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The process of MKO Decline

When in 1986 Massoud Rajavi ,leader of Mujahedin Khalq Organization went to Iraq with a lot of fanfare and hype, his flight from France to Iraq was called as heroic and was considered as a great victory for their so-called struggle against the Islamic Republic.

The propaganda system of the organization failed to note that Rajavi actually fled to Iraq since the French government had ordered him to leave France due to the request made by Islamic Republic.

However, the move was titled as strategic because Iran was in war with Iraq at that time so the leaders of MKO had to spend a lot of time presenting reasoning for their supporters who were shocked by the organization sheltering before the enemy that had invaded their nation.

It was too difficult to justifythe treason MKO committed against its compatriots during the eight years of war between Iran and Iraq. When MKO succeeded to launch some operations against Islamic Republic buildings and authorities (in which a lot of innocent civilians were also killed) some other supporters could diminish their doubts and leave their homes in different parts of the world to join the group.

There were also a lot of other unfortunate recruits who were recruited by deceitful methods of MKO after they could not get refugee status in other countries and joined MKO as the last resort.
In 1986 when Islamic Republic accepted the UN ceasefire resolution 598 which consequently meant that Iraq could no longer be used as a place to launch operations , MKO started declining. The process lasted until the fall of Saddam Hussein. It was the worst incident that could happen to MKO since it was very clear that the ones who would achieve power in Iraq are those who opposed Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party and also his accomplice, Mujahedin Khalq who cooperated with him in the suppressive operations against Kurds and Shiites of Iraq. Thus, the situation got the worst.

MKO leaving Iraq means accepting a huge strategic mistake that the ideological leader made 30 years ago. And that’s what Massoud Rajavi has done in his latest message on the occasion of Aban 13th( the anniversary of the US embassy takeover in Tehran in 1979) he declared that MKO is ready to leave Iraq and of course he asked for 200 million dollars as blackmail.

As Camp Ashraf is the symbol of MKO’s existence and so –called ideology, losing Ashraf equals the loss of everything for the leaders. The members have always been told to defend Ashraf in any circumstances. They were ordered to lay down in front of vehicles driven by Iraqi Police when they raided Camp Ashraf on July 28th. They were told to sacrifice themselves to keep the Camp.

Now Rajavi’s new message has left the members in a new contradiction. Since to MKO members Rajavi is an infallible saint leader who never makes mistake; they are not allowed to think of the possibility of his fault.

The leader of the cult never cares about what will happen to Ashraf residents, who have to pay the price of their leaders’ ambitions. Once their opportunist leader sheltered near the notorious Saddam Hussein, they were convinced to go to Iraq too as a heroic, strategic move. Today, designated as a terrorist organization it is hard to make third government accept them!

By Mazda Parsi

December 5, 2009 0 comment

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Iraqi official: Spain welcome to host Washington backed MKO

We can only wonder whether the army of lawyers acting on behalf of the Mojahedin-e Khalq cult does not in fact exceed the number of people in the organisation itself. Putting aside the obvious question as to where the money comes from to pay for two such armies, we can see that in recent weeks the MKO’s lawyers have been very busy.

The MKO, backed by the Israeli lobby and various neoconservatives, has tried to exploit a loophole uncovered in Spanish law in order to manufacture a ‘victory’ with which to dupe the cult’s victims – that is, its membership.

According to El Pais, the argument put to a Spanish Judge (who apparently does not read newspapers) to accept a court case on behalf of the Mojahedin-e Khalq terrorist cult against the elected Government of Iraq, is based on the well-worn fabricated lie that the MKO’s cult members in Iraq enjoy protected persons status under the United Nations Fourth Geneva Convention.
The UN has repeated ad nauseum that no such status applies to the group.

The Government of Iraq has so far ignored this attempt by the Israeli lobby to meddle in relations between Spain and Iraq, and has seen the reality through the clouds. Indeed, nobody who has any knowledge of the MKO would imagine that this is anything more than a three day propaganda offensive designed to shore up the remnants of the Saddam regime to irk the Iraqis who refuse to hand over their country to Saddamists.

An aside by an Iraqi official to Iran Interlink tells the story. “There is no mention of a Spanish judge in our constitution”, he quipped. ”But we are quite clear that the MKO is illegal in our country. If Spain would like to host the MKO on its own soil, they are welcome to them!”

