As Washington’s smear campaign fire away at MEK, Bardia Amir-Mostofian a 44 year old engineer and resident of Ashraf dies of cardiac arrest due to fatigue after 48-hour-long transit inspection after entering Camp Liberty.
Bardia was one of 700 residents who volunteered to go to the Camp described to be a “prison” by a recent statement by the Council of Europe. (Full statement of Council of Europe) International pleas by the opposition (MEK) alerting the US,UNAMI and International community of a plot to fail the relocation and blame it on the opposition has not been heeded when most needed.
The statement released by the opposition blames Baridas’ death on his extreme fatigue and stress cause by the rush imposed by Iraq and UNAMI to relocate before the Iranian New year. Reports of harassment, attacks, physical threats by Iraqi SWAT teams, who speak Iranian, on the residents at Liberty, have caused serious concerns on the “good will” of the Iraqi side.
The presence of numerous Iraqi police forces, their invasion in the “women’s quarters”, deliberate sabotage on the sewage system and spying instruments improvised around the camp all point to this necessity.
As reported by the opposition, Bardia’s death was caused by prolonged inspection and harassment: “The inspection of belongings began at 8 am on Sunday March 18 and went on until midday on Monday March 19, following which inspections of individuals began. At one point during this offensive inspection, the Special Forces known as SWAT attacked the residents and beat them with electric batons.
The Legal representative of the residents has released a report by Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill in a statement points the blame on Iraqi forces;
“After arriving at Camp Liberty, Iraqi officials under the command of Sadeq Mohammad Kazim (one of the commanders of the July 2009 and April 2011 massacres), sought to conduct yet a further thorough search. During the 48 hour process of search and transfer to Liberty, the residents were constantly subjected to insults. Many of their items were confiscated with no justification. All these matters were reported to representatives of UNAMI at the scene.” (read report at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/86521542/First-Legal-Report-transfer-Of400-Ashrafresidents18-Feb)
Mahin Saremi, relative of the Camp residents, former political prisoner and leading activist in the 2009 protests in Iran, reacted to allegations that the Camp leadership and residents are over exaggerating the harassment. While blaming the US FTO list as a pretext for such violations of rights by Iraqi forces she said:
“"Hawks will not pick out hawks eyes." Some pro-Ayatollah pundits have gone over the edge to accuse the MEK of imposing hardship and suffering over the residents. The smear campaign against nobel US officials who protect the truth about the Camp is working against the interests of the US. They are defending promised values by Washington only to keep a good face for it among Iranian people. Accusing the victim of self torture and harassment is not a new tactic. the first sponsor of such propaganda was Khomeini when he accused the MEK of killing its supporters in prisons and in public meetings during the 1980s. The question is why do the "devils work " for him? Why side with the Ayatollahs against their victim? "The MEK is not worried of the truth and when ever there has been an iota of justice, the MEK has been the first to out spur the truth. What Washington is doing is giving the Ayatollahs the best gift this new year: Keeping its main opposition as pawn in an illegal FRO list."
The Council of Europe has issued a statement on the lack of lack of humanitarian and human rights standards in Camp Liberty and has urged the Iraqi government to implement the minimum guarantees demanded by the residents, including the removal of all armed units from the interior of the Camp.
The text of the statement reads:
•[15/03/2012] PACE’s Political Affairs Committee has repeated its call to the Iraqi authorities to stop turning Camp Liberty – a site near Baghdad where around 800 members of an Iranian opposition group are now living – into a prison. In a statement adopted yesterday, the committee called for armed units and surveillance to be removed from the camp, as well as free movement for its residents and improved conditions, including access to medical services, lawyers and UN monitors. The complete text of the Council’s statement:
Following the statement made in January and owing to the fact that
unfortunately no improvement has been made, the Committee on Political Affairs
and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calls on
the Iraqi authorities to stop turning CampLiberty into a prison. It also calls on
the UN Secretary General to ensure the minimum guarantees required by the
camp residents.
