Images of Camp Ashraf

We must stand up when injustice is staring us in the face

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Images of Camp Ashraf
by Reza Mohajerinejad
03-Aug-2009
 

The disturbing images of Iranians being threatened and beaten and killed has become all too common these days on all the online media. When I see baton-wielding men in uniform beating civilians, wherever they are from, I am disheartened. When I see that the victims are from my own country, I see in their faces my sister, my mother, my aunts and uncles and grandparents, and I am sickened.

On July 28, 2009, Iraqi forces stormed Camp Ashraf, the compound of the Mujahideen Khalq Organization since 1986. Seven members of the organization were killed, and the number of those injured is still unclear, but likely very high. Dozens of members have been taken into custody for questioning. The headquarters that houses some 3400 Iranian men, women, and children, had been under the protection of the U.S. government until January of this year, when their care was turned over to the newly empowered government of Iraq.

I am not a Mujahideen. I have never worked with them nor have I had contact with their organization. My ideology is quite different from theirs, in fact. However, I am an Iranian. More than that, I am a human being. We cannot watch these acts of violence without reacting.

In the post-election protests in Iran, many who are part of the reformist movement have been arrested. Some have been released, but many are still behind bars. A decade ago there were reformists inside the student movement who didn’t believe in our group’s philosophy. When they saw us being imprisoned and forced to give televised speeches under duress, though they had newspapers and a greater level of support within the government, many of them kept quiet. Some of them even called us Western-backed anarchists. Today some of these same people are suffering at the hands of the Islamic Republic because of their activities in the wake of the Iranian elections. For close to two months now, along with other members of our group, I have watched and though we have our differences, I support them. I do not wish them ill, and I pledge to do whatever I can to help them in their current struggle. I say this, not as something extraordinary on my part, but because it is my belief. We must support one another against dictatorship.

Concerns for the safety of the Mujahideen who live in the compound has been at the forefront of human rights groups, and even the Bush administration considered taking their group off the terrorism watch list before leaving office. Had Bush’s people taken them off the list, this would have at least given Iranians living in Camp Ashraf some kind of hope of finding refuge in another country in the Middle East or Europe. At the end of the day, true to form, Condi Rice opted to leave things status quo, and residents of Camp Ashraf in their current vulnerable state. At the moment their plight hasn’t been addressed by the current U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

My point here is simple. We may not all agree with one another, but as human beings we must stand up when injustice is staring us in the face. The members of the Mujahideen Khalq Organization who live in Camp Ashraf have an ideology that is not in line with my own, yet if they are returned to Iran , as Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq has hinted, they will come to a very violent end.

Historically, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always demonstrated a strong vengeance toward the Mujahideen. Nowhere was that more apparent than in the 1988 killing of political prisoners, sanctioned by Khomeini himself. Estimates range anywhere between 8000 to as many as 30,000 political prisoners who were executed in five months.

The current fate of the residents of Camp Ashraf is still unknown. Time is running out for them, and their only hope outside of being returned to Iran is finding countries willing to grant members political asylum. From where we sit, our best bet is to lend our support via our writing, our spoken word, our protest, and our media contacts. We cannot sit by and let the men and women inside Camp Ashraf become yet another statistic--another unfortunate outcome for another group of Iranian people.

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more from Reza Mohajerinejad
 
rustgoo

Lonely Nights!

by rustgoo on

حالا که تبرئه ام کردی خیالم راحت شد  ،کلی هم از نصف شب گذشته. بگذار من و عقده هایم بریم تو رختخواب تا اگر فردا  عمر و قسمت بود ، باز با هم کلنجار بریم که من تا طلاق و مهریّه تو را از رجوی ها نگیرم ، قرار و آروم نمیگیرم...شب خوش.


