The British Parliamentarians reiterated that such action was a direct
consequence of the proscription of the PMOI in the UK and its inclusion in the
European Union blacklist, despite the 12 December 2006 ruling of the Court of
First Instance of the European Communities which ordered the EU to remove the
terror tag from the PMOI.
They said that a result of this decision is to seek to deny the residents of
Ashraf City their rights as "protected persons" under the Fourth Geneva
Convention, a treaty by which the Iraqi government is duty bound.
They added that the Iranian regime had demanded that the Multi-National Force
– Iraq (MNF-I) transfer the protection of those in Ashraf City to government
security forces. This will not only breach the terms of their protected persons
status but risks putting them under the control of alien Iran-sponsored militia,
they said.
They called on the MNF-I to continue to protect the PMOI under international
law and ensure that they have the normal commercial access to the supplies which
they need such as food, water, medicine and electricity.
Committee Chair Lord Corbett of Castle Vale said, "There are new threats from
Iranian backed people within the fledgling Iraqi government towards the PMOI
members in Ashraf city. The demands of the mullahs' men in Baghdad are that the
Multi-National Force - Iraq hand over the security of PMOI members in Ashraf
City to militia trained, armed and paid for by Tehran. I have written urgently
in the name of the majority of MPs and 200 members of the House of Lords to the
US ambassador in Iraq to express our alarm at this threat to Ashraf residents. I
have asked and I expect he will ensure their protected persons status is
enforced.
"It is alarming enough that the UK and the EU and others have given time to
the mullahs to get their nuclear bomb. Appeasement signals weakness. It is now
time for signalling strength. I am not asking for support from our government to
the Iranian Resistance. I am asking for an even-handed approach. If you can talk
to this odious regime, you can talk to its democratic opposition."
Conservative MP, Brian Binley, said, "Any talk of handing over control of
Ashraf to the Iraqi security forces must be rejected on the strongest of terms
by all. As we are all aware such an action would lead to the Ashraf residents
being at the mercy of Iranian regime sponsored terrorists. The proscription of
the PMOI as a terrorist organisation has been a shameful slur on the British
nation that has always prided itself on supporting democrats. The time has come
for the removal of this tag and a turning of this chapter of appeasement. "
Lord Clarke of Hampstead, a Labour Peer, said, "Our call to the United
Nations and the EU must be for both the organisations to make a strong
declaration of support for the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf and the preservation
of their Protected Persons Status. That there have been suggestions of making it
a criminal offence if contact is made with the people in Camp Ashraf is
appalling."
The Parliamentarians also denounced the continuing violations of human rights
in Iran, particularly the recent stoning to death of a man in the Iranian city
of Takestan in western Iran after the victim had been incarcerated for 11 years
and the harsh crackdown on young Iranians who staged a nationwide uprising
against fuel rationing.
Lord Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, while reaffirming his
call for deproscription of the PMOI, reiterated that greater attention must be
focused on the crimes perpetrated by the Iranian regime.
Baroness Harris of Richmond, a Liberal Democrat Whip and Party Spokesperson
for Northern Ireland and Home Affairs, voiced grave concern over the persistent
violations of human rights in Iran and what she described as "appalling practice
of stoning to death."
Baroness Turner of Camden, a Labour Peer, said, "It is appalling that this
government is still trying to appease such a brutal regime. It is absolutely
necessary that a political opposition to this regime exists, which is the PMOI.
It is the Iranian regime that is terrorist, not the PMOI. We must recognise the
PMOI as the legitimate opposition."
Lord Russell-Johnston, Former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, noted in his remarks, "The validity of our case has been
clearly set out and there is wide support for de-proscription in both Houses of
Parliament. However, in a democratic state we have not even been able to get a
proper explanation or answer to our questions."
Former Conservative Home Secretary, The Rt. Hon. Lord Waddington QC, added,
"It is essential that there is regime change. It is ridiculous that we have
labelled the PMOI as terrorists. We should be helping not obstructing those who
want democracy. We must support the PMOI."
The Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Wales, Mark Williams, said, "It is
important we make our views clear to our own opposition party front benches and
the government. There is change within Iran and we must draw the link between
de-proscription of the PMOI and democracy within Iran."
Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen added, "Women in Iran are being attacked in
the most horrendous ways for their dress code. It has occurred to me how brave
you have to be to continue to fight in the face of such adversity."
Other speakers included Labour MPs, David Drew and David Marshall, and Lord
Inglewood, Lord Joffe CBE, Lord King of West Bromwich, Baroness Knight of
Collingtree as well as Baroness Masham of Ilton DL.
The representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in the UK,
Ms. Dowlat Nowrouzi, was also present in the panel.
British
Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom
13 July 2007
The following are excerpts of several of the speeches at a meeting of the
British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom at the House of Lords on 12
July 2007:
Committee Chair, Lord Corbett of Castle Vale:
There are new threats from Iranian backed people within the fledgling Iraqi
government towards the PMOI members in Ashraf city. The demands of the mullahs'
men in Baghdad are that the Multi-National Force - Iraq hand over the security
of PMOI members in Ashraf City to militia trained, armed and paid for by Tehran.
I have written urgently in the name of the majority of MPs and 200 members of
the House of Lords to the US ambassador in Iraq to express our alarm at this
threat to Ashraf residents. I have asked and I expect he will ensure their
protected persons status is enforced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Binley MP (Conservative Party):
I would like to add my voice to the many human rights activists, legal
professionals and politicians worldwide, who have unequivocally condemned recent
remarks made by the Iraqi Government regarding Camp Ashraf and its residents,
which suggest that the control of Camp Ashraf should be handed over to the Iraqi
authorities.
Too many lives have been sacrificed in the cause of freedom to allow the
liberty and security of Camp Ashraf residents to be threatened in this way. Any
talk of handing over control of Ashraf to the Iraqi security forces must be
rejected in the strongest possible terms. We are all aware such actions could
lead to Ashraf residents being subjected to the dubious mercy of terrorist
forces, sponsored by the Iranian regime, who have immersed themselves into the
ranks of the Iraqi Security Forces.
It is therefore vital to reiterate to the MNF-I and the Governments of those
forces that the safety of Camp Ashraf and its residents is their responsibility
alone, and the MNF-I must make that fact absolutely clear to the Iraqi
Government. Dealing with such Iranian provoked statements in a firm and
unambiguous manner is vital to the well-being of the people in Camp Ashraf.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Clarke of Hampstead (Labour Party):
Our call to the United Nations and the EU must be for both the organisations
to make a strong declaration of support for the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf and
the preservation of their Protected Persons Status. That there have been
suggestions of making it a criminal offence if contact is made with the people
in Camp Ashraf is appalling.
Pressures exerted upon Ashraf residents are clearly as a result of the
mullahs' influence on the Iraqi government.
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The British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom