CIA/MOSSAD backed terrorists spokesman in Washington promises Clinton full backing of US Congress if she corrects herself by openly backing the terrorist group
After 27 killed in mosque,
CIA/MOSSAD backed terrorists’ spokesman in Washington
promises Clinton full backing of US Congress if she corrects herself
by openly backing the terrorist group
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... Political sources said that the Pakistan-based Jundollah terrorist group, directly sponsored and supported by Washington, has claimed responsibility for the attacks ... An arrest warrant has been issued against 39 leaders and members of the organisation including the PMOI's head Massoud Rajavi, due to evidence that confirms they committed crimes against humanity ...
Legislator: Foreign States' Involvement in Zahedan Blasts "Clear"
Head of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi made the remarks in a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Livia Leu Agosti, referring to the twin blasts in a mosque in Zahedan in Sistan and Balouchestan province in which 27 were killed and hundreds more were injured.
Political sources said that the Pakistan-based Jundollah terrorist group, directly sponsored and supported by Washington, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Boroujerdi further noted the confessions made by Jundollah ringleader Abdolmalek Rigi about the United States' support for Jundollah's terrorist attacks inside Iran, and reiterated that the involvement of foreign elements in the recent blasts in Zahedan is "fully obvious".
(…)
Abdolmalek Rigi confessed after his arrest in late February that his group was assisted and supported by the US and disclosed that he was on route to Bishkek to meet a high-ranking US official at a nearby military base when he was arrested by Iranian security forces.
Rigi also said that he and the US official were going to discuss new terrorist attacks on Iranian territory …
Great opportunity for Clinton to have full backing of Congress
… A federal appeals court Friday ordered the State Department to review its decision to label an Iranian opposition group as a foreign terrorist organization, strongly suggesting the designation should be revoked
The court cast doubt on some of those assertions and said the group must be given the opportunity to rebut the allegations.
"This is a great opportunity for [Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton] to correct a wrong. She would have the backing of Congress," said Alireza Jafarzadeh, a former spokesman for the group …
(Massoud Rajavi, Maryam Rajavi, Mojahedin Khalq leaders wanted for crimes against humanity)
... "An arrest warrant has been issued against 39 leaders and members of the organisation including the PMOI's head Massoud Rajavi, due to evidence that confirms they committed crimes against humanity," said Judge Mohammed Abdul-Sahib, a spokesman of the Iraqi High Tribunal. Rajavi's wife Maryam, leader of the French-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the PMOI's political wing, was also included in the warrant, Abdul Sahib added ...
Ali Reza Jafarzadeh, front man for the MKO and the NCRI in the United States, is still being introduced by the Fox News Network as their independent Iran analyst. Fox News' insistence on using this individual has prompted ridicule by many in the media and in political circles. Fox News has clearly decided that using this notorious man is more important for their pay masters than maintaining their reputation as a serious broadcaster. Or it could be that the Network has no other choice in its decision making except to consent to this scandal. Whatever the reason, Fox News has refused to answer any questions about it.
For those who have still any doubts about the issue, below is a brief biography of the notorious terrorist whom Fox News introduces as its analyst.
Jafarzadeh and Mohaddessin representing MKO (picture from Mojahedin/NCRI clandestine newspaper)
Alireza Jafarzadeh was born in Mashad (Iran) and moved to the USA before the 1979 revolution in Iran. He began there as a student of Civil Engineering. But he soon became engaged with the Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in the US. The MKO is designated by the US, UK, EU and many other countries as a terrorist entity in part because of the MKO's affiliation with the regime of Saddam Hussein. MKO activities include the massacre of Iraqi Kurds and Marsh Arabs in March 1991 after Gulf War I, and co-operation with Iraqi Intelligence in hiding WMDs from UN weapons inspectors. Jafarzadeh worked for the MKO in several countries including Iraq. He was promoted to the position of spokesman for the MKO in the US which then gave him a position as member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the MKO's political wing, which is also designated in the US as a terrorist entity.
Jafarzadeh quickly became a devoted member of the MKO and on the order of the organization's Ideological (or cult) Leader, Massoud Rajavi, married Robabeh Sadeghi of Babol, Iran, after she fled her country in 1986. In 1990, Massoud Rajavi ordered all MKO members to divorce for ideological reasons. Jafarzadeh and Sadeghi, were divorced on his command.
Jafarzadeh was such a committed member that he repeatedly volunteered for suicide operations. In the MKO publication No. 127, he is quoted as saying that he is ready to burn himself in front of the UN's New York office whenever it is needed for the MKO's cause.
In 1988, together with 15 other MKO members in the US, Jafarzadeh left for Iraq to participate in the Eternal Light military operation. He served in Hossein Abrishamchi's military unit in Iraq and undertook terrorist training in an Iraqi camp called Zaboli Camp. After the MKO's disastrous defeat in this operation, he was sent back to the US.
In a press conference on 24 March 1991, Jafarzadeh explained the details of one particular MKO operation in Iraqi Kurdistan (Operation Morvarid). This was soon exposed, by Human Rights Watch among others, as the deliberate massacre of Kurdish civilians by the MKO on the direct orders of Saddam Hussein.
Some months later, MKO radio announced Jafarzadeh had been made a Deputy Executive member of the MKO. His name along with his paramilitary rank was also published in MKO newspapers.
