Committee on Foreign Affairs

Statement on the Relocation Process of Camp Ashraf Asylum Seekers

By Tahar Boumedra

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - September 13, 2012

For the past three and a half years I have served first as chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Human Rights Office and then as adviser to the Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq (SRSG), monitoring, among other things, the human rights and the humanitarian situation of 3,400 Iranian exiles who have made their home north of Baghdad since 1986 at a place called Camp Ashraf. Iraq’s government has decided to terminate their presence in Iraq and required them to vacate Camp Ashraf. UNAMI has been facilitating their temporary relocation to a former base in Baghdad called Camp Liberty, with the purported task of conducting “refugee status determination” for all of these people and ensuring that international norms of human and humanitarian rights are maintained.

Press Release - Struan Stevenson (MEP)

Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:06

The US, UN, and EU Should Strongly Condemn Attack on Ashraf Residents
&
US Observers Should Be Present In All Phases of Transfer

Yesterday’s attack on Camp Ashraf residents by Iraqi forces causing injury to 20 residents, once again reveals the ominous intentions of the Iranian regime and its collaborators in Iraq. According to pictures and video clips, Iraqi SWAT forces (wearing all-black uniforms) attacked the defenceless residents, who had gathered with their personal belongings to be inspected before moving to Camp Liberty at the specific request of the US and UN. The Iraqi thugs attacked the residents with sticks, clubs, and rocks. The residents’ only apparent offence was to object to the theft of their belongings by the Iraqi forces during their tedious inspections.

Press Release: The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom

MPs: State Department demand for Iranian dissidents to evacuate Ashraf without their minimum humanitarian needs is unjust

More than 100 cross-Party Parliamentarians on Saturday rejected the call by the U.S. State Department on members of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK) to vacate Camp Ashraf, their home for the past 26 years, without meeting their humanitarian needs. The MPs and Peers described the demand by the State Department as unjust.

European Parliament rejects Iraqi official's entry to Parliament for role in two Camp Ashraf massacres

Press release

European Parliament rejects Iraqi official's entry to Parliament for role in two Camp Ashraf massacres

Euro MPs reveal the false reports given by Iraqi Government in the meeting

Brussels- 19 June 2012 - The monthly meeting of the Delegation for Relations with Iraq in the European Parliament, chaired by MEP Struan Stevenson, was held this morning. A large number of Iraqi Government officials from Baghdad were present, some from a special committee within Prime Minister Maliki's office, responsible for Camp Ashraf.

Several members of the delegation were from the military, including generals, colonels and intelligence officials. Among this delegation was Colonel Al-Farhan Sadiq Mohammed Katum/Kazem, who is the Iraqi Governmental head of Camp Liberty and has been summoned by the Spanish National Court for his role in the two massacres of July 2009 and April 2011in Ashraf.

Power Generator Stolen From Ashraf and Transferred to Iraqi Battalion

Monday, 14 May 2012 20:17

Iraqis Empty Containers Going to Liberty from Hygienic Material and Food Items letting them Spoil in 45 Degree Heat

Now that nearly two third of Camp Ashraf residents have moved to Liberty, Iraqi forces have already started to loot and plunder the belongings of Ashraf residents.

On Saturday, May12, Iraqi forces stole a 100MWatt power generator from the north section of the camp using a crane installed on a Berli vehicle. They transferred the power generator to the headquarters of Iraqi battalion stationed at the camp entrance.

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