mazdakian33

تیر هوایی یا سیاه بازی‌

mazdakian33


باز با سفسطه و مغالطه، داری حرف تو دهن من میذاری و مثل جدت خمینی به دروغ متوسل میشوی. آخه مرد یا زن مومن ، من کی و کجا به تو گفتم که به من نظر جنسی‌ داری؟ گفتم " امیال سرکوب شده جنسی‌ " به نمایش می‌گذاری. حتی متذکر شدم به چه کتابی‌ مراجعه بکنی‌. از این حرفها گذشته، خدا وکیلی، من " اصغر ترقه " هستم یا شما نازنین ؟ مثل برادران آخوندی و رفقای توده ای‌ و اکثریتی دست پیش میگیری که پس نیفتی. رو که نیست ، سنگ پا قزوینه. بگو ماشاالله.


rustgoo

چرا موضوع یه دفه ناموسی شد؟!

rustgoo


مزدکی جان
تازه داشتیم دوست،رفیق یا برادر میشدیم که دوباره"اصغر ترقّه" شدی ها. حالا گور بابای "سیاست میاست" .حدّاقل بگو چی گفتم که فکر میکنی بهت نظر جنسی دارم؟!


mazdakian33

dear hamfekr

by mazdakian33 on

Very well said. as I mentioned earlier, I have my own differences and problems with Mojahedin. I, too, believe that exchanging pleasantries won't put a cap on our differences.


hamfekr

Dear Mazdak33

by hamfekr on

The issue of "child abuse", as I expect you are well aware of, goes far beyond those who were called back in order to participate in MKO's infamous attack on Iranian soil. Some of whom were killed; some were captured and many fled back to Iraq. Some of Ashraf's residents today fall under the latter group. as a matter-of-fact those young people were no longer bunch of kids. 

MKO, as you know, immediately after the revolution adopted the policy of recruiting children and very young adults who were used in a series of suicide attacks aginst the IRI. Many of them had not yet reached the age of majority. The degree of necessity and effectiveness of those assassinations is still a hot topic.

As I most humbly advised you not to touch on this issue, I have to say that exchanging pleasantries won't put a cap on our differences.    

 

 


mazdakian33

انور جوجه

mazdakian33


همانطور که در پائین تر اشاره کردم، پاسخگویی به افرادی مانند شما که به جز تهمت و تکرار اراجیف آخوندی کار دیگری ندارند اتلاف وقت است. شما اگه عقل سلیم داشتی، با خود فکر میکردی که چرا مجاهدین را به پای میز محاکمه برای جنایات بر ضد خلق کرد نمی‌‌کشانند. جالبه که آخرش هم من میشوم عصبی و بی‌ منطق و شما هم میشوی پیروز میدان. بقول قدیمیها : جلوی ضرر را هر کجا که بگیری منفعت هست. ادامه بحث با افرادی مثل شما بی‌ثمر است. خدا روزیت را جای دیگه بده. در اتمام متذکر میشوم که بر اساس کتاب فروید (تعبیر خواب ) نوشته‌های شما چیزی جز امیال سرکوب شده جنسی‌ به نمایش نمیگذارد. در پیکار و رزمتان بر ضد منافقین پیروز و سربلند باشید. الهی آمین


mazdakian33

dear hamfekr

by mazdakian33 on

1) The issue was the  Iran -Iraq war and that is exactly why I mentioned the use of children and the role that Khomeini played in it. 2) There are so many documents and correspondences ( including Mohsen Rezayee and Hossein-Ali Montazeri ) published over the past 17 years ( since 1992 or 1371 Khorshidi ) that indicate Khomeini was the main reason for the war to last so long.  Many of Rafsanjani's opponents wrongly accuse him of prolonging the war. 3) The children of Mojahedin are sent to the European and the North America countries  to continue their education and SOME voluntarily go back to Iraq to join their parents and others. having said that, I totally agree with you in regards to how children must stay away. 4) As I have said below, I am neither a Mojahed nor a Moslem. In fact, I have a lot of issues and differences with Mojahedin and their policies. But two things I am certain of are a) The Islamic Republic is my #1 enemy. b) It is my human responsibility to voice my Iranian sisters and brothers who are literally and figuratively defenceless against the Mullah's regime and its henchmen such as Nouri al-Maleki. 5) Wanted to thank you for your use of logic in arguments which certainly prevents the waste of your time and mine. Kind regards  Mazdakian33 


hamfekr

Mazdak33

by hamfekr on

Your argument over prolonging the war is credible. farcically "Rafsanjani" who is known to be one of the architects of the so-called "reform movement" played a major (if not the most important) role to make sure that war would keep going.

