Hundreds of Iraqis have taken part in a protest rally to demand the expulsion of members of the terrorist Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) from their country, Press TV reports.The protesters rallied outside the notorious Camp Ashraf in Diyala Province on Friday where the MKO aka MEK/PMOI has been based since the early 1980s, urging the Iraqi government to close the camp and expel its members from Iraq.
The camp Ashraf’s residents are classified as a terrorist organization by many countries and thus have no legal basis to remain in Iraq. No country would accept the presence of foreign insurgents on its soil, but we will work hard to find a peaceful solution that upholds the international values of human rights.
High Representative Catherine Ashton will urge member states to take in some of the Iranians who are settled in the Ashraf refugee camp in Iraq, according to an EU official. The diplomat said that the EU was looking at ways to take in some of the refugees who have strong ties with member states, as the Iraqi government announced it wanted to close the camp before the end of the year. The camp was established under Saddam..
A statement issued by embassy of Iraq here said the MEK/MKO/PMOI has been declared a terrorist organization at global level and existence of such organization on the Iraqi territory is prohibited as per the article 8 of the Iraqi constitution that stipulates adoption of policy of non-interference in internal affairs of the neighbouring countries.
The presence of the terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) aka MEK/PMOI in Iraq and its consequences still remain among the main topics discussed in the country’s political spectrum.A number of Iraqi officials, tribal leaders and some foreign agencies attended a conference, calling for the expulsion of members of the terrorist group from the country.Baghdad has said it is determined to shut the camp down by the end of this year. ..
Shiites, Iraqi Kurds, and a great number of Sunnis are against remaining MKO aka MEK/PMOI in Iraq; besides, political parties in Iraq such as Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, Sadrist Movement, Islamic Dawa Party, and Kurdistan Democratic Party all emphasize expulsion of MKO terrorists from Iraq… The Iraqi government’s stand on this issue is expulsion of MKO members and evacuation of Camp Ashraf by year end.
Massoud Khodabandeh heading the delegation thanked the Government of Iraq and asked the Governor of Diyala and the General to help inform the people trapped inside about their rights and to counter the lies given to them by the hostage takers and cult leaders. Ms. Abdollahi on behalf of the families asked for help and for care to be taken when dismantling the camp to institute particular safeguards to protect the relatives of the picketing families..
State of Law MP Ali al-Shalah said that there are moves to close anti-Iranian Ashraf Camp through the Iraqi foreign ministry, which is trying to find a haven for them in European countries.Shalah told Aswat al-Iraq that his bloc”is trying to reach a peaceful and humanitarian solution to Ashraf Camp question”, calling”western European countries to extend their assistance to finalize this question”.
The presence of the Mojahidin Khalq Organization aka MKO/MEK in Iraq and its consequences still remain among the main topics discussed in the country’s political circles.In a conference organized by the Iraqi Center for Media Development, a number of Iraqi officials and ordinary people came together in capital Baghdad to talk about the issue.The expulsion of the MKO members as scheduled was the main point the attendees agreed on.
“The primary and overall responsibility to deal with the situation in Camp Ashraf lies with the government of Iraq within its sovereignty,”Martin Kobler, the UN secretary general’s special representative for Iraq..”In agreement with the government, we are in continuous contact with all parties, including the residents of the camp and the members of the international community to facilitate a peaceful and durable solution,”Kobler said.