Iran Interlink believes that the support of the Israeli lobby and neoconservatives given to the notorious terrorist Rajavi cult, and the concomitant misuse of the democratic institutions of European countries will not result in anything greater than the protracted suffering for the individuals trapped in Camp Ashraf in Iraq and their families who are unable to free them because of this support.

Report from EI Pais:

High Court takes on case against Iraqis accused of attacking Iranians
JOSÉ YOLDI, 02 December 2009
El Pais – English Edition

Justice system admits lawsuit despite no links to Spain or Spaniards
A Spanish High Court judge has accepted a lawsuit against a contingent of Iraqi forces who deliberately attacked a group of 3,500 unarmed Iranian civilians in a refugee camp on July 28 and 29, causing 11 deaths and more than 450 serious injuries.

This is the first suit involving the principle of universal jurisdiction to be accepted in Spain following the October 15 reforms that set limits on Spanish courts’ ability to try such cases. The new legislation establishes that the case must have some relevant link to Spain, such as the victims being Spanish nationals or the crime being perpetrated on Spanish soil.

But in this case there is no such connection. Joan Garcés, the lawyer who presented the lawsuit, invoked a segment of the law that adds "without prejudice to the international treaties and conventions subscribed to by Spain." The Fourth Geneva Convention for the protection of civilians in times of war obliges states to pursue serious violations of this principle anywhere in the world.
Article 146 of the convention specifies that each of the signatories "shall be under the obligation to search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed, such grave breaches, and shall bring such persons, regardless of their nationality, before its own courts."
High Court Judge Fernando Andreu admitted this line of reasoning and petitioned Iraqi legal authorities to disclose whether there was already an ongoing case there relating to the attack on the Iranians on Iraqi soil.

The public prosecutor, Pedro Martínez, opposed letting the High Court take on the case because of the nonexistent link to Spain and due to the fact that there is no proof that Iraqi courts are not already handling the case.

But, given the lack of such proof, Andreu has decided that rather than rejecting the lawsuit outright, the court should first determine whether another penal case is already underway in Iraq, in which case the Spanish case would be dropped.

December 3, 2009 0 comment

Iraqi Authorities' stance on the MEK

Spanish court judgment about MKO should be local

Spanish court support for Saddamists not legal

ARBIL / Aswat al-Iraq: Any court judgment in any country regarding an issue related to another country requires the second country’s approval for execution, a Kurdish lawmaker said commenting on a judgment issued by a Spanish court with respect to the operatives of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MKO) exiled in Iraq.

“Executing the judgment requires an approval from the Iraqi side,” Ahmed Anwar, a member of the Iraqi parliament legal committee, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Monday.

He said that the judgment, which considered the MKO elements in Iraq under the Genève Convention, is a moral support only.

“The court is not international, and I question whether the Spanish government would adopt this issue from the legal and political standpoints,” Anwar said.

He said that the Iraqi government refuses to grant asylum to MKO operatives in Iraq.

“There are Iraqi-U.S. discussions with respect to the MKO issue,” Anwar said.

The MKO operatives in Iraq, hosted in Ashraf Camp in Diala province, oppose the current Iranian regime, and have been in Iraqi since the 1980s.

December 2, 2009 0 comment

Former members of the MEK

French citizens demonstrate against PMOI

On Saturday, November 28th, 2009, a large number of citizens of Cergy, France gathered to protest the presence of the terrorist cult of Rajavi in their country soil.

The rally began at 14:00 when the citizens gathered together in downtown. The gathering started with a performance made by Iran-France music band that played fascinating pieces. A panel was also held for a book show that included 5000 editions of journals, books and revealing catalogues on MKO.

a large number of citizens of Cergy, France gathered to protest the presence of the terrorist cult of Rajavi in their country soil

There were also huge posters, distributed among protestors to reveal the cult-like nature of Mujahedin-Khalq Organization.

During the rally a play was performed by a group of former members to present a symbolic show on torture, imprisonment, suicide operations committed by Rajavi’s cult. The participants were moved by the performance.

Hundreds of Iranian-French citizens sang the famous Iranian song “Ey Iran” standing in organized lines and then walked through streets of Cergy under the rain.