On the subject of employing children for political purposes, by means of brainwashing, however,  MKO has got a lot to answer.

If I were you , I'd have never touched that subject.


rustgoo

باز که عصبانی شدی!

rustgoo


نکته قابل توجه اینست که برخی افراد که(البتّه بحق)آخوندها را نکوهش میکنند،خودشان از به کار گیری روش سفسطه آخوندی در مباحث، کوچکترین ابائی ندارند.بحث ما با یکدیگر با متانت و تأمل، درحال نوعی پیشرفت بود.امیدوارم شما بتوانید مجدّداً به اعصابتان مسلط شویدو به جای استفاده از ادبیات "نیمه لاتی"،قدر محیط سالم برخوردآزاد اندیشه ها   را بدانید.میدانم که برای برخی افراد،اینگونه برخوردهای متمدّنانه،دشوار است.بهرحال شما که دیگران را به "بسیجی" بودن متّهم میکنید؛شایسته است از روشهای تخریبی "لباس شخصی"ها استفاده نکنید. فراموش نکنید که نکبت "خمینی" روی دوش "سازمان مجاهدین" و البتّه بسیاری سازمانها و احزاب و تشکیلات وجماعات و...برخی چپ و برخی مذهبی به ایران تحمیل شد.اگر "انحصار طلبی"ذاتی آخوندهائی مانند بهشتی، مانع نشده بود؛"سازمان مذهبی مجاهدین خلق ایران"که با آخوندهامسئله ای نداشت.اوّلین محافظ شخصی "خمینی"، "موسی خیابانی"شما بود.آن داد و قال راجع به "حقوق خلق ها و وضعیت اقلیّت" ها هم برای عقب نیفتادن از قافلهً چپ در ایران بود. سازمان متبوع شما ماهیّت اصلی خودرا در زمینه "خلقها"،با دست زدن به  کشتار "کرد" های عراق، درجهت پیشبرد اهداف "صدّام" به نمایش گذاشت. ایران،چه "آخوند زده" امروز چه آزاد و بی آخوند فردا، تنها یک وجه  مخمصه مرگباریست که سازمان مورد علاقه شما را احاطه کرده.رهبری متحجر و "انور خوجه"وار باند رجوی سبب گشته تا عرصه بر سازمان شما،هرروز بیش از پیش در "منطقه"تنگتر گردد.پاریس گردی ها و تشبثّات دریوزانه به پارلمان اروپا هم بیشتر در راستای نجات رهبری از معضلات درونیست.


mazdakian33

جنگ برکت است - با لهجهه دهاتی خمینی

mazdakian33


حتما خمینی دجال هم که ۷ سال اضافی ( بعد از قبول عراق برای آتش بس با پرداخت غرامت در سال ۱۳۶۰ ) جنگ را ادامه داد و دانش آموزان را به جبهه و به روی مین می‌‌فرستاد، میشود وطن پرست و ایرانی‌ !! بابا جمعش کنید این بساط را. ۳۰ سال کشتار خمینی و رژیمش کافی‌ نبود هنوز مثل آدمهای خجالتی از اون امام خون خوارتان دفاع می‌کنید. اینقدر جوربزه ندارید که چهره مزدور خودتونو نشون بدید. همینتان کافیست.


deev

ملا لغت جان

deev


so i miswrote an arabic word o shomaa shaahkaar kardi dorost neveshti, still doesn't change the fact that any Iranian fighting on the Iraqi side to kill his own people are traitors and disgrace to Iran and Iranians.


rustgoo

از ملا تا بهلول

rustgoo


حمایت نا مشروط شما از مواضع مجاهدین گویای حقیقت تلخیست که گواه بر
سالها پیروی شما و شما نوعی از این "کالت" دارد. عدم توانائی فکری
هواداران معدود این سازمان، رمز بقای رهبری خائن مجاهدین( یا باقیمانده
رهبری )است. این را بدانید ترور هائیکه در اوائل انقلاب انجام دادید بجای
ایجاد جنبش مردمی، موجب شتاب رژیم در "ملیتاریزه"  و "امنیتی" کردن جامعه
و افزایش خفقان در مملکت گردید. دلیل ناتوانی خود را در جلب حمایت مردم در
خود جستجو کنید. برای شما، یک جهانبینی جدید تنها از طریق یک رهبری جدید
امکان پذیر است.چنین فرصت طلائی را چندی قبل با توسل به مراسم مسلکی و
رسوای "خود سوزی" از دست دادید.

By the way first learn how to write correctly, before killing people. It should read " Sayyad Shirazi".....just kidding!

 


mazdakian33

به بهلول گفتند: دیوانگان را بشمار. گفت: شمردن عاقلان ساده تر است

mazdakian33


I still firmly believe that the opinions of bunch of " sicko " deserve no response and it is waste of time, but since you insist, I just refer you to the item #1 of AZARIN SADEGH :" If they know how to ride a bike, they can go back to Iran and be hired as basiji and make good money killing all the leaders of the green movement, and their few millions sympatisans. Anyway, they do have an excellent resume for this position and they'd be qualified easily." how sick one can be  comparing the killings of " Lajevardi " , " Beheshti " , " Dast-Gheib ", " Rejayie " , " Sayad Shorazi " and the likes to " few millions sympatisans ". also, how can Mojahedin be hired as Basiji when Regime hates no one more than Mojahedin and is scared of them more than any group ( ordering Maleki to attack Camp Ashraf is the best evidence.) last and not least, " riding a bike " is so " incest " charged that even Carl Jung will agree and side with Freud on that notion. 


rustgoo

شب دراز و قلندر بیدار؛ مزدک

rustgoo


همچنان بسیار مشتاقم که با قدری سعۀ صدر آندسته از اظهار نظر هائی را که بنا به قول خودتان "یک مشت دیوانه بسیجی" نوشته اند ؛  فاش و پاسخگوئی کنید شاید که دیگران هم از گمراهی نجات یابند. این بود منظورم از "تراوشات ایدئولوژیک". 


mazdakian33

  آقا یا خانوم

mazdakian33


 

آقا یا خانوم راستگو، اگر قرار بود من ملاّ لغتی باشم از اشتباهات دیگر آن نویسنده منجمله غریب و نه قریب بسادگی نمیگذشتم. در رابطه با پرتره محجبه ندا آق سلطان، شما و هر کسی‌ نیز این حق را دارد که پرتره غیر محجبه ندا آق سلطان را به نمایش بگذاری. منظور شما را از تراوشات عقیدتی متوجه نشدم. در رابطه با لچک، این حق طبیعی شما هست که لچک به سر نداشته باشی‌، کماینکه حق طبیعی دیگری هست که در صورت تمایل، داشته باشد. در مورد خشمگین بودن من هم، الفاظی که در همین نوشتار و پاسخ به شما به کار برده‌ام ، خود بهترین شاهد بر عصبانی‌ بودن یا عصبانی‌ نبودنم هست. با احترام و با آرزوی آزادی ایران از دست رژیم جمهوری اسلامی 


rustgoo

ملّا لغتی خشمگین

rustgoo


خانم یا آقای مزدکیان...
ایکاش  فرصت و انگیزه اش را داشتید تا جواب برخی از اظهار نظر های "بسیجانه" مغرضین دون صفت را میدادید تا دیگران هم از لغزشهای ایدئولوژیک مصون بمانند.حیف است که وقت و اعصاب خود را درگیر تصحیح املاء مغشوش دیگران کنید ولی ما را از فیض تراوشات عقیدتی خود محروم دارید.
اشاره به" نا مسلمان" بودن خود فرموده اید و چه بسا قصد دارید بعد از سرنگونی یک مشت آخوند که آنهاهم اتّفاقاً لچک به سرند "کشف حجاب" بفرمائید.

