European Parliament Vice President warns of impending humanitarian catastrophe in Camp Ashraf, demands continued protection of Ashraf residents by the United States In a statement issued today, Dr Alejo Vidal Quadras, Vice President of the European Parliament and President of the European Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), which is supported by 2,000 parliamentarians across Europe, rejected as preposterous and outrageous the statement issued on 19 January by the office of Iraq’s National Security Advisor, Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, alleging that a 'resident of Ashraf surrendered to Iraqi security forces' and 'admitted that he had been ordered to carry out a suicide mission against Iraqi security forces.' Camp Ashraf is home to more than 3,500 members of the democratic opposition, People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI[MEK]).

The Vice President of the European Parliament, who headed a parliamentary delegation on a visit to Ashraf in October 2008, warned that today’s absurd allegation is a prelude to a humanitarian catastrophe in Camp Ashraf as it paves the way for the imposition of further restrictions on the residents of Ashraf and serves as a pretext for their expulsion.

Dr Vidal Quadras highlighted the timing of this statement and said it is the latest in a series of steps carried out by some within the Iraqi government who are doing Tehran’s bidding. It coincides with Mr. al-Rubaie’s visit to Iran and his assurances to Iranian authorities that his government will expel the residents of Ashraf.

The EP Vice President added that these developments make it crystal clear that the assurances given by Iraq to the US government in terms of respecting international laws and providing protection for the residents of Ashraf are not credible. As such, these developments underscore the need for the US government to continue to protect the residents of Ashraf. He said that reliable information from within the Iranian regime foretells of Tehran’s extensive plans to exert pressure on, conspire and fabricate cases against the residents of Ashraf

Dr Vidal Quadras emphasised that the current predicament of Ashraf residents, as pre-eminent scholars of international law have reiterated in several legal opinions, is the result of the Iraq war, and as such the United States is fully responsible for the safety and security of the residents of Ashraf. He called on the U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretaries of State and Defense to undertake every effort to ensure that the residents of Ashraf continue to be protected by US forces.

In Search of Justice - European Committee for De-listing the PMOI (ISJ-ECDP)