Iran Focus
In a statement to the press a UN spokesperson said “the United Nations deplores the tragic events at Camp Ashraf today. A number of residents have been reportedly killed and injured.
“It is the duty of the Government of Iraq to ensure the safety and security of residents.
“The United Nations calls on the Iraqi government to immediately investigate the facts and disclose their findings.
“The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has been informed by the Iraqi Authorities that medical support is being delivered to the Camp.
“UNAMI intends to rapidly deploy a mission to the Camp, in order to conduct its own assessment of the events.”
The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom condemned the attack calling on the UK and US governments to live up to their legal and moral obligations vis-s-vis the residients. Lord Carlile of Berriew said: “I call upon the UK Government to make the strongest protest to Iraq against this human rights outrage and carnage.” Full text of the press release by British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom appears below.
Just after midnight on Sunday Iraqi army units and security forces under the command of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki attacked Camp Ashraf where 100 members of Iran’s main opposition, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI) are residing based on an agreement ratified by the US government, the United Nations and the Iraqi governmet on 17 August 2012.
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Press Releases
Sunday 1st September 2013 | 10:12
Lord Carlile of Berriew: Govt must act to stop Iraq massacring refugees
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom press release
MPs strongly condemn deadly attack on Camp Ashraf, call on UK, US and UN to order Iraq to stop massacre of refugees. They should dispatch a delegation to the scene immediately to save the wounded and hostages.
Iraqi army units began an assault on Camp Ashraf at midnight on Sunday 1 September and up to now at least 23 residents have been killed and others have been injured or taken hostage. The attackers are shooting directly at the residents as mortar units hit buildings with mortar rockets. At least 5 residents were handcuffed and killed at point blank range.
The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom strongly condemns the brutal attack on the ‘protected persons’ who are civilians in Camp Ashraf and calls on the UN and the UK and US governments to uphold their commitment for protecting these refugees. They should immediately call on the Iraqi government to stop the massacre and dispatch their representatives to the scene to save the wounded and the hostages.
As of now at least 23 bodies have been identified and the actual number of the dead and injured is not known.
It is a disgrace for the international community to allow such a massacre to take place after so many warnings were given in advance by the residents and their representatives in Europe and North America.
Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC said: “I call upon the UK Government to make the strongest protest to Iraq against this human rights outrage and carnage.”