این یکی را نمیدانم چه میشود کرد چون این جماعت ازهر چه کوتاه بیایند،از این یک تکه "لچک"دست بردار نیستند.پرتره محجّبه "ندا" در کنار یا بهتر بگویم پیشگاه " رئیس جمهور ماری" هم بهترین شاهد این ادّعاست.       


mazdakian33

first learn how to write in

by mazdakian33 on

first learn how to write in Farsi and then show off your profound knowledge of what Iranians want and don't want. it is  " غلط " and not    " قلط " !!


Anonymous Observer

JahanKhalil

by Anonymous Observer on

"Why should anyone be so concerned about them?"

Simple; because we're better than them. 


mazdakian33

درود به فرزندان دلیر ایران زمین

mazdakian33


it is really sad that bunch of "sicko" that have nothing short of being a "basiji" or a "hezbollahi" leave comments that deserve no response. To Mr. Mohajerinezhad: I am not a Mojahed either (in fact, I am not even a Moslem) but (like you) I certainly have enough moral values and humanity in me to realize that those who spend more than 20 years of their precious lives to fight the Islamic Republic regime are in danger. they are my true compatriots who have no goal except emancipation of Iran and Iranians from this inhuman and brutal regime. it speaks volume that these same very people who are happy of what is happening to the residents of Camp Ashraf, are crying for the imprisonment of Saied Hajarian , Behzad Nabavi,... who not long ago participated in the crimes of this very same regime. long live Iran and its true children.


vildemose

This is an indication that

by vildemose on

This is an indication that back door negotiation between Obama Admin and IRI are well underway. The first sign was release of 4 Qudos force thugs held in Iraq.


maede

Some Answers

by maede on

First I am not pro mojahedin. I have hang out with them a while, but they have some cult ideas that is not acceptable. But I have to admit the little time I spend with them I was amazed by their organizing and problemsolving skills. And some of them are very smart (like doctors, lawywers etc) that trully care for ppl in Iran. In the city of Ashraf they have even made a university and schools and music school. You say they are 50-60 years old and do not have skills. many of them are still below 30s and they have learned so much. I agree that the leadership is not exactly ideal, but the envirement there, the politeness and the way they bring the best out of their members is amazing. and I hate to see them slaughted by Iraqis. And the fact that the iranian goverment fears them this much, even now that they are without weapon is weired...

they are the ones that told UN about the nuclear power plans Iranian goverment had.

I think it is horrible to see these talented ppl being slaughted and killed by Iragi ppl. Many of them have european and american citizenship, but 1/3 have still iranian citizenship. Its the reason that those with european citizenships have not seeked outside, cause they have feared those of their friends remaining will be forced back to Iran, where they surely will be killed.

 Personally I think Mujahedin have had many good ideas and plans for how to get rid of iranian goverment, but unfortuanly most of it has been wrong. The collabration with Saddam, the leadership adoring and recruiting young and old ppl (even mothers of 3-4, fathers etc)ppl to camp Ashraf has not been right. I think they would have come far without it. But on the other hand how could they predict the future. When they started their first base in Iraq, they were hoping they could with help of Saddam overthrow the Iranian regime...but they failed. On the other hand fighting (mobareze) against a tyranical regime that kills innocent ppl in the streets (Neda ++)  is not easy. Who would sacrifice his/hers life and family for it?

How else can we get rid of this regime? I hate mullahs and want a democratic goverment in Iran, like it is the european countries.


hamfekr

To Ashura

by hamfekr on

Tactical mistake? That's all? You do know that you're joking, what you don't know is that you can't fool a nation.

MKO looks like a "cult" thinks like a "cult" and acts like a "cult".

It is run by coercion and deception. Your sense of desperation, however, is understandable.

Take your wretched literature somewhere else.


JahanKhalili

Why should anyone be so concerned about them?

by JahanKhalili on

When I was in the Iranian military, I used to translate ICRC documents, and other correspondence regarding the treatment of Iranian Prisoners of War in Iraq - and our department followed the welfare of Iranian POWs in Iraq.

The Iraqis used to let the MKO (MEK or PMOI) abuse Iranian POWs, and I heard of at least one case where they murdered an Iranian POW, outright, because he shouted "Death to the Munafeqin".

