at risk of forcible displacement within Iraq:

A Plot by Tehran to Massacre them

H. E. Ban Ki-moon

Secretary General

United Nations

Dear Secretary General,

During the deadly crackdown against defenseless residents of Camp Ashraf on July 28-29, security forces of the Iraqi government killed 11, wounded 500 and abducted 36 residents.

Unfortunately, the Iraqi government has shown that it is neither bound to any international laws nor even to its domestic laws and has violated its commitments to the international community regarding treating Ashraf residents humanely.

Despite three explicit verdicts by the court for their release, the 36 residents of Ashraf, who were taken hostage during the attacks on 28 and 29 July, were unlawfully kept in detention. Eventually, they were returned to Ashraf on October 7, after 72 days of hunger strike, including seven days of dry hunger strike and following an extensive global campaign. Many of these hostages were only a few hours away from death according to doctors’ certificate.

In blatant disregard for international laws and conventions, the Iraqi government is attempting to forcibly displace and exile the Ashraf residents to Samawa desserts in southern Iraq. As you are aware, threatening and forcible displacement is in breach of International Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, and Geneva conventions. Such a measure would lead to a deadly attack and massacre of Ashraf residents at a scale much more extensive than what happened in July.

Undoubtedly, insistence on displacing Ashraf residents inside Iraq only meets the interests of the Iranian regime that is planning for massacre of Ashraf residents hereby. As members of British Parliament also announced, “The Iranian regime has dictated to the Government of Iraq that Ashraf residents must be displaced to another location called Samawa in southern Iraq, close to Saudi border, and if the camp residents do not agree with the displacement, the Iraqi government will use force for the displacement like the attack on July 28 and 29.”

Dear Secretary General,

In order to prevent another crime against innocent residents of Ashraf, we call on your honor to do your utmost to meet the following legitimate demands:

1. The UN announces that displacing Ashraf residents, as protected persons, inside Iraq is prohibited, and asks the Government of Iraq to stop the forcible displacement of Ashraf residents;
2.  The U.S. forces or a UN force consisting of European and Arab countries guarantee that the Ashraf residents will not be subject to attack, violence and forcible displacement inside Iraq;
3. It must be made clear to the Iraqi officials that violence and assault on defenseless residents of Ashraf is in breach of international law, a crime against humanity, and fulfillment of Iranian regime’s demands;
4. The Iraqi government should officially recognize the rights of Ashraf residents, especially the acceptance of European Parliament’s resolution of April 24, 2009 regarding Ashraf.