AP: An Iranian opposition group demonstrated outside the prime minister’s office Friday for the release of two men it believes are being tortured in Iraq, and called on Iran to cease “meddling” in Iraq.
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) – An Iranian opposition group demonstrated outside the prime minister’s office Friday for the release of two men it believes are being tortured in Iraq, and called on Iran to cease “meddling” in Iraq.
Laila Jazayeri, director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK, [said”> the men, Hossein Pouyan and Mohammad Ali Zahedi, were abducted Aug. 4 by agents of the Iraqi Interior Ministry.
The protesters, supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, believe the men are being tortured and delivered a letter to the British Foreign Office Friday asking for immediate action, Jazayeri said.
The Foreign Office said it didn’t have enough information to comment.
The group is also asking for an end to alleged interference in Iraq by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government, said Hossein Abedini of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
Protesters chanted “Stop Iran meddling in Iraq” while waving pre-revolutionary Iranian flags and signs picturing Iranian Resistance’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi.
Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Iran not meddle in Iraq at an Oct. 6 press conference after declaring that explosive devices that have killed U.S.-led troops were similar to those used by the Iranian-linked militant group Hezbollah.
“There is no justification for Iran or any other country interfering in Iraq,” Blair said.
Earlier this month, Ahmedinejad met Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi and pledged to help stabilize war-ravaged Iraq and increase trade ties.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that establishing peace and security in Iraq requires having a powerful government with popular support more than anything else,” Ahmadinejad said during Chalabi’s visit.
Pouyan and Zahedi are members of the People’s Mojahedin, a member organization of the Iranian Resistance that is on the EU’s list of terrorist groups. The Iranian Resistance rejects this classification.