In spite of the lack of humanitarian and human rights standards, to date, 800
Ashraf residents have been moved to CampLiberty in order to find a peaceful
solution. But this camp is suffering from a serious shortage of drinking water and
electricity. Open sewage has made the area terribly polluted and the danger to
human health and many of the trailers are extremely badly damaged, making
them unusable. Liberty residents are not allowed to leave the camp. They have
no direct access to medical services nor to lawyers. There is a police station and
nearly 150 armed Iraqi forces equipped with machine guns in this very limited
area of half a square kilometre in which 3400 people have to live. Several
surveillance cameras and eavesdropping devices have been installed in the
camp, the output of which has been passed to the Iranian authorities to threaten
the residents and their families.
The Committee urges the Iraqi government to implement the minimum
guarantees demanded by the residents, including the removal of all armed units,
surveillance cameras and eavesdropping devices from the camp; resolving the
infrastructure problem, particularly regarding water, electricity and sewage;
providing direct access to medical services, lawyers and UN monitors; allowing
free movement or at least increasing the camp area; and providing the security
of all residents until they leave Iraq preventing the arrest of even one resident.
We call on Council of Europe member and observer states to respond positively
and rapidly to resettlement demands of Liberty and Ashraf residents.
Increasing police stations in Liberty and bringing them closer to residential areas
In the afternoon of Monday March 12 and the morning of Tuesday March 13, Iraqi armed forces opened up a 5-meter wide section of CampLiberty wall and stationed police forces there. These points are at 10-meter distance from living and rest area of the residents. Therefore the number of police posts have been increased to seven. This is a clear threat to the residents and paves the way for attacking the residents.
Earlier on February 27th, residents of Ashraf and Liberty in separate letters signed by all of the residents to UN Secretary General, his Special Representative and the US Secretary of State had stated their minimum assurances for the transfer of the remaining residents from Ashraf to Liberty, the most important of which was the withdrawal of police and Iraqi armed forces from Liberty
The
infightings within regime still flaring: khamenei trying to curb situation
every step of the way
The Clerics
Supreme leader has been pre-occupied trying to keep the infightings of within
its ranks and hierarchy subtle so prevent any pretexts for uprisings and
protests. The society is potentially explosive: none of the so called economic
plans of Ahmadinejad have worked, the infightings and differences within the
ranks (loyalist conservatives to khamenei ; the perseverance front (Ahmadinejad and
Mashaii) , and the remaining so called reformers such as Rafsanjani) have been
displayed in official TV broadcasts of the Majlis during Ahmadinjeads’ recent
impeachment procedure which was reformed into a “questionnaire”.
Khamenei
chose his Expediency Council. Once again he appointed Rafsanjani ( one of the
wealthiest clerics in the hierarchy) as the head , but discharged previous
members such as cleric Imami Kashani,Mir hossein Moussavi, Mohammad Hashemi (Rafsanjai’s
brother) and cleric Rei Shahri. He instead appointed Mahmoud hashemi sharoodi,
cleric Iraqi, cleric Mesbah Moghadam, RGC Commander Saffar harandi, RGC
commander Vahidi and a number of others in the same ranks as the new members.
It is
most probable that Khamanei’s volatile situation does not allow him to rid
Rafsanjani off his back. He desperately needs to keep the splitting factions
weak and close to him, keep an open door as to control what is happening under
his feet.
Ahmadinejad’s
so called impeachment in the Iranian Parliament:
Ahmadinejad
mocked parliament and supreme Leader
As reported
in official papers the whole staged TV show was in favor of Rafsanjani , while
Ahmadinejad fired back at some of his personal rivals in the Majilis in his
answers.
The
impeachment was modified into “10questionnaire” because the supreme leader was
trying to prevent an outburst of blatant fighting in the Majilis which would
most probably give way to notorious corruption of the hierarchy and weaken his
structure. The wuestions included his management of the economy, his defiance
of the Supreme Leader and even his views on the hijab and Islam.
