Hundreds of Iraqis from different parts of the country held a protest to show their support for the Iranian families who have been waiting for more than six months to see their family members and relatives who reside in the camp Ashraf.
Camp Ashraf, has been the principal home of the anti Iranian group known as Mujahedeen Khalgh organization or MKO since the group allied itself with Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, receiving weapons and training from his regime.
A number of Iraqi officials and tribal leaders were among those who had gathered to have their voice heard. The protesters carried banners with anti-MKO slogans on condemning the MKO presence.
A number of defected MKO members were among the Iranian families, they stated that they have been living in dire conditions and deprived of their rights.
During the protest the Iraqi officials urged the government to expel the MKO members from Iraq as scheduled, saying any delay in doing so may give members of the group enough time to launch attacks against the civilians living near their camp.
Many here are concerned about the possibility of interference by the UN to keep the MKO in the country.
The MKO is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community, and is responsible for numerous terrorist acts against both Iranians and Iraqis. The group is especially notorious in Iran for siding with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
Wisam al-Bayati
Download Anti-MKO protest held in Iraq