Saddam used them as spies, to infiltrate Iranian positions during the Iran-Iraq war, and report back to Iraq the disposition of targets.

That resulted in the deaths of Iranian soldiers.

Now suddenly they are helpless little victims, and we're supposed to come to their rescue?


Ahura

Ashraf MEK Heros

by Ahura on

USA is morally obligated to protect the Ashraf camp residents from the atrocities inflicted on them by Iraqi military fulfilling the wishes of IRI criminal leaders. No IRI opposition movement has sacrificed so much in fighting the criminal mullahs as the Mojahedin Khalgh and as such they deserve the praise of all freedom loving Iranians. What IRI did in prolonging the Iran-Iraq fight by six years, instead of accepting Sadam's cease fire in second year of war, was to send half a million more Iranians to their deaths. MEK leadership did make some tactical mistakes, but for the noble purpose of ending the nightmare of theocracy in Iran. It is time that the Shaholahis and Hezbolahis accept that it was the dictatorship of Shah that bore the bitter fruit of mullahs' dictatorship, and not the intellectuals or MEK. All Iranians inside and outside Iran do love our homeland and have equal say in her future. Let us all unite to defeat the IRI theocracy with its seventh century Sharia laws and establish a secular and Democratic Republic of Iran with a constitution based on twenty first century laws of human rights. To this end we all need MEK and salute them for putting their lives on the line while the rest of us continue with our noble task of living out of harms way.   

 


Anonymous Observer

As much as I despise these traitors..

by Anonymous Observer on

they are: 1) human beings and 2) Iranians.  As such, they should be treated with dignity.  Put them on trial if you must for their crimes against Iranians and Iraqis alike, but they do not deserve to be stripped of their dignity and be treated like animals in cages. 

The risk for utter abuse is too high  in this case.  In my  opinion, a UN supervised legal and humane framework needs to be put in place to deal with these people. 


deev

قلط زیادی کردین

deev


پر رویی گروه شما خنده دار و قابل تحسین است
هر بار داستان ننه من قریبم بازیتون بازگو میشه ملت به ریشتون میخندند ولی هنوز اشک تمساح شما بدون وقفه ادامه داره
قلط زیادی کردین رفتین عراق و تقصیره خودتونه


rustgoo

خود کرده را تدبیر نیست

rustgoo


این جماعتی که مثل «مهاجری نژاد»  اکنون « ننه من غریبم» بازی درمیاورد؛ همانهائی هستند که روز ورود خمینی خودشان را روی سقف و کاپوت اتومبیل حامل وی از فرودگاه تا « بهشت زهرا» ولو کردند تا بلاگردان وجودش شوند.


hamfekr

You Can't Fool Me

by hamfekr on

I am only guessing that Mohajerinejad is too young to have seen MKO in action in 1970's before the revolution. I have also doubt that he/she remembers them during the revolution.

It is good, or at least it looks good to be a nice, soft-hearted and considerate human being as he/she only seems to be. I am also guessing he/she has no intention of insulting the collective intelligence of the readers by his/her, seemingly, retarted assertion. or perhaps I am so naive and stupid that I can't recognize Mojahedin's new PR strategy. 

We are at the threshold of a historical phenomenon in Iran, which requires some national, and international, coordinated actions. Terrorist organizations, such as MKO, by definition,  cannot, should not and will not be part of an Iranian movement for justice and freedom.

Those who didn't hesitate setting themselves afire for the leader of their cult some years ago; now are begging for public support in every imaginable way.

KHODAA BEDEH.          

 

 


default

Frankly Dear

by SALTY on

I dont give a damn, after seeing how this bastards acted during the war first hand. I have more sympaty and respect for the Sadam's Republican guards than these thugs. I know and saw what these people did to Iraqi Shias and Kurds on behalf of their master Saddam after the first Persian Gulf war, I am very surprised that they have lasted this long. I think they should thank US and Iraqi kurds for that!


Souri

lol, Azarin

by Souri on

That was very funny! I liked the sarcasm.

I feel sorry for them. If only they were not so much brain washed.....