Call on U.S. and UN to condemn mullahs’ demand and to adopt immediate measures to protect Camp Liberty residents

On Tuesday, June 3, just two days after the execution of political prisoner Gholamreza Khossravi of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the Iranian regime’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham stated: “We have always demanded from Government of Iraq to hand over PMOI (MEK) members. This matter is also being followed up through international bodies to prepare the ground for their extradition to Iran… this matter is being followed up by the Foreign Ministry in cooperation from pertinent bodies.”

Speaking on the execution of Khossravi she added: “This individual has been punished because of his membership in terrorist groups and his participation in terrorist act and killing innocent people.”

It seems that she has forgotten that her own regime’s official claims against Mr. Khossravi declared in a statement by Prosecutor Office are “effective attempt to advance the objectives of Mojahedin Organization”, offering information to the “media associated with the PMOI (MEK)”, “providing financial assistance” and linking up “some individuals to the organization”.

Before all else, the repeated requests by the mullahs’ Judiciary chief, Justice Minister, and Foreign Ministry for extradition of refugees who are entitled to “international protection” lays bare the regime’s mounting fear of the widespread social rage and discontent, and displays the strong strength and capacity of the Iranian peoples’ organized resistance inside the country and at the international level.

Mostafa PourMohammadi, the Iranian regime’s minister of justice asked his Iraqi counterpart on March 9 for the extradition of PMOI (MEK) members in Iraq. PourMohammadi himself has been responsible for killings of over 30,000 political prisoners mostly members of PMOI (MEK) in what is known as the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran.

Sadeq Larijani, the regime’s Judiciary chief, repeated the regime’s request for the extradition of the PMOI (MEK) members in a May 18 meeting with the chair of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council.

The request for extradition is being made by a regime that in the past five years, in numerous ground and rocket attacks against Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty with the assistance of its subordinate government in Iraq, has killed 116 residents, injured 1375, and taken seven PMOI (MEK) members hostage including six women. Moreover, this regime has tormented 20 residents to death by imposing a medical siege on the camps.

In its statement of May 6, UNHCR stipulated: “UNHCR further underlines that camp residents are entitled to protection against expulsion or forced return to any place where their life or freedom would be threatened. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Iraq and the United Nations explicitly recognises that residents benefit from the principle of non-refoulement.”

Demand for extradition of Iranian refugees by a regime that has executed 120,000 political prisoners, that has been condemned sixty times by the United Nations for egregious violation of human rights, and that has slaughtered 30,000 political prisoners in 1988 simply because of their loyalty to the PMOI(MEK) , only raises public rage and abhorrence.

The Iranian Resistance calls on the U.S. government and the United Nations that have time and again committed themselves in writing to the safety and security of Camp Liberty residents to unequivocally denounce the Iranian regime’s demands for extradition and to adopt immediate and effective measures to protect the residents of Camp Liberty. Silence and inaction in face of these statements emboldens this regime and its proxies in Iraq in their illegal and anti-human measures.