HRW Report: Sacrificing Objectivity, Undermining Credibility, Says Associationof Iranian-Americans i

U.S. Newswire: On May 18, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report; “No exit: human rights violations in People’s Mojahedin Organization’s camps”, accusing an Iranian opposition group, Mojahedin e-Khalq (MEK), of mistreatment of its members. This unprecedented report raises serious questions for the public, thus, Association of Iranian-Americans in New York (AIA) will hold a press conference at 1 UN Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, May 25, at 11 a.m. to Noon to discuss the validity of Human Right Watch’s report. U.S. Newswire

To: Metro and Assignment desks, Daybook Editor, Legal Reporter

Contact: Amy Tarigat of Association of Iranian-Americans in New York, 845-480-1603 or AIAinNY@aol.com

News Advisory:

Group: HRW Report-Sacrificing Objectivity and Undermining Credibility

On May 18, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report; “No exit: human rights violations in People’s Mojahedin Organization’s camps”, accusing an Iranian opposition group, Mojahedin e-Khalq (MEK), of mistreatment of its members.

This unprecedented report raises serious questions for the public, thus, Association of Iranian-Americans in New York (AIA) will hold a press conference at 1 UN Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, May 25, at 11 a.m. to Noon to discuss the validity of Human Right Watch’s report.

The HRW report, released on Wednesday May 18th accuses the Iranian opposition group, MEK, of mistreating its members. However, the report is not based on objective facts and documentation, but merely on telephone interviews. In addition, the allegations have been made by individuals who have been known to have relations with the Iranian government, making the validity of the report highly questionable. The report lacks objectivity, in this sense that interviews were not conducted with any of the thousands of MEK members in Camp Ashraf located in Iraq, who are under U.S. Army protection; furthermore, HRW has not visited the MEK camps to independently verify the allegations.

The report contradicts the result of investigations done by the various agencies of the U.S. government who have thoroughly interviewed every member of the MEK in Camp Ashraf. Last July, the New York Times quoted senior administration officials as saying that after a 16 month investigation, there is no evidence linking any member of the MEK to any terrorist activity. Furthermore, no human rights violations were found in Camp Ashraf.

Release of a report to paralyze a democratic opposition to the tyrannical government of Iran, at a time when the Iranian government is pushing for nuclear weapons and is responsible for killing many Americans by fueling the insurgency in Iraq, has many grounds for discussion.

Witnesses and human rights experts will address the issue at hand so that the American public is able to separate facts from fiction. Rabbi Daniel Zucker, Congregation Beth Sholom, Long Beach, NY will be among the speakers. Individuals who have in the past resided in MEK camps including Camp Asharf will be available to provide eyewitness testimony regarding the allegations in the Human Rights Watch report.