MEPs raise awareness on the harsh conditions in Camp Liberty and call on the international community to take action

The crisis in Camp Liberty and the continuous inaction by the international community continues to draw condemnations from human rights organizations and political dignitaries from across the globe. During a session in the European Parliament, Brussels, held on April 3, 2014, while condemning the unprecedented violation of human rights in Iran, members of the European Parliament called for the protection of Camp Liberty residents, members of the Iranian opposition.

Tunne Kelam, MEP from Estonia, said, “Madam Ashton has not managed to achieve security for Iranian opposition inmates in camp Liberty. They are the hostages of Iraqi security forces. We should do our utmost to adopt these people as the UN has suggested.”

“In 2013, 660 executions took place in Iran, two thirds under the authority of Mr. Rouhani,” Derk Ian Eppink, MEP from Netherlands said. “At the same time,” he added, “Camp Liberty is under siege and nothing is done about it. These are not really signs of confidence and bridge-building measures.”

Oldrich Vlasak, Vice-president of European Parliament, expressed concern that, “The refugees who moved from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty are now being tortured in Iraq.”

Oreste Rossi from Italy reminded the audience of the plight of 3,000 Camp Liberty residents, and said, “They have been prisoners first of all in Camp Ashraf and now in Camp Liberty.”

Reminding the audience of the brutal September 1, 2013 attack on Ashraf, Rossi said, “In Camp Ashraf where last September there was an armed attack which led to the massacre of 52 innocent refugees and opposition representatives probably with complicity from Iraqi authorities. Their bodies have been disappeared.

“During the attack seven hostages were taken away including six women and nothing more is known about them.”

Rossi condemned Ashton for her stance on human rights conditions in Iran and the situation in Camp Liberty, stressing, “These are crimes against humanity and I cannot understand why Lady Ashton has not taken a position strongly condemning the Iranian regime. On the contrary, she went to Iran to pay homage to Rouhani wearing a veil.”