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A brief about Ashraf

Shahriar Kia - 5/3/2009

Facts about the Ashraf camp for Iranian opposition in Iraq:

1-The imposed limitations and embargo on Ashraf are still in place to "make the life intolerable" for residents of Ashraf. Except for food and medicine every other necessities for the residents has been prohibited to enter to Ashraf. These pressures have been concentrated on Ashraf through Iraqi government by the Iranian regime to tighten the rope around Ashraf residents. But vis-à-vis this pressures, as you may be aware, a widespread international campaign has been organized in many countries by many humanitarian organizations, parliamentarians from various countries and Iranian people and even inside Iran and inside prisons (Photos and video clippings are available). The campaigns are calling on Iraqi government to recognize the rights of Ashraf residents to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Now Ashraf is under the international monitoring by public opinions all around the world from US to Europe, Asia to Africa and Australia as well. Letters and statements flooding the Iraqi prime Minister's office are reminding the government for its commitments towards residents of Ashraf. Following the resolution adopted by the European Parliament which represents a European viewpoint on Ashraf has been supported by many international humanitarian and political organizations.

2-Rubaie said in his interview with Al-Iraqia TV, on March 21, 2009 that "there is a group of them- may be 5 or 15 or 20 or 25 people – who are the leaders and have control over the others. Absolute majority of the camp residents may have been brainwashed; they are definitely brainwashed and want to return to their country. When we remove this cover, i.e. those who brainwash them, the absolute majority are likely to leave."



Based on this absurd claim, Rubaie, as his main duty, capitalized on closing down Ashraf as was demanded by the by Iranian mullah's Supreme leader. But in response to this reckless claim, the PMOI leadership officially welcomed private interviews with every individual residents of Ashraf by representatives of Iraqi government to hear directly each person's choice and decision. The Interviews took place just outside Ashraf in compound under full control of Iraqi forces and were conducted by the Human Rights Ministry, Finally, 99.7% of the PMOI members residing in Ashraf declared that they have decided to stay in Ashraf and did not accept any other option by any cost. The final result of weeks of interviews foiled the conspiracy that was conducted by Iranian regime and its proxies in Iraq. In addition, all allegations of "brainwashing" and "a small group controlling the majority" which were made by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and security (MOIS) to pave the way for a humanitarian catastrophe in Ashraf has prove futile.

3-Another allegation fabricated by the Iranian regime against the PMOI in order to oppress and launch attacks against residents is that the PMOI keeps weapons and ammunitions inside Ashraf.

In his interview with Al-Furat Television (run by the SIIC, affiliated with the Iranian regime), on April 1, 2009, Rubaie said that: "…But, Iraqi security forces will enter the camp gradually and will set up control posts and will run patrols and will start searching, and then they will launch attacks, because we are not really sure; there might be weapons inside the camp, and also terrorists may also be inside the camp; we do not have a clear picture about inside the camp".

The PMOI offered in an official letter its readiness to the Iraqi government to search freely all places inside Ashraf for any kind of weapons or ammunitions. Subsequently, special units from Iraqi Interior Ministry with trained dogs searched inch by inch of Ashraf for three days consecutive days in early April. The final conclusion was a written document signed by the commander of the unit saying that they did not find any weapon or ammunition in Ashraf except a box of rotten fireworks kit. That was also another blow to the Mullahs conspiracy against us.



4- Al-Arabia TV, April 28, 2009 said:"Discussions over dismissal of Muwaffaq al-Rubaie and ending the contract of National Security Advisor continue. He rejects other concepts and says it was just the termination of a contract; however some say his insistence on assisting Iran by taking stances against the PMOI precipitated his retirement. …Political circles suggest various reasons about al-Rubaie retirement; for example his campaign for handing over the PMOI to Iran put Iraq’s insistence on such positions before a big international impediment. "



5-Noting that the European Parliament adopted its recent resolution in favor of Ashraf residents and urged Prime Minister Maliki to end blockade of the Camp and respect the rights of the people of Ashraf as protected persons under the 4th Geneva Conventions.

Since the final result of the interviews showed clearly that all residents insisted they wished to stay in Ashraf and they did not accept any other options, its is essential that the Iraqi government recognizes the rights of residents in the camp and all limitations and embargoes on Ashraf should be lifted as soon as possible.

6-It is neither legal nor legitimate to expect the residents of Ashraf to give up their fundamental rights particularly after the resolution adopted by European Parliament insisting that the rights of 3400 people residing in Ashraf should be respected. Respecting the substance of the resolution by the Iraqi government is a yardstick for Iraq's independence from Iranian mullahs. The position have taken by the most prominent political figures, parliamentarian, and tribal leaders in Iraq is another approval that denial of PMOI members' rights in Ashraf is only a demand by Iranian regime.

7- The kind of resistance that Ashraf residents are demonstrating against the Iranian regime's pressures and demands , even at the most difficult times that an opposition could be faced with is the best practical guidance for international community to take a firm policy as the solution to stop Iranian regime's terrorism and fundamentalism threatening global peace.