In 1992, with the help of Saddam Hussein's Intelligence Service, Jafarzadeh traveled to Pakistan to negotiate and establish new relations between the MKO and one of the war lords of Baluchestan (on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border). The relation was established in order to facilitate sending terrorist teams into Iran for paramilitary terrorist operations. Jafarzadeh was the broker for this deal and in person paid some of the tribal chiefs on behalf of Iraqi Intelligence.
From 1998 Jafarzadeh has been introduced as a member of the NCRI (MKO) Foreign Affairs Committee. In 1992 he took part in interviews (including an interview with Voice of America Radio) as the NCRI representative.
Jafarzadeh also attended a meeting in Washington in 2001. The meeting was organized by the MKO to protest inclusion of their name in the US administration's list of terrorist organizations. Jafarzadeh was the MKO's speaker at this meeting to explain their position.
Fox News now introduces Jafarzadeh as either their employee or as the head of a consultancy company. But as recently as 2002 the same man was interviewed by Fox News as the MKO's representative in the US Congress.
There are serious allegations that Jafarzadeh has been involved in illegal deals in the USA, including deals involving chemicals which can be used to produce WMDs. There are also allegations that the MKO, with him as its representative, have been involved in serious money laundering and drug trafficking in the USA. These allegations, as well as his and Fox News' dodgy connections in Washington, are currently under investigation.
In August 2002, an exile group known as the National Council of Resistance of Iran summoned reporters to Washington's Willard Hotel for a morning briefing. The group's spokesman, Alireza Jafarzadeh, charged that Iran was building two new secret nuclear facilities: a heavy-water plant near the town of Arak and a large plant to fabricate uranium fuel in the desert near the town of Natanz.
Mr. Jafarzadeh was comfortable in Washington's power corridors, much like Ahmed Chalabi, the exiled Iraqi who provided much of the now-discredited information on Iraq's weapons program. He was educated at the University of Michigan and the University of Texas and for years he kept a small office at the National Press Club. He has since parlayed his expertise into a slot as a paid analyst for Fox News. But the council's military wing was on the State Department's terrorism list for a history of political killings and ties to Saddam Hussein.
Mr. Jafarzadeh's information tracked closely with what U.S. officials already knew. But in the summer of 2002 they had their hands full with Iraq and North Korea. When asked about the information that afternoon, a State Department spokesman offered generic criticism of Tehran's activities, noted the council's ties to a terrorist organization and brushed off suggestions that the dangers were comparable to those posed by Iraq.
(the rest of the article, which you should read if you subsribe to the WSJ, is a great overview of the state of play regarding Iran's nuclear program)
... btw, it's really hard to take Ileana Ros-Lehtinen seriously:
“This group loves the United States. They’re assisting us in the war on terrorism; they’re pro-U.S.,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) in an interview with The Hill.
Or Jafarzadeh himself:
Middle East scholars widely dispute the assessment that the MEK is a legitimate democratic alternative to the Iranian regime. “That’s patently nonsense,” said Michael Ledeen of the American Enterprise Institute.
“I know about support on Capitol Hill for this group, and I think it’s atrocious,” said Dan Brumberg of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “I think it’s due to total ignorance and political manipulation.”
He added: “There’s not much debate [about the MEK] in the academic circles of those who know Iran and Iraq.”
Elahe Hicks of Human Rights Watch said that “many, many Iranians resent” the MEK. “ Because this group is so extremely resented inside Iran, the Iranian government actually benefits from having an opposition group like this,” she said. James Phillips of the Heritage Foundation agreed. “When they sided with Iraq against Iran in the [1980-88] war, that was the kiss of death for their political future. Even Iranians who might have sympathized with them were enraged that they became the junior partner of their longstanding rival,” he said.
“Some of their representatives are very articulate,” Phillips continued, “but they are a terrorist group. They have a longstanding alliance with Saddam Hussein, and they have gone after some of the Kurds at the behest of Saddam Hussein.”
Ros-Lehtinen dismissed U.S. intelligence reports of the group’s involvement in Hussein campaigns against Kurds and Shiites as “hogwash” and “part of the Khatami propaganda machine.”
Washington representatives for the MEK’s political arm, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, disputed news reports that the MEK is aligned with Saddam Hussein. “The relationship has been independent, whether politically, militarily, financially or ideologically,” said Alireza Jafarzadeh. “We have never interfered in the internal affairs of Iraq.”
Emphasis mine. Note Michael Ledeen being on the record against these folks.
And Alireza Jafarzadeh asks permission from the head of the cult (Rajavi) to carry out self immolation and suicide operations anywhere in the world. His letter has been published proudly by the Mojahedin official newspaper.
Mojahedin Khalq Organisation is currently on the list of terrorist organizations in US, UK, European union, Canada and many other countries. The head of the cult has been on the run after the fall of his benefactor Saddam Hussein and his wife Maryam Rajavi is currently under investigation (house arrest) on terrorism related charges in France.
Western supporters of Mojahedin Khalq (MKO, MEK, NCRI, Rajavi cult) must be cautious!
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... “I wished Mr. Bolton could remember the advice of his Neo Cons friends to President Reagan in arming Taliban and Terrorists of Bin Laden against the Soviet Union, and could understand how unwise it is to use terrorists and cults against those who one might consider as enemies. Maryam Rajavi is the cult leader of MEK labeled as Terrorists in US and till recently in EU. Being cult means that they can say anything and pretend to be anybody in hope of reaching to power, and when they do so, they will show their real color. Unfortunately then it is too late for people like Mr. Bolton ...