There had
been a petition before the show but it seems many of the signatories withdrew
their signatures and this changed impeachment into a modest questionnaire which
was given to him two weeks earlier. The members who withdrew were encouraged by
the supreme leader to do so in order to keep the “open battle of fractions” in
a low profile.
As agreed
by many and as reflected by pro-khamenei loyalists in the Majilis in angry
protests; Ahmadinejads replies were only to mock and under estimate the questionnaire.
Some of those who did dare to enter the dogfight poured their thoughts into
outbursts on the parliament floor; “How dares he to insult the Majlis and the
leadership in such audience” said one conservative loyalist.
In return
Ahmadinejad who is known for his bad manors and zero culture and ethics, was
very rude in tone and frank in examples he put forth to the parliament. In
other words he turned the questionnaires into an impeachment of the Majlis
members while mocking them most of the time.
Therefore
the supreme leader in such staged formality was able to keep the infightings at
the lowest possible, while keeping the structure in parts attached.
A
point of reminder: When we refer to members of Iranian parliament, bear in mind that most
of these appointed members have a history of genocide and corruption and are
mostly members of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, or the retired section of the
corrupted Cartel.
A book
in Farsi had been printed some years ago which I read, describing each one of
the members with their astonishing crimes during the 1980s.
Last
Wednesday of the New Iranian Year: firecrackers festivities
The Fire Festival
(Charshanbeh Suri) in cities across Iran became the scene of protest
and expressing outrage of the regime.
At the same time, widespread dissatisfaction
has been the centre of activities of the resistance during the “fire”
festivities. The “reddening of last Wednesday” which is originally a Zorostian
ceremony but has been kept for centuries, has been banned by the clerics.
Nevertheless, it allows excuse for gathering and also mocking the security
forces of the clerics who are almost in constant battle presence in most main
cities of Iran.
Despite lack
of access to free Internet and the presence of an organized “Internet police”
under the supervision of the Special Revolutionary Guards Corps, people have
been able to send reports of the festivities carried out.
In twitter
@iraniscc reports from the scene :
13 Mar@iraniscc: Despite the plan by regime to have very low
profile this year, no news out , still people are going against them.
13 Mar@iraniscc:Shiraz
youth used tactic of small home made fireworks “taraghe” to scare sec patrol
cars.
13 Mar@iraniscc: Esfahan Charbaghpayeen area: fight between Basijs and security unites over
incompetence to disperse youth.
13 Mar@iraniscc:Esfahan, security
seemed low profile but present.They tried to keep distance from youth.
13 Mar@iraniscc:Esfahan roads
leading to kohsofeh are either blocked by security and parked busses in order
to stop people from going there for 4shanbe soori (fire festivities)
13 Mar@iraniscc: Esfahan in
one place under marnoon, youth exploded sound grenade bridge cause huge echo in
area.
13 Mar@iraniscc:Esfahan despite
the fact that people are recognized by
security guards, many turn out near marnoon &park leading to it
13 Mar@iraniscc:Tehran
the mere presence of people for charshanbe soori (fire festivities) scares the Bassijis to
parts.
13 Mar@iraniscc-Tehran
families in park Baharestan bullies by security to drift off. But still they
are there (to continue with the fire ceremony)
13 Mar@iranisccTehran people are only
walking in numbers. They tried to put up flares but security was high.
13 Mar @iraniscc:Tehran In Amirieh a big
explosion was reported :youth used fire extinguisher to frighten off the sec
car near by
13 Mar@iraniscc: In Tehran : Narmak area
people chant : Sid ali (Mocking name of the Supreme leader) you are the next in
line
A film sent out on You tube in which people,
while using the opportunity of festivities chant anti-government slogans
It has been
reported that in Tehran,
numerous districts people successfully carried out the ceremonies and despite
regular patrolling of security, they refrained from confrontation with the
chants. These areas were: In Pakdasht region, in Nazi Abad, Khani Abad and
Tehran Bazaar, In Ferdowsi and Geisha and Vanak Squares, Mehrabad, Narmak,
Tehran Pars, and Poonak Shemiran areas, Hakimiyeh, GHaleh Hassan Khan, Towhid Square,
Molawi, Dowlat Abad, Golestan, Roodhen and Mahalat.
