Images of Camp Ashraf

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

Balatarin
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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.

Balatarin
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more from Reza Mohajerinejad
 
Azarin Sadegh

My suggestions (Warning: Just kidding!)

by Azarin Sadegh on Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:41 AM PDT

1) 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.

2) If they don't like bikes, they can go to France and try to gather signatures by standing day and night somewhere in a crowded spot, and display bloody pictures to tourists. But to qualify for this job they should have thick skin: should love cold and rain, and also hot and humid weather wearing a thick scarf, should hate smiling, and also should be able to ignore all the people who laugh at them, and keep calling them:"le conard"!

3) If they don't like bikes and they don't have thick skin, well they can stay in Iraq, and practice bike riding and skin treatments until they're sent to Iran or France.

4) If they really really hate bikes, and their skin is too sensitive...well, I guess they should be related to Mr. and Mrs Rajavi!!  


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shahabshahab

What goes around comes around!

by shahabshahab on Mon Aug 03, 2009 09:23 PM PDT

First they helped bring Khomeini to Iran. Then, when they wanted all the power, Khomeini pulled the fast one on them.Many inncoent members were then butchered by Khomeini. Then, and ony then, their leadership began the dizzying spiral toward absolute insanity. The Leader, Massoud found a new girlfriend and since she was already married, he made her husband divorce her so he can have his way with her under Islamic law. But he promised to make her a leader. But, when he reaized that there already was a leader (him!). So, he made her the President. Then, they decided that since Iran was being attacked by Iraq,and it was weak, why not go colllaborate with the enemy, which was massacaring Iranians on the battlefield as well as in the Cities, by sending mssiles on their heads. Saddam said to Massoud, "we both have the same goal: to defeat IRI.: So, help me and I will help you." Massoud asked: "What do you want me to do?" Sadam said: "Help me put down the uprising of Shiites and Kurds and I will give you a City (Ashraf  City). Massoud could not resist. He and Maryam ordered his troops to go kill Shiites and Kurds, teling them that this two group were helping Khmeini. So, Mojahedeen opened fire and ran over (by tanks) Krdish men, women and children. They also attacked Shiites. As Maryam had instructed the: "Use the tanks for the Kurds. Save your guns for Khomeni's people." Saddam was pleased.  He helped them attack Iran. Massoud used the simplest route, where he simply sent his people driving into Iran on a paved road! They were easily surrounded by Pasdars and hudnreds, if not thousands were killed.

They then sided with their old friend Saddam during the 2003 U.S.invasion. Still, the Americans (especially Rumsfeld) believed that the Mojahdeedn  should be protected, so he could use them later against Iran. Keep in mind that all along they were usng Iraqi money and territory. Shahr-e-Ashraf is Iraqi property. With the coming of Obama, the protection was gone. The Iraqi government for months warned that   they want these peple out. Maryam and Massoud busy in Europe, did not believe it. Now, it's time to face the music. I feel bad for the poor souls there. They have been brainwashed beyond recognition. 


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Bavafa

I find it hard to have any sympathy for them

by Bavafa on Mon Aug 03, 2009 05:52 PM PDT

I am not advocating or condoning violence against them but I find it hard to have any sympathy for them. They betrayed Iran and Iranians at the time when their country was at war, a war that was imposed on Iran and they used all kinds of means to kill civilians in that war. They participated in a criminal war and that is inexcusable.

Mehrdad


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shaayad keh

I have a good solution for the camp Ashraf residents...

by shaayad keh on Mon Aug 03, 2009 02:08 PM PDT

 Recently Maryam Rajavi has announced that some of these residents are interested in going back to Iran if IRI promises not to prosecute them and they would have their liberty and freedom of expression.

I think Iran should honor this request if Maryam and Masoud go along too. After all they are the leaders of the pack and responsible for their supporter's safety.  Many and almost all of their supporters were there for them whenever needed and now is the time for Maryam and Masoud to return the favor.

IRI should in return liberate these residents of Camp Ashraf but prosecute Maryam and Masoud to the word of law.