It is now more than 5 months since some families of the members of Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO – Rajavi cult) based in Ashraf camp in Iraq are protesting in front of the camp and their only wish is to visit their loved ones whom they have not seen in some cases for more than two decades. The leaders of MKO cult have of course denied their plea and on the contrary have called their move a conspiracy plotted by the enemies.
Families picketing in front of Ashraf camp for more than 5 months
Massoud Rajavi the leader of MKO terrorist cult, who was allied with Saddam Hussein, and is on the run since the invasion of Iraq, has called the appeal a circus show and has compared the families to circus animals. These comments were broadcasted in the cult’s satellite television. During this time some mind manipulated elements of the cult residing inside Ashraf camp have tried to intimidate the families and insulted them in several occasions. These actions of course had no impact on the families and did not make them to pull back and on the contrary have made them more decisive to insist on their demands and carry on their picketing until they manage to see their relatives.
The cultic behaviors of MKO and its leaders are quite exposed to those who have even little knowledge about the deeds of this terrorist destructive cult. Several researchers, experts and international bodies do recognize MKO as a cult of personality. MKO is a destructive cult which is threatening its own confined members more than anyone else and has the capacity of creating a human tragedy.
Manipulated elements of MKO cult threatening the families
The families of captive members inside cultic camp of Ashraf have every right to be concerned about their loved ones there. Circus show is exactly what Rajavi has set up in Iraq and innocent people have been moved away from their human nature and have become robots and machines who could be run in any way their desire, and of course the audience of this miserable and sad circus show are the supporters of MKO in the west who try to keep them alive against humanity for their short term benefits.
Rajavi and its associates are undoubtedly the enemies of Iranian people and their positions are clear. But to respond to those who try to keep MKO active and add to the misery and pains of the families and the members in Iraq we just quote Dr. Massoud Banisadr from a website in Britain which has recently been published and we hope it finds its wise addressees:
“I wished Mr. Bolton could remember the advice of his Neo Cons friends to President Reagan in arming Taliban and Terrorists of Bin Laden against the Soviet Union, and could understand how unwise it is to use terrorists and cults against those who one might consider as enemies. Maryam Rajavi is the cult leader of MEK labeled as Terrorists in US and till recently in EU. Being cult means that they can say anything and pretend to be anybody in hope of reaching to power, and when they do so, they will show their real color. Unfortunately then it is too late for people like Mr. Bolton to compensate for their mistakes as catastrophe of cult leaders in power cannot be erased without loss of lives of millions of innocent people. Don’t’ forget that even Hitler came to power using the same democracy that it seems nowadays to be the slogan of Rajavis. Then, there were some Americans and British who were thinking that they can use Hitler against communists and the Soviet Union, but in power Hitler and his cult of personality did what they did. Then it was too late for free world to realize that they cannot trust cult leaders. To reverse their mistakes millions of lives had to be sacrificed. Recent report of American Think Thank RAND for US defense department pointed out very clearly that NCR or MEK under Rajavi is a destructive cult that can change color at any minute to advance its goals. Not long ago their main slogan was death to the US and calling ‘Human Rights’ and ‘liberal democracy’ as ploy of Imperialism against oppressed people, and now they are using the same slogans to gain support of western politicians against Iranian regime. Do we really want friends like this and support cult leaders that soon can change into new enemies like Bin Laden?”
Families of MKO cult members call for help
Sahar Family Foundation in Iraq once again calls the world community, international organizations, human rights activists, public media, and all humanitarian individuals particularly supporters of MKO in the west, who have just seen its misleading appearance and do not know about its wicked nature, to do whatever in their capacity to satisfy the request of the suffering families.
Iraqi Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Massoud and Maryam Rajavi
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... The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Massoud Rajavi, head of the Mojahedin Khalq, an Iranian opposition, Arrest warrants Have also been issued against 37 others, including his wife, Maryam Rajavi, and his lieutenant Kazemi, according to (s /1/149) of 13/6/2010, Article (12) in place of Article (15) of the Code of Court No. 10 of 2005, which means that the Iraqi Interior Ministry and Interpol are notified to bring them to court ...
The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Massoud Rajavi, head of the Mojahedin Khalq, an Iranian opposition, Arrest warrants Have also been issued against 37 others, including his wife, Maryam Rajavi, and his lieutenant Kazemi, according to (s /1/149) of 13/6/2010, Article (12) in place of Article (15) of the Code of Court No. 10 of 2005, which means that the Iraqi Interior Ministry and Interpol are notified to bring them to court.
On the other hand Diyala recognizes the sovereign responsibility of the Iraqi government and security forces and the dispensing of full security to the camp in the new Iraq Khalis district, (formerly Camp Ashraf) in place of the U.S. troops who were responsible for the inside of Camp New Iraq since the fall of the former regime in 2003.
An official ceremony took place on Friday, the 2nd July which was attended by a number of security leaders and military personnel in the Iraqi army and the U.S. within Camp New Iraq (camp Ashraf earlier) according to the implementation of the security agreement signed between Iraq and the United States for the delivery of venues and sites by the U.S. military to the Iraqi government and Iraqi military in order to achieve Iraq's full sovereignty over its territory and be responsible for maintaining security and order throughout Iraq. The Iraqi army and the Iraqi security apparatus and the government will take responsibility as the Iraqi administration for the overall security of Camp Ashraf (Mojahedin-e Khalq).