In other
cities the same pattern followed.
Hangings and death
tolls and execution orders:
Unfortunately in
the past week only at leas 15 people have been hanged (3 sisters included) for
various reasons. Some of the MEK family members and also arrested independent students
and teachers have been charged with MOHAREBE (being anti-God) which is a death
sentence. They await their fate. The bitter irony is that the regime allows
prison guards to demand money from families of those hanged in exchange for
their corps.
Two of those hanged
have been Afghan nationals (Gholam sarani, Gol Ahmad heidari).
An article by one of our contacts who is a researcher and anchor journlist as well as women's activist :S.Azad
The portrayal of women warriors have been the subject of history, mythology, culture, film, folklore and gender studies. It is time to unravel a real ongoing epic involving 21st century women warriors who have not only outwitted their past ancestors experience in facing cultural and psychological barriers which enchain them in their quest for the “good” but are at the forefront of changing the trend of social political evolution Humankind: The MEK.PMOI women.
In terms of Islamic history, breaking barriers for gender equality has always been the tradition of the Prophet himself;
““We’ve got to do all we can to raise awareness of this so that people will know what is going on – but more importantly, so that the Iraqi Government knows that the world is watching”
Only before Christmas time ( less than 65 days away) more than 3,400 people face eviction from their home of 21 years in what Labour peer and civil liberties champion Lord Robin Corbett has described as ‘a pact with the devil’
Camp Ashraf, 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, is home to 3,400 members of Iran’s principal opposition movement, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK). Some 1,000 of the residents are women and one-third are former political prisoners in Iran, who survived the Iranian regime’s reign of terror and found safe haven across the border. Hundreds of university graduates from the United States and Europe joined them in the campaign to establish a secular, democratic, and non-nuclear republic in Iran. In July 2004, the United States recognized the residents of Ashraf as “protected persons” under the Fourth Geneva Convention and signed an agreement with each resident to protect them until their final disposition. In violation of that commitment, the US handed over protection to Iraq in 2009.On April 8, 2011, Iraqi forces, acting at the behest of Tehran, attacked Ashraf, killing 36 and wounding hundreds more. In a similar assault in July 2009, eleven residents were killed.
My name is Shaghayegh, I am 14, at Camp Ashraf
Our City Ashraf has now been turned into a Concentration Camp by Al-Maliki forces.
It’s now more than 2 years we are under siege.
Last night was freezing, but our fuel is cut.
They threaten us 24 hours a day through 300 huge loudspeakers.
My brother said, the mullahs are helping them out.
I saw new huge black boxes next to the speakers. My brother said it’s a communication interceptor and they want to cut us off from the outside world. What does he mean?
President Obama,
I want to be free like your daughter. I want my friends to have the same chance in Iran. But the Mullahs kill anyone who is with us.
They want us all killed like Srebrenica
Will you save us?! Is it my fault since I want the same thing my dad and my sister wished for; to be Free? They were both killed; my dad was killed by the mullahs, my sister: by Maliki forces. Will I be killed too?
Dear US president Obama,
Only you in this world can help us. Otherwise we will all be killed.
Tell Maliki to stop threatening us.
My mum said, Maliki just said they will do everything they like to push us out of our city Ashraf. They will kill us and say that we did not let them into our camp like the last time.
Mr President, I am scared!
The UN has already started work to grant the refugees status, but this is needs time.
President Obama
can intervene and impel the Iraqis to lift the illegal deadline
President OBAMA: Prevent Genocide at Camp Ashraf
The Clock is ticking!
In less than 55 days, 3400 defenseless civilians face a holocaust in refugee camp Ashraf
Obama’s abandoning of Camp Ashraf to its fate would breach U.S. honor The Washington Time - By Struan Stevenson November 2, 2011 It was the “mission accomplished” moment that millions of Americans had been waiting for and many of us considered long overdue: the official end to the war in Iraq and the return of all U.S. troops. Whether you believe the operation in Iraq was a noble cause or pure folly, President Obama’s announcement last month that fighting men and women would be coming home to their families in time for the holidays was cause for celebration.
