The U.S. declared the MEK/MKO/PMOI a terrorist organization in 1997, citing a series of attacks in Tehran.When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 it disarmed the group, seizing thousands of weapons from Camp Ashraf. The residents lived an almost monastic life, separated by sex and observing a strict ban on alcohol and smoking. Iran has demanded that camp residents be repatriated to Iran and has promised to reintegrate them into Iranian society,..
Reacting to latest US government proposal to relocate the terrorist organization, MKO or Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, to another place within Iraq’s territory, Iraqi lawmakers have called it another US intervention in country’s internal affairs.The US government has proposed moving the camp of the MKO/MEK/PMOI, known as Camp Ashraf, which is located in the Province of Diyala to another place inside the country.
Iraq’s foreign minister says Baghdad is determined to close Camp Ashraf and expel Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO/MEK/PMOI) terrorists from the country. “We have called on the international community and European countries to accept residents of the Camp Ashraf so the camp could be closed,” Hoshyar Zebari .Earlier in May, the US proposed a plan to relocated Camp Ashraf residents to other parts of Iraq before their final resettlement in third countries.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says the decision to shut down the Camp Ashraf has been made by his country’s government…Zebari said that Iraq has asked the international institutions and European countries to accept the MKO members after they are deported.Ibrahim Jafari, a former Iraqi prime minister and a sitting lawmaker, also says the demand for expulsion of MKO was made by all Iraqi groups and people…The Iraqi people have no positive image of the MKO members and that is the reason behind their demand, he noted.
Adnan al-Seraj underlined in April that Baghdad is resolved to expel the terrorist group from the country, but it has faced tough Washington opposition to the move…The Iraqi lawmaker said that Baghdad is trying to find diplomatic ways to expel the group, and added,”If the US stops interfering in the expulsion process, the Iraqi government knows several peaceful ways to expel the group.[MKO/MEK/PMOI]”
The decision was made because MKO members are still committing hostile acts in Iraq and the Iraqi people can no longer tolerate them, the Mehr News Agency reported on Friday… Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the Iraqi government had decided to expel the terrorist group within six months…Iraqi MP Ali al-Shalah said Iraq will never allow any part of its territory, including Camp Ashraf, to be used for launching attacks
..”As you know people living in the camp are in a specific situation (military situation). People living there do not have access to any other media except that of their selves. However we welcome return of those members willing to go back home and are feeling remorseful.”said Iranian Intelligence Minister …. Members of the terrorist Mujahidin Khalq Organization (MKO) are now living in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.In April, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Baghdad is determined to shut down Camp Ashraf and disband the terrorist group.
… In a statement by Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Minister Ashton said”the European Union is keen to develop and activate its relations with Iraq according to the agreement signed between the two sides, which reached its final stages for ratification”.”The EU is keen to cooperate in the fields of oil and gas”, Ashton added in the statement. Zebari expressed the stand and decision of the Iraqi government”to close the camp by the end of this year”and to demand from European countries”to accept the residents of the camp in their countries.” …
Head of Iran-Iraq Friendship Committee in Iraq’s Northern Salahuddin province Nafeh Eissa underlined his country’s determination to expel the anti-Iran terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from Iraq’s soil.”Europeans should rest assured that expulsion of MKO from Iraq is definite. Therefore, they should stop bargaining and start thinking of a place to shelter the members of the terrorist group instead,”..”People of Iraq have been demanding their expulsion from the country since long time ago.”..
The official said the Iraqi government was studying the new U.S. plan, which would now be presented to the leaders of Camp Ashraf, the base of the People’s Mujahideen Organization of Iran which the United States, Iraq and Iran consider a terrorist organization. ..The group, seeking the overthrow of Iran’s Islamic government, mounted attacks on Iran from Iraq before Saddam Hussein’s 2003 downfall. In the 1970s, it led a guerrilla campaign against the U.S.-backed Shah of Iran, including attacks on U.S. targets.