Iranians rally in Geneva, cautioning about clerical regime's plots against Ashraf and occurrence of a human catastrophe
Call on Multi-National Force-Iraq, UN Secretary General and the ICRC to guarantee the security of Ashraf
NCRI – On Wednesday, August 20, hundreds of Iranians residing in Switzerland held a rally outside the headquarters of the United Nations Office in Geneva and warned about the plots and pressures of the clerical regime against Ashraf City (home to members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)). They urged the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) and the US to counter these plots and to continue protecting the residents of Ashraf City.
The protesters reminded the MNF-I of its responsibilities in implementing the International Humanitarian Law, International Law and the principle of non-refoulement and warned that the transfer of protection of Ashraf City would pave the way for Iraqi forces and result in a human catastrophe.
The demonstrators, many of whom have relatives and family members in Ashraf City, called on the Secretary General of the United Nations, President of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and all other relevant international bodies to actively intervene and urge for the continuation of protection of Ashraf City by the MNF-I and not allow that such a human tragedy to occur.
The clerical regime, besieged by mounting social dissent inside Iran and growing international isolation, has increased its pressure on the Iraqi government regarding the Ashraf City. The mullahs intend by extradition, massacre or expulsion of residents of Ashraf, to kill two birds with one stone: To rid itself from its democratic opposition and to remove the biggest political and cultural obstacle in expanding its ominous influence in Iraq.
More than 5.2 million Iraqis in June 2006 and 3 million Shiites in June 2008 in separate statements described the PMOI as a major bulwark to Islamic fundamentalism and extremism exported to Iraq from Iran.
Swiss political dignitaries and prominent human rights activists including Mr. Jean Pierre Lagnaux (Secretary General of Association for Education and Liberation of Switzerland and France), Ms. Denise Kessler (Director of Women's Affairs of the Christian Democratic Party in Geneva), Ms. Erica Ziegler, and Professor Marc Henzelin, a prominent lawyer in international law and one of the lawyers of residents of Ashraf City who had just returned from a visit to Ashraf last week spoke at the rally. In their remarks, they reiterated the rights of Ashraf residents as "protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention” and emphasized that the MNF-I is responsible for their protection.
More than 3,500 members of the PMOI are residing in Ashraf. Following an agreement with the MNF-I in May 2003, and after a 16-months screening by various US government agencies, they were granted the status of "protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention” in July 2004. The protection thereafter has been by the MNF-I.
Last year, the provincial parliament of Geneva passed a resolution in support of the residents of Ashraf and their rights.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
August 20, 2008