Delivered by her daughter Nontombi Tutu, at the international meeting at
the UN Headquarters in Geneva September 21, 2011 on Ashraf
“I have in the past expressed my support for the people of Camp Ashraf. They
have been granted protected status by both the United Nations and the
multinational force headed by the United States and Iraq.
Since responsibility for their protection has been transferred to the Iraqi
military, the camp has experienced harassment by both Iranian and Iraqi forces.
The attacks and harassment experienced by the residents of the camp are in fact
human rights abuses that require condemnation from all freedom-loving
people.
Just this month, the UN High Commission for Refugees has declared its
intention to consider individual applications for refugee status by residents of
the camp.
“I ask the Iraqi Government and the international community to respect the
integrity of this process, and to see to it that the residents of Camp Ashraf
are ensured their safety and security, so that the UNHCR can fulfill its mandate
in a safe and confidential location.”
I am Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town.
September 20th, 2011, New York, New
York.”
Switzerland is considering whether to take in refugees belonging to the
controversial Iranian group, the People’s Mohajedin, currently living in Camp
Ashraf in Iraq.
The
organisation, which opposes what it calls the “mullahs’ regime” in Iran, was
supported by the ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and had several bases in
Iraq when he was in power.
However,
the current Iraqi government has friendly ties with Iran and wants to get rid of
the Mohajedin as soon as possible.
The Swiss cabinet discussion of the
issue comes after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said
on September 13 that camp residents who had submitted requests for refugee
status are to be regarded as asylum-seekers under international
law.
Hello all
My name is Shaghayegh, (Poppy)
I have so many words to pour out from my heart – in Love
In love of Freedom..
I am talking to you: Oh .. Iranian children
Can you hear my bewailed voice?
Untold stories of gallantry trying to burst out..
Children , Do you know about our place .. Here I mean? In Ashraf?
This is Ashraf City, the land of the daring heroes
If the land seems red and covered with red flower petals..
They are all hearts, all poppies that once were and now brick our way to freedom..
Even in celebrations of Light over the Dark .. even at time of war, they are there
Even if our reflections are filled with stones and rays of darkness by the bad force
All there is .. All we have; is for your tomorrows’
All we have ..is our heart and in that, is your special place
In this city .. every memory is a bridge to gallantry
Here, each road, each ally reminds one of a poppy
My adorable, kind big brothers
The best sisters on Earth..
One of them, was my sister Faezeh
She was a miracle for my solitude
She spoke of the “Freedom” we could have tomorrow
When soaked by sorrow, she would speak to me of glee and joy
Under this solemn, grey worldly sky,
She.. She was a shining sun – over all goodness that ever was
In my missing moments and cold nights,
She filled my dad’s absence *
I , I was always in love with her
I was always her little sis Shaghayegh
She would say: ‘ Shaghayegh , dads gone to God.
Look he is waving at us from up there!’
She would tell me …:
‘If I get killed .. when I am gone , when I am nearing the glorious sun
Don’t ever say ‘What shall I do now!’
Cuz I am staring at you from above.
I will come and visit you. The love I have for u.. will never leave ‘
When she was leaving us.. When her eyes were closing..
Her cheeks filled with poppy petals
Yes .. She left us .. she was gone
But she reached the stars and the sun
She.. She was like a bird that flew up ..high up ..
Children let me tell you…
She wanted FREEDOM
She kept saying .. there is a PRICE for FREEDOM,
She wanted our future to change color and be BLUE
She wanted the sun to win over the clouds and shine on us
I can still hear her voice
Her flag.. the waving flag? I am carrying her Flag
Now and ever more,
I want to take her Flag
Its message for genuine life
And hoist it in Iran .. just like a waving flag
Waving over Iran when the breeze of change comes .. it will shout one name :
I will make sure its hoisted; Under the name of IRAN
Shaghayegh is 14 and lives in Camp Ashraf. her sister was among those 36 who were shot in cold blood on 8 April 2011.