A ceremony took place at Camp New Iraq (Camp Ashraf) in the presence of Iranian families in front of the gate of Camp Ashraf who have been there for four months. The families looked forward to the receipt of responsibility for camp Ashraf by the Iraqi government and the Iraqi security from U.S. troops, stressing that U.S. military commanders have, over the past eight years, been supporting the policies and negative attitudes of the organization and leaders within the camp, as well as not sympathising with the families from Iran, nor responding to their demands to meet their children who are detainees inside the camp without the intervention and control officials in the organization, and their rejection of the responsibility over the past years to intervene to end the suffering of families and the pressure on the organization's leaders to allow the families of Iranian access to their children. The families hope to soon embrace their children and return them to their homes after the success of the Iraqi government and security services in regaining sovereignty and security of the Camp New Iraq (Camp Ashraf).
المحكمة الجنائية تصدر مذكرة أعتقال ضد مسعود رجوي .. الحكومة العراقية تستلم ( معسكر اشرف) رسميا
علمت (المؤتمر) ان المحكمة الجنائية العراقية العليا اصدرت مذكرة القاء القبض بحق مسعود رجوي رئيس منظمة مجاهدي خلق الايرانية المعارضة بالاضافة الى مذكرات اعتقال تشمل 37 شخصا اخرين من بينهم زوجته مريم رجوي وامير كاظمي ، حسب (ق / 1 / 149) الصادر في 13 / 6/ 2010 ، وفق المادة (12) بدل المادة (15) من قانون المحكمة رقم 10 لسنة 2005 ، مما يعني ان على وزارة الداخلية العراقية والانتربول الدولي ملاحظة هؤلاء وتقديمهم للمحكمة . من جهة اخرى شهدت محافظة ديالى تسلم الحكومة العراقية والقوات الامنية التابعة لها المسؤولية السيادية والامنية الكاملة لمعسكر العراق الجديد في قضاء الخالص ( معسكر اشرف سابقا ً) من القوات الامريكية التي كانت مستقرة داخل المعسكرمنذ سقوط النظام السابق في عام 2003 . جاء ذلك خلال حفل رسمي جرى يوم الجمعة المصادف الثاني من شهر تموز / يوليو الجاري حضره عدد من القادة الامنيين والعسكريين في الجيش العراقي والاميركي داخل مقرمعسكر العراق الجديد ( معسكر اشرف سابقا ً ) تنفيذا ً لبنود الاتفاقية الامنية الموقعة بين العراق والولايات المتحدة وذلك بتسليم المقرات والمواقع العسكرية الشاغلة من قبل الجيش الامريكي الى الحكومة العراقية لتحقيق سيادة العراق الكاملة على اراضيه وتكون مسؤولية حفظ الامن والنظام في كافة ارجاء العراق بعهدة قوات الجيش والاجهزة الامنية العراقية ، حيث ستتولى الحكومة العراقية المسؤولية الادارية والامنية الكاملة لمعسكر اشرف (مقرمنظمة خلق) . وشهد حفل تسليم معسكر العراق الجديد (معسكر اشرف) حضور العوائل الايرانية المعتصمة امام بوابة المعسكرمنذ اربعة اشهر والتي بدورها فرحت كثيرا لاستلام الحكومة والاجهزة الامنية العراقية مسؤولية معسكراشرف من القوات الاميركية ، مؤكدين ان القادة العسكريين الاميركيين وخلال السنوات الثمانية الماضية كانوا من المؤيدين للسياسات والمواقف السلبية للمنظمة وقادتها داخل المعسكر ، فضلا عن عدم الوقوف مع العوائل الايرانية والاستجابة لمطاليبهم للقاء بأبنائهم المحتجزين داخل المعسكر بدون تدخل ومراقبة المسؤولين في المنظمة ، ورفضهم الدائم طيلة السنوات الماضية التدخل لانهاء معاناة العوائل والضغط على قادة المنظمة للسماح للعوائل الايرانية بمقابلة ابنائهم ، معربين عن املهم الكبير في رؤية واحتضان ابنائهم والعودة بهم الى ديارهم بعد استلام الحكومة العراقية والاجهزة الامنية الساندة لها سيادة وامن معسكرالعراق الجديد ( معسكر اشرف).
Iraqi TV stations report from Camp Ashraf (Mojahedin Khalq and backers still refuse access to victims)
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... Iman Yeganeh, who escaped the camp in April 2010 after 22 years of captivity, described the situation for people inside the MKO as despairing. He said, "People are being told the Iraqis will kill them if they leave. Knowing about Saddam's security services, when I left I believed I would be killed. Even then I had to plan carefully how to finally get out." In Iraq, victims and their families are helped by Sahar Family Foundation ...
Official American version of events at Camp Ashraf
... There were allegations during the year that some of the 3,400 members of the MEK terrorist organization located at Ashraf were denied the right to leave under threat of reprisal from MEK leaders. These allegations were corroborated by several former Ashraf residents who had fled the camp. Individuals claimed to have been subjected to psychological and physical abuse ...