They ended their rally after they issued a resolution at 18:30.

The move was executed by cooperation of some NGOs and foundations formed by former members of MKO.

At the ending phases of the demonstration, a few suppressive henchmen of Rajavi’s cult attacked the demonstrators and hit them on face and eyes. The attackers were sent from Auver Sur Oise to break down the peaceful rally. Three French citizens and an Iranian were injured by MKO agents who were consequently arrested by French police.

Aria Iran – Translated by Nejat Society

December 2, 2009 0 comment

France

Is France doing Washington’s Dirty work?

Open letter to President Sarkozy

Dear Mr. President,

I am sure you are familiar with the name Mojahedin-e Khalq, as you were the Minister Massoud Khodabande open letter to President Sarkozy responsible for ordering an investigation into the MKO’s activities at its HQ in the north of Paris. An investigation which exposed Maryam Rajavi hiding alongside 20 million dollars wrapped in Iraqi newspaper.

I am sure you also remember how the MKO responded. With orchestrated self immolations – especially those outside the Interior Ministry in Paris – which put pressure on your Government to stop the investigation. These self-immolations left two dead and others disfigured and disabled.

Dear Sir,

It is with regret that I must remind your good self that in June 2007 the MKO violently attacked a public meeting of human rights activists in FIAP, Paris in which several were seriously injured.
Now, in the last week, a new incident of violent, suppressive activity, carried out by the Mojahedin-e Khalq terrorist cult in your country, has come to our attention; this time in the small town of Cergy, north of Paris.

Dear Mr. President,

Your Government has declared itself to be at the frontline of fighting terrorism. Yet the HQ of one of the most notorious terrorist cults, which has claim the lives of scores of Iraqis when working as Saddam’s private army, is located in the capital city of your county.

No one is in any doubt about the backing given by Washington to this terrorist group after the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam, yet the same backers refuse to accept them on their soil and expect France to do the dirty work of housing them.

Dear Sir,

I am wondering what kind of logic your Government follows that ‘because of the failure of American policy in the Middle East, a friend of ours who has resisted every pressure to bow down to terrorists and has devoted his life to increasing awareness of terrorism, should be attacked by the remnants of Saddam’s private army in your country’?!

What kind of logic is followed in your Government that the people of France have to harbour these Washington backed terrorists just because the Iraqi government is not responding to the calls from neoconservatives to give their county back to Saddamists? And what kind of logic is followed in your Government that the same people who are under investigation on terrorism charges in your country should be allowed to attack the critics of terrorism with knives, clubs and fists?

Dear Mr. President,

There are many analysts who believe that harbouring the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation in France, as well as the clearly desperate support they get from Washington, is due to a lack of tools in confronting the ongoing saga of Iranian nuclear advancement. Many believe that the western toolbox is so empty that even the threadbare Mojahedin-e Khalq terrorists cannot be ignored as a tool.

Those who follow the political scene of the Middle East have noticed, particularly in recent months how the oil and gas deals have been favouring the Russians, how the Iranian investment market – especially in oil and gas – has shifted towards China, while Rajavi, Rigi (another Washington groomed terrorist in Pakistan) and PEJAK (part of the anti-Turkish PKK group on the border of Iran and Iraq, who are not either Iranian or Iraqis) are left for the clever west!!

Dear Sir,

I would like to know what steps your Government is willing to take to secure the safety and security of anti-terrorism activists who are being threatened by every possible means by the notorious Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation HQ in your country.

Yours,
Massoud Khodabandeh
Leeds
United Kingdom
November 30th 2009

December 1, 2009 0 comment

Britain says MKO in Camp Ashraf subject to Iraqi law

Britain says MKO in Camp Ashraf subject to Iraqi law – protected persons status not applicable

Iraq: Iran Britain says MKO in Camp Ashraf subject to Iraqi law - protected persons status not applicable

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Written answers and statements, 25 November 2009
Andrew Dismore (Hendon, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s assessment is of the status in international law of the residents of Camp Ashraf, Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis (Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Bury South, Labour)

Camp Ashraf is in a sovereign and democratic Iraq and the camp residents subject to its laws.