Her father was mudered by the mullahs in prison, some say under toture. His body was never given to his relatives but was burried clandestinly and later told to relatives.
Speech By Fromer FBI Chief Mr. Louis Freeh on 26 August - Washington DC
Thank you very much Patrick, Governor, my colleagues here and most importantly thank you to you; you’re a wonderful audience. And thank you Mrs. Rajavi for your eloquence and your 10 point program of freedom that talks about not just fundamental freedoms with freedom of religion freedom of women is just a template of what human rights is all about.
And as I told you in Paris: as soon as this organization is de-listed from what is a mis-listing, we want to come here and I told you I’d give you a tour of the FBI headquarters.You’re great, and our friends and family in many cases in Camp Ashraf hear you and feel your strength and remember the words of the great wartime leader, Winston Churchill, who said never never never never give up.
And your courage, our colleagues, the families of men, women and children in Ashraf, you haven't given up we’re proud to stand by you today and speak to you from this birth of freedom here in Washington DC.
You know we’re here between an earth quake right and a hurricane, but your voice, your voice for freedom today makes more noise and gets more attention in the building behind us and any hurricane or earthquake. You’re great, you're absolutely great and that’s because you are the voice of freedom, you are the voice of change and isn’t it great here in America, and many other places not in Tehran, you can assemble, you can lobby, you can argue, you to defend your rights and ask for freedom; God bless you for doing that.
Thousands of participants chanted “Delist MEK now” as speakers emphasized that the FTO List has contributed immensely to recent death toll in Iran and in Iraq of MEK members of families.
A huge crowd moved into the pavement with yellow banners that represent MEK gatherings with the distinct slogan: "Delist the MEK" on every portable item.
Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) emceed the rally in front of the State Department headquarters.
The event also featured speeches by former Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA), former FBI Director Louis Freeh, former CIA Deputy Director of Clandestine Operations John Sano.
From Lord Archer of Sandwell and Lord Fraser of Carmyllie.
This letter is a responce to an article written by NIAC memebrs ( a known mullahs Lobby that works with the State Department to bring US policy inline with Tehran)
Sir, Your article “Favourite ‘terrorists’ in US focus on lobbying” (July 30) and its complementary piece on FT.com, “Heavyweights back Iranian exile group”, repeat the Iranian regime’s stale allegations against the main organised opposition group People’s Mujahedin of Iran (Mujahedin-e-Khalq) and do a disservice to the Financial Times’ record of unbiased journalism. They are part of an effort by Iran’s intelligence ministry to demonise the supporters of the Iranian resistance.
In the past few weeks, Washington has been abuzz with a heated debate over the main Iranian opposition, the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
On the face of it, the debate is on removing the MEK from the list of the State Department’s foreign terrorist organizations - a decision that reportedly will be made soon by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In reality, to delist or not to delist Tehran’s arch-opponents is the battleground for a more profound debate in Washington on how to deal with Iran’s mullahs. The clerical regime’s egregious behavior includes facilitating operation of al Qaeda in the region through an agreement with the vicious terrorist group (as established by the U.S. Treasury Department last week), its unimpeded drive to acquire nuclear weapons, meddling in affairs of other countries - Iraq, in particular - acting as the most active state sponsor of terrorism, and its ruthless crackdown of Iranian citizens. Read from original
Written by Javad Shafaei, former political prisoner in Iran who spent years in prison and witnessed untold violence.
Translation: Paymaneh Shafei
I am a formal political prisoner, who spent more than 6 years of my life in Evin and Ghezelhesar prisons.
I have tasted the bitterness of torture in most gruesome way imaginable. During all these years, I have been tortured and interrogated 9 times, and undergone false executions twice, a common method used to achieve mental anguish.The pain of the physical and mental torment is unforgettable, and I will suffer from it all the rest of my life.
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