On July 28, clashes erupted at Ashraf in Diyala Province when the ISF attempted to establish a police presence inside the more than 3,400-person compound of the terrorist Iranian dissident group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK). The clashes resulted in the deaths of 11 MEK members and injuries to 30 ISF officers. The government credibly claimed the MEK provoked the clashes by staging a violent demonstration to block the ISF from entering the compound.
(...)
d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons
...
There were allegations during the year that some of the 3,400 members of the MEK terrorist organization located at Ashraf were denied the right to leave under threat of reprisal from MEK leaders. These allegations were corroborated by several former Ashraf residents who had fled the camp. Individuals claimed to have been subjected to psychological and physical abuse, including threats of reprisal against family members and solitary confinement in Ashraf to discourage defections.
The secretary of US embassy exposed Mojahedin Khalq(MKO, MEK,PMOI, Rajavi cult) leadership
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... The second secretary of the American embassy in Baghdad, published a documented report on the crimes committed by the MEK’s leaders who bloodshed their own colleagues, raped the women of Ashraf, poisoned and executed dozens of the defectors ...
The Second secretary of US embassy report on the horrible crimes of MKO leader
The second secretary of the American embassy in Baghdad, published a documented report on the crimes committed by the MEK’s leaders who bloodshed their own colleagues, raped the women of Ashraf, poisoned and executed dozens of the defectors.
According to FNA reporter in Baghdad, the second secretary of American embassy in Baghdad, William, revealed the bloody violence of Masud Rajavi, MKO leader, against the dissident members, in the third and forth chapter of the report on the actual situation of Mujahedin.
The American official, who investigated the documents and files on Mujahedin, has been one of the authorities who control Camp Ashraf. The report reads:
Like Malik Farough, the former king of Jordan, Masud Rajavi abuses even his female colleagues.”
In another part of the report you can read:
” Rajavi has expanded sexual relations with the female military, political and administrative ranks of the group. He also ordered the doctors to do hysterectomy surgery on some of them.
He noted that he has watched the films of the confessions of the women.
The second secretary of the American embassy mentioned that Rajavi sent the husbands to the deadly operations so as he can reach the wives and possess them in Napoleon’s way. In the existing documents in Ashraf you find out that some of the deaths in the group were not random but intentionally planned. In his long report William noted three cases of the planned deaths and wrote:
”the confessions of some of group members reveal that Rajavi was involved in 19 cases of death personally ordering the assassination.”
This American authority points out poisoning of the members and writes:
“Rajavi ordered the silent death, poisoning some friends or colleagues.
He added:
Now, it is clear for the US that MEK’s leader was involved in the suspicious death of his colleagues who were killed under his order but their death was reported falsely as the result of sickness or accident.
He continued mentioning that the forces of MEK are disappointed at the present time in Iraq and present no benefit to the US administration in the current Iraqi scene.
In a part of the report he writes:
Most of Mujahedin forces are suffering dangerous mental diseases and are likely to commit suicide or homicide.
Besides the Iraqi security authorities stressed that the Americans investigated some individuals who confessed that the MEK leader was involved in the assassination of Iranians residing abroad and some defectors of the group. To commit the assassinations, MKO enjoyed the assistance of embassies of the Saddam’s regime and his security organizations.
British Minister of State: We believe it is in the interest of residents to cooperate peacefully with Iraqi authorities
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... Government of Iraq would deal with the residents of the camp with respect for their human rights in co-operation with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. We believe it is in the interests of the residents to respect and accept the decision made by the Government of Iraq, and to cooperate peacefully with the Iraqi authorities ...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Iraq on the situation in Camp Ashraf; and if he will take steps to ensure that residents of Camp Ashraf are not driven from Iraq.
Ivan Lewis (Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Bury South, Labour)
We have discussed the situation at Camp Ashraf with the Iraqi Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Human Rights Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Iraqi Government's Ashraf Committee. I met the Iraqi Foreign Minister in Baghdad in December 2009 and underlined the need for the Iraqi authorities to deal with the residents of Camp Ashraf in a way that meets international humanitarian standards. In addition we discuss the issue with the UN, US, and the EU.
The Iraqi authorities have told the residents that they can no longer stay at Camp Ashraf but has given assurances that no residents will be forcibly transferred to a country where they have reason to fear persecution, or where substantial grounds exist to believe they would be tortured. The Iraqi Human Rights Minister confirmed to our ambassador on 27 January 2010 that the Government of Iraq would deal with the residents of the camp with respect for their human rights in co-operation with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. We believe it is in the interests of the residents to respect and accept the decision made by the Government of Iraq, and to cooperate peacefully with the Iraqi authorities.
UK Parliament - some sensible answers to Mojahedin (Rajavi cult) claims
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... In the case of occupied territory, the Convention continues to apply for a year after the general close of military operations, and partially thereafter if the occupying power continues to exercise the functions of government. The occupation of Iraq formally ended on 30 June 2004...
UK Parliament, April 20-21 2009
Written answers Monday, 20 April 2009 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq David Drew (Stroud, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of alleged attacks on residents in Ashraf City by members of the Iraqi secret service; and if he will make a statement. Bill Rammell (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Harlow, Labour) holding answer 20 March 2009 We are aware that such allegations have surfaced in the Iraqi media. We have discussed these allegations with the US, who retain a presence inside Camp Ashraf, and with the Iraqi government. We have seen no evidence to support the allegations.