The UK is of the view that the residents of Camp Ashraf, as with all people in Iraq, enjoy rights and protections under the Iraqi constitution and applicable international obligations to which Iraq is a signatory. We do not consider that they have ‘protected persons’ status.

We do not feel a ministerial statement is necessary at this time.

House of Lords, London

November 30, 2009 0 comment

Mujahedin Khalq Organization

Iran, Iraq and People’s Mojahedin of Iran

PMOI or MEK, the People’s Mojahedin of Iran, military and sectarian organization protected by Saddam Hussein, had been unarmed after the fall of the dictator but kept warm by the troops of

The rear-Advanced base of People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), was besieged by Iraqi governmental forces.

the Anglo-Saxon occupation until July 28 2009, when the camp was taken over by Iraqi forces under the security agreement signed between Washington and Baghdad in November 2008.

In spring 2003, about 2,400 fighters trained and highly disciplined Mujahedeen had yet material offensive heavy artillery and tanks, providing a response force capable of operating independently to penetrate the Iranian territory as was the case during the offensive "Eternal Light" in summer 1988 launched just after the cease-fire
between Baghdad and Tehran.

Although it is designated as a terrorist organization, PMOI has openly, now more than ever, strong political support in European capitals.

Just like in Washington where remarkably organized and active lobbyists as the NCRI, the National Council of Resistance, serves as a showcase honorable organization for campaigns launched against the Islamic Republic. Their unofficial spokesman occupies an important place on the air Voice of America, whose broadcasts to Iran manage to escape, apparently, the classical interference.

Since even before the Revolution of 1979, when Zbgniew Brzezinski convinced President Carter to abandon Reza Shah, when it would betray an inclination to re-nationalization of oil, the U.S. had begun to support, even encourage terrorist activities of mujahideen-e Khalq in the prospect of establishing a "Republic of Iran oriented to federalism." A choice "federal" clearly preserved in the founding charter of the movement and whose implicit logic is that a collapse of the Iranian nation in autonomous provinces.

Regarding the apparent failure of U.S. policy over the last thirty years, in Iran and the region (a flop which also insist no further action), however, did not influence the U.S. administration for its objectives, or to waive or modify a project that somehow continues its cheerful way, making it gained new momentum with the opening of the nuclear weapons issue in 2004 through the PMOI / NCRI which is probably not a simple coincidence.

However, it seems that this is not purely humanitarian considerations which have prevailed only in the maintenance of troops, although unarmed,of PMOI in Iraqi Kurdistan, that until July 28, 2009 in the context of a "reorientation" U.S. policy towards Iran, while the Iraqi Parliament had voted for the evacuation of this basis since June 2007. The fact remains that the maintenance by the previous U.S. administration, an intervention force seasoned, albeit unarmed, but may be reactivated, is an aspect of the case that should be borne in mind. A supplementary force trained and disciplined, being able to remain operational by shorter delay, could, if necessary, participate in an attack on Iranian soil as was the case in 1989 shortly after the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq, although then the operation ended in a crushing defeat!

There is no reason that such an attempt might one day be repeated at a major military or political crisis or in case of conflict, similar to actions of PEJAK supported by the PPK, in order to open a diversion front on the west side of the security apparatus in Iran. This hypothesis is not absurd if one considers that other fastening operations could be triggered simultaneously, in the South, Khuzestan and in the East, Balochistan.

Besides, from Camp Ashraf, PMOI has long provided an important work of listening telecommunications Iranian (military and policies) for the Pentagon to continue the mission of intelligence made before 2003 in favor of the Baathist regime. PMOI also, through its networks and relays in the Western political class, possesses the ability to inject into the international media channels, information obtained through parallel channels such as NSA or the Shin Beth, allowing original sources, thereby, to remain in the shadows. A role of strategic intelligence collector, but, equally important, activity broadcaster, relay and echo chamber, which is essential in the context of indirect strategies implemented to create conditions for regime change and make evolve the Iranian nation towards federalism market.

