Monday, 22nd September 2008
Threatened change of security guards in Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq
It has been brought to my attention that Iraqi authorities, following pressures from Tehran, intend to take control and replace US forces currently responsible for guarding Camp Ashraf in northern Iraq. This action may lead to the deportation of the refugees — Iranian dissidents, comprising many intellectuals and political opponents of the regime, who have fled the brutality of the Iranian regime. Deportation of political refugees constitutes a breach of international law under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The European Parliament Resolution of 12 July 2007 (P6_TA(2007)0357(1)) on the humanitarian situation of Iraqi refugees (paragraph 7) deals specifically with this: ‘[The European Parliament] … Strongly rejects the threats of expulsion and cutting off supplies of fuel and drinking water made by some senior officials in the Iraqi Government against 4000 members of the Iranian opposition who have been political refugees in Iraq for the past 20 years and have the legal status of “Protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention” and calls on the Iraqi Government to respect their rights under international law.’
If the security of Ashraf is transferred to the Iraqi army, it is likely that these individuals, who are members of the elite political opposition to the Iranian theocracy, may be deported and will face lengthy imprisonment or execution. Five million Iraqis have petitioned the Government to respect their rights in Iraq, but the Iraqi Government is keen to have excellent relations with its neighbour and has largely ignored Iranian involvement in the insurgency and even a missile attack on Camp Ashraf on 4 July 2008, allegedly perpetrated by Iran.
Is the Commission aware of this matter and what action is it taking to make sure that the European Parliament resolution is passed on to US and Iraqi Governments and that Multi-National Force-Iraq will continue to protect Ashraf residents?