Written answers Monday, 20 April 2009 House of Lords Iran Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Crossbench) To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that Camp Ashraf residents who are members of the People's Mujaheddin Organisation of Iran are not expelled to Iran by the Iraqi authorities; and what alternatives to that they have proposed through the United Nations. Lord Malloch-Brown (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Labour) Responsibility for the security and administration of Camp Ashraf was transferred on 1 January 2009 from the US to the Iraqi authorities. Prior to this handover the US received assurances from the Iraqi authorities towards their clear commitment to the humane treatment and continued well-being of the camp residents. The US retains a presence at the camp in an advisory/monitoring capacity. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights visits the camp and has delivered assurances to a representative body of the residents. The International Committee of the Red Cross follows developments at the camp closely and continues to visit. It also discusses on a confidential basis all of the issues surrounding the camp with the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) and the Iraqi and US authorities. The UN High Commission for Refugees has previously determined that Camp Ashraf residents do not qualify as refugees. While there is no evidence to suggest that the Government of Iraq intend forcibly to relocate the residents, our Embassy in Baghdad has requested a call on the Ministry of Human Rights to make known the level of interest in this issue in the UK and to remind the Iraqi Government of their earlier assurances. Our Embassy in Baghdad is also pursuing the possibility of a visit to the camp by a consular official.
Written answers Tuesday, 21 April 2009 House of Lords Iraq Lord King of West Bromwich (Labour) To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Iraq to safeguard the human rights and safety of Iranian residents in Ashraf City; and with what results. Lord Malloch-Brown (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Labour) The US held responsibility for the security and administration of Camp Ashraf until 1 January 2009. Responsibility was then transferred from the US to Iraqi authorities. The modalities of the transfer had been discussed by both sides with UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq. Prior to the transfer, the US received assurances from the Iraqi authorities towards their clear commitment to the humane treatment and continued wellbeing of the camp residents. The US retains a presence at the camp in an advisory/monitoring capacity. The Government of Iraq have stated that no Camp Ashraf residents will be forcibly transferred to a country where they have reason to fear persecution. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights visits the camp and has delivered assurances to a representative body of the residents. The International Committee of the Red Cross follows developments at the camp closely and continues to visit. It also discusses on a confidential basis all of the issues surrounding the camp with the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MeK) and the Iraqi and US authorities. While no specific representations to the Government of Iraq have been made, our embassy in Baghdad has requested a call on the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights to make known the level of interest in this issue in the UK and to remind the Iraqi Government of its earlier assurances. In addition to this, as stated by my honourable friend, Bill Rammell, Minister of State for the Middle East, during an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall on 25 March 2009 (Hansard, col. 90WH) "the British embassy in Baghdad is pursuing the possibility of a visit by a consular official to Camp Ashraf" to ascertain whether any of its residents might be entitled to consular assistance.
Library of the House of Commons In brief: Camp Ashraf and the Geneva Conventions Standard note: SN/IA/05022 Last updated: 20 March 2009 Author: Arabella Thorp Section: International Affairs and Defence Section What is Camp Ashraf ? Ashraf is a settlement in Iraq’s Diyala province, near the border with Iran, which houses the headquarters of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), also known as Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) or Mujahideen-e-Khalq Organisation (MKO). The PMOI is the main body in the coalition of Iranian opposition groups known as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and is regarded as a terrorist organisation by a number of states but has now been removed from the UK and EU lists of terrorist organisations. It sided with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, but following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 the PMOI surrendered to US forces and 3,800 PMOI members were disarmed and cantoned in Camp Ashraf. Some 370 have since been voluntarily repatriated to Iran , and in 2004 restrictions and controls were removed. The Iraqi government has stated its intention to close the camp and expel all PMOI personnel from Iraqi territory. Who is responsible for the inhabitants of Ashraf? The main responsibility to protect civilians lies with the states that have effective control over them. From 2003 until 31 December 2008 US forces protected Camp Ashraf. Then on 1 January 2009, control passed to the Iraqi Government, under the new US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. Both the US and Iraqi governments have given assurances that, within the framework of Iraqi national legislation, Ashraf residents will be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law and with the principle of non-refoulement in particular. The UK considers the issue primarily a US rather than a UK responsibility. What are the main concerns? Lliving conditions at Ashraf are not generally a cause for concern, although an explosion damaged Ashraf’s water-supply station in February 2008. The main concern is that its inhabitants would be at risk of torture or other serious human rights violations if they were to be returned involuntarily to Iran. Iraq has reportedly given Ashraf’s inhabitants two options: return to Iran or find a third country for exile. Iraqi officials have however stated that PMOI members would not be forcibly repatriated to Iran and have called upon the international community to offer asylum to Ashraf’s occupants. People who have left Camp Ashraf voluntarily have reported 'brain-washing', forced indoctrination and rough treatment by the PMOI of those who wanted to leave the camp. This information is provided to Members of Parliament in support of their parliamentary duties and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual. It should not be relied upon as being up to date; the law or policies may have changed since it was last updated; and it should not be relied upon as legal or professional advice or as a substitute for it. A suitably qualified professional should be consulted if specific advice or information