Asked about its sources PMOI said to involve the private sector provider of strategic information, including free market in satellite images. Thus, the first revelations about Iran’s nuclear program, on August 14, 2002, were published by the channel of Ali Reza Jafarzadeh, an analyst assigned to the Fox News Channel and a member of the People’s Mujahedeen. Similarly Ali Safavi, also a member of the People’s Mujahedeen, who created, the Near East Policy Research, in London in 2003 and whose programs are focused on "human rights, regional threats such as terrorism and nuclear proliferation, the spread of religious extremism, the construction of democracy and economic challenges,” said in August 2002 in Vienna, at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),where shots on satellite images relating Iranian facilities has given the kickoff of the campaign against Iran since that date to today. International Campaign on the Iranian nuclear program, all constituting a potentially explosive could lead to "war" according to the French Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Dr. Kouchner, in September 2007!

Still, since December 3, 2007 and the NIE report, it is permissible to assume that these revelations about the offensive nature of Iran’s nuclear program could have been an element of manipulation among other active measures, initiated as part of an ambitious plan to destabilize the Islamic Republic. As previously mentioned, in the hypotheses of regime change in Iran, PMOI could be called to occupy a certain place – at least in the transition phase – the construction of a federal Iran, one organic ideas of the "Constitution" internal movement.

As a military organization (behind the scene of the political showcase more familiar for European officials), and like the PKK, PMOI remains clearly one of the assets available to the U.S. in their hidden war for the destabilizing of Iranian power. It is obviously not a mere academic speculation, but a geopolitical trend recorded in the long term contemporary and we see here and now effects, with evidence of the remarkable efficiency with which the U.S. Administration demonstrated in the case of the Balkans: in fact it only took fifteen years to complete, with the independence of Kosovo in February 2008, the dismantling of the Yugoslav Federation, a regional power and former purveyor of weapons of ‘Baathist Iraq.

PMOI, though deprived of its rear-advanced base in Iraqi territory, nonetheless an asset, an important card provided because of its organization and its penetration to the establishment Western European and North American ( regardless of the Ashraf camp wound properly, that is to say, in a timely manner according to the agenda of the Department of State) because it is expected to play a role similar to that of the Iraqi National Congress that Washington was instrumented in order to justify its invasion of Iraq in 2003. Irrespective of the fact that the May 7, 2009, one hundred and three MEPs from 24 Member States of the EU had sent a message to President Obama to ask him to imitate the European example by removing People’s Mujahedeen of Iran from the list of terrorist organizations.

Alterinfo.net – Translated by Nejat Society

November 29, 2009 0 comment

Mujahedin Khalq Organization

The Truth MKO leaders Claim

In a mind control cult there is nothing called Truth. As the cult leaders believe, the “Reality” is not something external but only in people’s mind so the Truth is what the cult called “Truth”. In this way, the cult controls the Truth by controlling the members’ mind.

The leaders’ of MKO terrorist cult try to pretend that their organizational system wants to bring happiness and prosperity to people but actually they see their members as weak individuals who are not able to live freely and to face the Truth of the life. Massoud and Maryam Rajavi are well aware of their real goal which is maintenance of their power in the cult and achievement of power in Iranian political scene. The power is not the means, according to the Rajavis, but it’s the goal. They see the power as the ability of imposing extreme pain and grief on other members.

Therefore, that’s the power that creates the Truth and Reality for them.

When the Rajavis claim that their cult is the best alternative to IRI regime, the members who are isolated behind the cult bars have no way to investigate such a claim. Thus the claim becomes a truth for them. As far as they are kept behind the barbed wires of camp Ashraf they have to accept their cult as the best system to liberate the world!

The more the destructive cult of Rajavi controls its members’ minds, the more they become a number of instruments to accomplish the Rajavi’s goals. The members of MKO cult are today the tools to change the forms to the Reality to what is appropriate for their own cause.

Indeed, the truth is something that the masses of people agree about it not what the cult leaders claim. The limited numbers of MKO members are victims of Rajavi’s skillful manipulative practices that make them believe the opposite of what is the truth.

Therefore, as far as the individual has no independence in his opinions and believe what the cult says, two plus two can equal five, Slavery can be the same as freedom for them. They think that they are free because they don’t know the difference between True and False any more.

The function of manipulative approaches is especially useful in ideological systems like Rajavi’s cult. They torture their members physically or mentally under the cover of their ideological principals. This is what Rajavi does with his victims in his cult. One may have two reactions to the fate of Rajavi’s victims: to get more disappointed or to accept that it is not too late, there is still time to be courageous and encounter the cruelty of MKO leaders. It is clear that human soul is more powerful than the manipulative system.

