Lawmakers urge Obama to halt relocation of Iran dissidents
AFP
15-Dec-2009 (3 comments)

WASHINGTON — US lawmakers Tuesday urged President Barack Obama to stop the Iraqi government's forced relocation of Iranian dissidents from a border camp that has been closed down.

After 24 years at Camp Ashraf, the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI), who were expelled for opposing the Islamic regime of Tehran, on Tuesday began defying government orders to evacuate the camp.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki wants the more than 3,000 former fighters to move with their families to the new camp in the desert south of Baghdad as a first stage towards leaving Iraq.

Democrat Bob Filner, who presented a resolution supporting the refugees at the House of Representatives, drew attention to the PMOI's plight at a press conference Tuesday.

"We are here to call on whoever will listen, the Iraqi government the US government, to halt the forcible relocation of the residents of Camp Ashraf," he told reporters.

The PMOI have warned that the forced evacuation of Ashraf could lead to more bloodshed as in July when 11 people were killed and 500 injured as Iraqi forces tried to install a command post inside the camp.

Backed by 120 House members, Filner hopes the House will take up his resolution before Congress goes into recess for the end-of-year holidays.

Washington, which disarmed the Iranian rebels after the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and placed the camp residents under its protection, said on Friday it expected t... >>>

Paymaneh Amiri

Get them out of Iraq

by Paymaneh Amiri on Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:26 PM PST

These people should leave this camp and be integrated into real human communities in other parts of the world.  Leaving them to rot in a camp or sending them to the desert to die or be captured is inhumane.  Obviously their leaders are incapable of caring for them and negotiation their resettlement in other parts of the world.  If US Lawmakers want to help them, they should make a deal with European countries to take them in as refugees and enable them to lead normal lives.  This is a travesty.


Balatarin
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Bavafa

Since when they became "dissidents"

by Bavafa on Wed Dec 16, 2009 08:12 AM PST

They are recognized as terrorist by the outside world and of course by "traitors" by Iran and Iranians. I am not necessarily advocating any harsh treatment of them, but letting them off the hook with no consequences will not be just either for the crimes they committed.

Mehrdad


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PArviz

@Paymaneh

by PArviz on Wed Dec 16, 2009 02:05 AM PST

Well put.


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