is required. This information is provided subject to our general terms and conditions which are available online or may be provided on request in hard copy. Authors are available to discuss the content of this briefing with Members and their staff, but not with the general public. Do the Geneva Conventions apply? In July 2004, the PMOI forces in Ashraf were declared by the US to be ‘protected persons’ under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, because they had not been belligerents during the Iraq War. The Fourth Geneva Convention protects civilians who, as the result of an international armed conflict or of occupation, find themselves in the hands of a country of which they are not nationals. It states that in no circumstances shall a protected person be transferred to a country where he or she may have reason to fear persecution for his or her political opinions or religious beliefs. In the case of occupied territory, the Convention continues to apply for a year after the general close of military operations, and partially thereafter if the occupying power continues to exercise the functions of government. The occupation of Iraq formally ended on 30 June 2004. What other international law is relevant? Under the international law principle of non-refoulement, no-one should be deported, expelled or repatriated if there is a real risk that they may be subjected to any kind of ill-treatment, or that they may face persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. The US has ratified international conventions embodying this principle (the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1984 UN Convention Against Torture), but Iraq has not. However, non-refoulement is widely recognised as a principle of customary international law that binds all states. Further reading Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre, Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), 5 March 2009 [available through the Parliamentary Intranet] Juan-Pedro Schaerer, Iraq: ICRC activities in behalf of Iranian nationals living in Ashraf, 3 December 2008 Zouhair Al Hassani, ‘International humanitarian law and its implementation in Iraq ’, International Review of the Red Cross Vol. 90 No. 869, March 2008 Knut Dörmann and Laurent Colassis, ‘International Humanitarian Law in the Iraq Conflict’, German Yearbook of International Law 47 (2004), 293–342 International Committee of the Red Cross, Protected persons and property and international humanitarian law [viewed 20 March 2009] Amnesty International, Iraq: No Iranians in need of protection should be sent to Iran against their will, 28 August 2008 Amnesty International, Security agreement puts 16,000 Iraqi detainees at risk of torture, 28 November 2008 Massoud Khodabandeh (former member of PMOI), Camp Ashraf: a test of US-Iraqi relations, 7 April 2008 Iran Interlink, Nejat Society Asks UK to Support Iraqi Government Plans for Camp Ashraf Victims, 11 December 2008 Hon. David Kilgour, J.D., ‘Catastrophe on horizon for Camp Ashraf refugees’, Middle East Times 8 October 2008 House of Lords debate, Iraq: Ashraf City, HL Deb 2 March 2009 cc504-6
Film showing the violent reaction of Mojahedin-e Khalq to the families trying to visit their children who are being held captive inside the camp by the Rajavis.
Human Rights Minister: documents confirm the illegality of the presence of people in Camp Ashraf in Iraq
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... For decades the MKO have been in this camp and have not been regarded as refugees. Now neither the UNHCR nor the International Organization for Migration deal with them on that basis. The Ministry has addressed these organisations formally more than once in order to lend a helping hand to them, but they always affirm in their responses that that the MKO is a military organization and has not demilitarized ...
After investigations by the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Minister Salim said that the presence of the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq is illegal. She stressed that the Iraqi government will deal with them in a purely humanitarian manner, and added that since 2003 it has secured the freedom of 300 of them who wanted to leave the camp.
In a statement summarised by al-sabaah newspaper, Minister Salim said that the government is dealing with the residents of the camp in Diyala province, members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, in a humane fashion. The absence of any official documents in their files of applications for asylum is an indication of the illegality of their presence in Camp Ashraf. However, between 2003 until the end of 2009, 300 have left the camp of their own free will and returned to their own country.
Minister Salim said that delegations from the Human Rights Ministry visit the camp from time to time to review the conditions of its population in coordination with the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations. In less than a year, 36 people have asked to leave the camp under the direct supervision of the Ministry. They asked to return to Iran without any influence from government bodies and they were brought to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which took responsibility for them.
For decades the MKO have been in this camp and have not been regarded as refugees. Now neither the UNHCR nor the International Organization for Migration deal with them on that basis and refuse to cooperate with them. The Ministry has addressed these organisations formally more than once in order to lend a helping hand to them, but they always affirm in their responses that that the MKO is a military organization and has not demilitarized. They can only deal with them once they leave the camp and claim civilian protection.
Minister Salim explained that the laws and agreements on the protection of populations who seek protection on the grounds of suffering because of armed conflicts or war do not apply to them because they are not in a nation in war or conflict.
Minister Salim indicated that since the beginning of the SOFA with the United States which transferred responsibility for the camp from the Americans to the Iraqis, the legal situation has changed completely for them. In particular after review of the records and papers which exist, officials did not find any requests for asylum or protection or evidence that their presence is in any way legal.
Minister Sailm said that in general it is necessary to deal with them in a spirit of humanity and not to deport them to countries where they may be exposed to harm or torture, asserting that the Iraqi government has committed itself to this principle. She expressed surprise at their refusal to be moved to another location which provides services and care since they have not rented and nor do they own the land they currently occupy.
حقوق الانسان: وثائق تؤكد عدم قانونية تواجد سكان معسكر أشرف في العراق
اكدت وزيرة حقوق الانسان المهندسة وجدان سالم ان تواجد سكان معسكر اشرف في العراق غير قانوني فيما شددت على ان الحكومة العراقية تتعامل معهم بشكل انساني بحت لاسيما انها امنت منذ عام 2003 اخراج 300 منهم رغبوا بترك المعسكر.
واشارت في تصريح خصت بـه( الصباح ) الى ان الحكومة تتعامل مع سكان المعسكر الواقع في محافظة ديالى من عناصر منظمة مجاهدي خلق الايرانية بشكل انساني على الرغم من عدم وجود وثائق رسمية ضمن ملفاتهم تحوي طلبات لجوء ما يؤشر عدم قانونية تواجدهم في معسكر اشرف ، مؤكدة تامين اخراج 300 منهم رغبوا بارادتهم الخاصة ترك المعسكر وتوزعوا بين لاجئين وعائدين الى بلادهم منذ عام 2003 لغاية نهاية عام 2009 .
المهندسة سالم اوضحت ان وفودا من الوزارة تقوم بزيارة المعسكر بين الحين والاخر للاطلاع على احوال سكانه بالتنسيق مع مكاتب اللجنة الدولية للصليب الاحمروالامم المتحدة المتواجدة هناك ،كاشفة عن اعادة اكثر من 36 شخصا طلبوا الخروج من المعسكر خلال اقل من سنة وباشراف الوزارة المباشر ، منهم طلبوا العودة الى ايران بدون اي تاثير من جهات حكومية اذ تمت احالتهم الى اللجنة الدولية للصليب الاحمر التي تولت مسؤولية ذلك .
ونبهت الى ضرورة عدم السماح بنقل مشاكل دول الجوار الى العراق ، لافتة ان عناصر منظمة خلق الساكنين بالمعسكر منذ عشرات السنين ليسوا بلاجئين لاسيما ان منظمة الهجرة الدولية ومفوضية شؤون اللاجئين لا تتعاملان معهم على اساس ذلك وترفضان التعاون معهم ، اذ ان الوزارة خاطبت هاتين الجهتين بشكل رسمي لاكثر من مرة بغية مد يد العون لهم الا انهما تؤكدان في اجاباتهما دائما على ان اليات تواجدهم تدل على انهم منظمة عسكرية ليست منزوعة السلاح وانهما ستتعاملان معهم حال خروجهم من المعسكر بصفة مدنية،اما مسألة حمايتهم فاوضحت انه وفقا للقوانين والاتفاقات الخاصة بحماية الاشخاص فان على هذه الجهات توفير الحماية للسكان اذا ما توافدوا من بلد يعاني من نزاعات عسكرية او حروب ،مبينة ان ذلك لا ينطبق على هؤلاء كونهم ليسوا من دولة تعاني من حروب او نزاعات.
وبينت سالم انه منذ بداية سريان الاتفاقية الامنية المشتركة مع الولايات المتحدة والتي تم خلالها نقل مسؤولية المعسكر من الجانب الامريكي الى العراقي فقد تغير الوضع القانوني لهم بشكل كامل لاسيما بعد الاطلاع على ملفات المتواجدين هناك واوراقهم الرسمية التي لم نجد بها اية طلبات لجوء او حماية ما يدل على ان تواجدهم غير شرعي.
ودعت الى ضرورة ان تكون الصفة العامة في التعامل معهم هي الصفة الانسانية وعدم ترحيلهم الى بلدان قد يتعرضون بها الى اذى او تعذيب ،مؤكدة ان الحكومة العراقية التزمت بهذا المبدأ ولم تنقلهم قسريا الى مكان اخر لا تتوفر به خدمات او عناية، مبدية استغرابها من رفض سكان المنطقة الانتقال الى اية ارض عراقية اخرى غير ارض المعسكر علما انها غير مؤجرة او موهوبة لهم من قبل اية جهة.
... A RAND study examined the evolution of this controversial decision, which has left the United States open to charges of hypocrisy in the war on terrorism. An examination of MeK activities establishes its cultic practices and its deceptive recruitment and public relations strategies. A series of coalition decisions served to facilitate the MeK leadership's control over its members. The government of Iraq wants to expel the group, but no country other than Iran will accept it. Thus, the RAND study concludes that the best course of action would be ...
At the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Coalition forces classified the Mujahedin-e Khalq, a militant organization from Iran with cult-like elements that advocates the overthrow of Iran's current government, as an enemy force.
The MeK had provided security services to Saddam Hussein from camps established in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War to fight Iran in collaboration with Saddam's forces and resources. A new study from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, looks at how coalition forces handled this group following the invasion.
Although the MeK is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States, coalition forces never had a clear mission on how to deal with it.
After a ceasefire was signed between Coalition forces and the MeK, the U.S. Secretary of Defense designated this group's members as civilian "protected persons" rather than combatant prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. The coalition's treatment of the MeK leaves it – and the United States in particular – open to charges of hypocrisy, offering security to a terrorist group rather than breaking it up.
Research suggests that most of the MeK rank-and-file are neither terrorists nor freedom fighters, but trapped and brainwashed people who would be willing to return to Iran if they were separated from the MeK leadership. Many members were lured to Iraq from other countries with false promises, only to have their passports confiscated by the MeK leadership, which uses physical abuse, imprisonment, and other methods to keep them from leaving.
Iraq wants to expel the group, but no country other than Iran will accept it. The RAND study suggests the best course of action would have been to repatriate MeK rank-and-file members back to Iran, where they have been granted amnesty since 2003. To date, Iran appears to have upheld its commitment to MeK members in Iran. The study also concludes better guidelines be established for the possible detention of members of designated terrorist organizations.
For more information, or to arrange an interview with the authors, contact Lisa Sodders in the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 393-0411, ext. 7139, or lsodders@rand.org.