Peace, 

Shaayad Keh


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deev

Good riddence

by deev on Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:37 AM PDT

During the war MKO fought with Iraq against Iran so they're Iraqis as far as Iranians are concerned, and hence subject to the Iraqi control, they decided to live there so no moaning and whining, most Iranians wont feel sorry even if the the whole camp was leveled to the ground (heck, in fact the sooner the better).


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default

Let bunch of senior citizens go..

by sam jade on Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:20 AM PDT

Look at this guy again , also others in the picture, average age is 50/60 years old ,for almost all of them life is gone to waste their best years of their lives wasted in Camp Ashraf , none of them can be productive for their own self lets not mention for the society..

Feel bad for them at this age ,BUT still they call themselves "razmandeh"..most of them can not walk a mile without any pain ,

how could they call themselves fighter "razmandeh" ,well they should all admit it that they tried some Ideology , it did not work ,time to give up and admit it ,..They are truly bunch of losers wheather they admit it or not, none of them worked outside camp for 30 years ,what kind of skill they have even if they had some , it is gone by now, .. NOW   for most  of them tis is  is retirement age,,,,maybe they can admit it now they were living a big  lie,out of touch with real world and reality having a "fantasy" as goal and at the end reality checked in...

oops I forgot to say after Ameircan came to Iraq Mojahedin put their guns down and start making Windows and Doors,,,

 

 

 

Sam I Am


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Ostaad

Conficate all funds controlled by...

by Ostaad on Mon Aug 03, 2009 09:57 AM PDT

the Rajavi crime family and use them to relocate and house the MKO rank and file to those countries that used them as human condom.

While at it, try Masoud Rajavi and banou in the Hague for committing crimes against humanity. 


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Maryam Hojjat

Mr. & Mrs. Rajavi in Europe!

by Maryam Hojjat on Mon Aug 03, 2009 08:40 AM PDT

When their members in camp Ashraf in Iraq are being brutalized.  How convient! These two power hungry losers want to run IRAN.! Do Not get me wrong,  I feel sorry for these naive & brain washed Iranians in this camp & I hope we all can help them but somehow I agree with fozoli.  These people were helping Sadam in 8 yrs war and killing Iranian youths. May GOD have mercy & compassion on these losers.

Payandeh IRAN & IRANIANS

Down with IRI & his supporters


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ali_UK

Daavid ET

by ali_UK on Mon Aug 03, 2009 08:36 AM PDT

Agree with your post in the link , 100%.

your suggested role of the UN and INDIVIDUAL treatment of the residents.

Mr.and Mrs Rajavi have a lot to answer!!


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David ET

two articles

by David ET on Mon Aug 03, 2009 08:20 AM PDT


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fozolie

کسی که خربزه می خورد پای لرزش هم می نشیند

fozolie
Mon Aug 03, 2009 08:20 AM PDT

As tragic as the fate of my countrymen are, I hope this serves as a wake up call for them not to trust their lives to power hungry unsrcupulous leaders. When will we ever learn?

idiologists and demagogues  like Mao, Stalin  and our mini-me versions of them don't care how much blood is spilt. In fact they view it as necessary.

Mr. Fozolie


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Mehrban

Our house is a mess....

by Mehrban on Mon Aug 03, 2009 08:14 AM PDT

The fate of MEK as Iranians is our problem.  We must ask the human rights organizations and the UN to find them a reasonable home.  I can not believe Maryam Rajavi has asked for them to go to Iran under these circumstances.  We have a lot of messes on our hands and we should act responsibly to bring them to a decent resolution.  This is one of them. 


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ali_UK

question to Mr. and Mrs Rajavi

by ali_UK on Mon Aug 03, 2009 07:59 AM PDT

Mojahedeen have been removed from the list of terrorist organisation in Europe recently.

 

Why don't the leaders of this group together with amnesty arrange for these people to go to European countries as soon as possible.Why has this not been done before?

Why would you want to stay in Iraq ?under Saddam or under Americans or the present government?

Why?


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