Mehrdad Abbasi is a 27 year-old performer. He previously performed in Iran with underground artists, composing and singing songs about the suffering of the Iranian people and the crimes of the Regime. After coming to Camp Ashraf, he continued to sing and play music. He uses his talents to promote freedom in Iran and is an inspiration to his fellow Camp Liberty residents.
After the September 1 attack on Camp Ashraf by Iraqi forces, where 52 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) also known as Mujaheddin-e-Khalq (MEK), were killed and seven were abducted, Mehrdad went on hunger strike along with hundreds of other Camp Liberty residents. He and his fellow hunger strikers demand the immediate release of the seven hostages and the protection of Camp Liberty by UN Blue Helmet Forces.
Iran News Update had an exclusive interview with Mehrdad.
Q: Tell us a bit about your health condition.
A: Since the beginning of the hunger strike, I’ve lost more than 8kgs. I’m suffering from extreme weakness and dizziness. Other hunger strikers are also suffering from similar symptoms, including digestive problems, blurred vision and other physical problems. Now the lives of the hunger strikers are in danger.
Q: How long will you continue your hunger strike?
A: We will continue until our just demands are met. Our first priority is the release of the seven hostages, plus the protection of Camp Liberty by UN Blue Helmets. I consider the U.S. and UN responsible for this situation. The U.S. promised to protect the residents of Camps Ashraf and Liberty but failed in keeping these promises. The silence and inaction (by the U.S. & UN) is endangering the lives of the hostages and the residents of Camp Liberty, and has left us with no other choice than to go on hunger strike to reach our demands.
Q: Why do you believe that the hostages are in the custody of the Iraqi government?
A: Camp Ashraf was completely besieged by Iraqi forces, and more than a thousand Iraqi troops had been deployed around the camp. It is impossible that such an attack can take place inside the camp without the security forces themselves being involved. Moreover, the survivors of the massacre gave some very shocking testimonies about the direct involvement of the Iraqi forces that were supposedly in charge of the camp’s protection in coordination of the attack and the transfer of the hostages outside the camp.
Q: Can the U.S. government and President Obama have an effective role in the freedom of the hostages?
A: President Obama can and must put pressure on al-Maliki to free the seven hostages. The US government is responsible for their safety and had pledged to protect them. The silence by the U.S. government is only giving al-Maliki a free hand to murder the hostages or surrender them to the Iranian regime.