Amnesty International is urging the Iraqi government to extend the deadline for the closure of the camp Ashraf .

URGENT ACTION

IRANIAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN IRAQ AT RISK

UA: 320/11 Index: MDE 14/043/2011 Iraq Date: 2 November 2011
Over 3,000 Iranian asylum-seekers living in a camp in Iraq are at serious risk of egregious human rights violations, including forcible return to Iran. The Iraqi authorities plan to close down the camp, which has previously been attacked several times by Iraqi security forces resulting in the death and injury of dozens of people.

The Iraqi authorities have publicly announced their plans to close Camp New Iraq, formerly known as Camp Ashraf, 60 kilometres north of Baghdad, on 31 December this year. The camp is home to some 3,250 Iranian asylumseekers who have lived in Iraq for some 25 years. The Iraqi government has repeatedly stated its opposition to the continued existence of the camp. The camp has been attacked several times by Iraqi security forces, most recently in April 2011, causing the deaths of dozens of residents and injuries to others. Camp residents are concerned that excessive force will be used again if plans to close the camp go ahead.
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