By Mazda Parsi

November 26, 2009 0 comment

MEK Camp Ashraf

Saddamist lobby’s lies exposed in U.K. parliament

[Iran-Interlink – The MKO do not have Protected Persons status under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The group has no legal status in Iraq. The U.N. has refused to give them refugee status in Iraq.

The Government of Iraq has stated that the relocation of the 3,400 MKO members in Camp Ashraf to a place distant from Iran’s borders is necessary for their safety. The MKO has violently resisted any attempts to enforce Iraqi law inside the camp.]

Iraq: Camp Ashraf — Question

All Lords debates on 23 Nov 2009

Saddamist lobby’s lies exposed in U.K. parliament
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale (Labour)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Iraq about their threat to use force to relocate 3,400 Iranian dissident refugees at Camp Ashraf to elsewhere in Iraq.

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, we encourage the Iraqi authorities and the Camp Ashraf leadership to find a lasting and acceptable solution for the future of the residents. We have relayed this message to the Iraqi Government at the highest levels, including to the Iraqi Prime Minister. Camp Ashraf is in a sovereign and democratic Iraq and, ultimately, decisions on the future location of the camp are for the Iraqi Government to resolve.

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale (Labour)
Will my noble friend confirm that the United Kingdom supports the views of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, the ICRC and the UNHCR that it would further breach international humanitarian law if Iraq carried out its threat to again use violent force against defenceless Iranian refugees at Ashraf, so adding to the toll of 11 dead and hundreds injured in its July assault? Will the Government join efforts to persuade Iraq to accept a UN monitoring force at Ashraf to help talks between Iraq and the residents on their future to continue in a calm atmosphere?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
My Lords, in light of the tragic deaths of 11 people and many others injured at Camp Ashraf on 20 July, the Government have raised the issue with the Iraqi Government seeking a review of the event. We also raised the question of a UN presence in the camp.

That was acceded to in discussions between the PMOI and the Government of Iraq and is now established, with a mission that is monitoring human rights and the humanitarian situation at Camp Ashraf, liaising with American and Iraqi counterparts as well as with the PMOI, regularly reporting on the situation to the SRSG and the OHCHR in Geneva, and assessing the possibilities and the presence of enabling conditions by the GoI-the Government of Iraq-for a later deployment of UNHCR staff and other actions as required.

Lord Waddington (Conservative)
Perhaps the noble Lord can help on this. Did Her Majesty’s Government make representations to the Iraqi authorities about the blockade of Ashraf, subsequent to the attack in July, and about the outrageous situation in which the authorities prevented even doctors from entering the camp to look after people who had been injured in the attack, or are Her Majesty’s Government washing their hands of the whole matter and saying that they no longer have any real responsibility for the people of Ashraf as protected persons under the Geneva conventions? If it is the view of Her Majesty’s Government that they have no responsibility in that regard, how did they come to that conclusion?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
I refer the noble Lord to an answer that I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Eden of Winton, when I dealt with the whole question of the immunities that people believe exist but which do not exist in relation to Camp Ashraf. It is in sovereign Iraqi territory-a democratic state.

On the other hand, we do not resile at all from trying to ensure that humanitarian conditions exist and that assurances are kept that no one will be transferred from that camp to a country in which their lives are in danger. In that sense, we are clear about the issue. We are less clear about accusations, for which we have no independent authoritative evidence from the UN or anywhere else, that people are being prevented from having medicines and other things. If there is any hard evidence, I would be more than delighted to refer it to my Foreign Office colleagues for investigation.

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (Liberal Democrat)
Why is no European nation, or North America, willing to accept any of the residents of Camp Ashraf? May it have something to do with their previous activities? Is the Minister absolutely determined either to prove that the Camp Ashraf residents cannot return to the Islamic Republic of Iran or to press European nations to bring them out? What responsibility do the Iraqi Government have to keep these former enemies of the Iraqi people?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
The noble Baroness raises a question that has undoubtedly been the subject of considerable discussion in Iraq. People in the camp probably find no favour in the country from which they came and little favour in the country of their adoption, given their previous adherence to the regime that has now been removed. The short answer is that no one outside the country seems to show any great enthusiasm for bringing in people in Camp Ashraf. Many of them may be innocent, but there are people in that camp with a clear history of attacks in Iran-attacks which they may have now abandoned-that makes them unpopular in that country and of support for a dictator that makes them equally unpopular in Iraq.

Baroness Turner of Camden (Labour)
My Lords, is my noble friend not aware that these people have protected person status under United Nations law? That being so, would it not be possible to persuade EU countries to provide these people with refuge? These are genuine refugees who deserve protection.

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
Alas, it is not the case that people in Camp Ashraf have protected person status under the Fourth Geneva Convention. That has ceased to apply. That view is shared by the United Nations, the Government of Iraq, the United States and us. It is a mistake to believe that there is international protection for these individuals. However, that does not mean that we should abandon them to be subject to inhuman treatment or to be transferred to regimes in countries where their lives would be in danger.

Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Liberal Democrat)
My Lords, I appreciate the clarification provided by the Minister regarding the status of these people in Camp Ashraf. However, in light of the Iraqi Government’s pledge that these people will not be forcibly repatriated to Iran, have Her Majesty’s Government been in any discussions with the Iraqi Government as to whether they might be given political asylum in this country?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
As I said, the UK Government have no locus in Iraq in relation to these people. The discussions have been held internationally through the United States, which had control prior to the ending of the Geneva Convention status. That status was given in the first place only because the Americans chose to accept and adopt it, rather than because there was any international obligation. It is clear that there is no nation-alas, it might be said-for these individuals outside the country that they are in, albeit that they are very reluctantly accepted; no other country is prepared to give residence status to them.

Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrat)
My Lords, following the violence that was perpetrated on residents of Camp Ashraf, Members of the House of Lords met the Minister, Ivan Lewis, who promised to make representations when he visited Iraq and to convey our concern. The Minister has given the answer in relation to making representations, but what was the response of the Iraqi Government?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
The Iraqi Government agreed to put in place an inquiry, the results of which we do not know. My ministerial colleague Ivan Lewis will visit Iraq in December and will no doubt keep the promise that he made to the noble Lord, Lord Dholakia, and colleagues to raise this issue at the highest level.

Lord Elton (Conservative)
My Lords, there are many settlements around the world of people who are unwelcome in the country from which they have fled and unwelcome in the country to which they have fled. The United Nations does a considerable job in getting them settled in third countries. What steps are we taking to assist that effort in this case?

Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
The United Nations is seeking a solution to the problem but, as I hope I have explained, it is not easy when the country of origin sees the individuals as people who attack them and the country that they are in sees them as people who attack them. In that sense, we are protecting the humanitarian support for these individuals where they are and trying to ensure that they are humanely treated and not transported to other countries. But we have a very limited locus in this matter.

House of Lords, London

November 25, 2009 0 comment

Iraq

Maliki: No place for the Mojahedin Khalq in Iraq

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he "no place for the MKO in Iraq."

According to a statement issued by Maliki’s office: "The Prime Minister today received the new President of the International Red Cross mission in Iraq McKenna Bart."

The statement quoted Maliki as saying:

"Our demand is fair, we do not force them to return to Iran and do not allow them to stay permanently in Camp Ashraf. There is no place for them in Iraq after the crimes they have committed against the Iraqi people by exercising their terrorism and because of their cooperation with the Baathists and their interference in Iraq’s domestic affairs."

On the issue of missing Kuwaitis, Maliki said: "The issue of missing Kuwaitis is humanitarian and not political, and we are fully prepared to cooperate with our brothers in Kuwait."

He continued: "We confirmed our commitment to cooperate on missing Kuwaiti property and money in letters previously to the United Nations and the Government of Kuwait, and seek to end this humanitarian issue, and seek to protect the integrity of the remains of any missing Kuwaitis."
He added: "Iraq has overcome many difficulties during the past two years, and [we see] the development and improvement on what the security situation was before."

For his part, according to the statement, the head of the Red Cross praised the developments witnessed by Iraq and Iraq’s commitment to resolving the issue of missing Kuwaitis, referring to the adoption of the International Committee of Red Cross’ joint efforts with the Iraqi government and its cooperation in this respect.

November 24, 2009 0 comment

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