Joseph Omidvari
Camp Ashraf- 8 April 2011 – The Iraqi military units on direct orders from Al-Maliki attacked unarmed residents of Camp Ashraf this morning killing 31 people, including six women and injuring hundreds of others. The residents of the camp are protected by Geneva conventions and international laws. The camp is home to 3400 Iranian dissidents seeking establishment of a democratic government in Iran.
The Residents of Camp Ashraf attacked by Iraqi forces
Iraq does Tehran’s bidding in attack on Camp Ashraf
Jubin Afshar
Why would Iraq’s Al-Maleki order a heavy assault on 3400 unarmed, defenseless Iranian dissidents in a refugee settlement northeast of Baghdad? Reports reaching news agencies confirm that at least 31 Iranian dissidents have been killed and hundreds wounded. Medical supplies are being blocked as the critically wounded continue to die.
Iranian Dissidents in Camp Ashraf Attacked by Iraqi Army
The Iranian opposition movement, National Council of Resistance of Iran, announced today that Iraqi military forces have started an attack on camp Ashraf north of Baghdad.
According to statements released by NCRI, so far at least 11 (the actual number later announced was 36, SF 27June2011) residents in Ashraf have been killed by Iraqi gunfire. Heavy machine guns and sharp shooters are targeting unarmed residents.
Iraqi Forces Mobilize to Clampdown on Camp Ashraf Home of PMOI (MEK)
Stop Fundamentalism, April 7, 2011 – The secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the Iranian Opposition released a statement today, warning about an imminent attack on Camp Ashraf by Nuri al-Maliki forces.
The statement says that over 65 Iraqi personnel carriers have entered Ashraf today carrying new forces.
Iraqi Armored Vehicles Occupy Camp Ashraf North of Baghdad
Stop fundamentalism, 03 April 2011 – According to a statement released by the National Council of Resistance of Iran today, Iraqi forces under command of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki government have occupied northern part of Camp Ashraf situated in north of Baghdad, Iraq.
Camp Ashraf is residence to over 3400 Iranian dissidents and members of the main Iranian opposition group the People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran or PMOI.
Delisting Iranian Opposition MEK, Measuring Change in US Policy on Iran
Nima Sharif
A transatlantic rift in policy towards Iran seems to be closing rapidly as a momentum materializes in different policy making circles in Washington to close the gap due to recent developments in North Africa and Middle East. The momentum emanates from a call to reposition the West in support of newly forming democracies across the region, rather than the old approach of engaging tyrants for economic reasons and turning a blind eye on actions of governments towards their own people. Simply, the West wants to be on the right side of history as developments continue.
A major shift, pivotal in realizing this policy change is considered to be the approach towards a leading resistance movement from Iran, the National Council of Resistance of Iran and the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq organization or MEK.
Iraqi MP: MEK in Iraq Are Refugees, Protected Under Geneva Conventions
Stop Fundamentalism, 17 March, 2011 – A member of Iraqi Parliament, Neda al-Jabouri told the Iraqi media that the Iranian regime continues to pressure the Iraqi government to violate the human rights of the residents in Camp Ashraf.
Residents of Camp Ashraf are mainly members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq organization (MEK).
“While the residents must be protected against abuses, many of the patients at the camp are being deprived of medicine and medical treatment due to the unjust siege laid on them by Baghdad,” Said al-Jabouri to Baghdad Daily. She described the installation of 210 loudspeakers around the camp’s premises and other violation committed against the residents as “shameful action by Iraqi government meant to subject the residents to pressure and torture.”
Support Democracy in Middle East and North Africa; Stand by the People
Nima Sharif
While, the Iranian post-election unrest back in 2009 did not come to a favourable conclusion, it had a considerable influence on people in North Africa and Middle East encouraging them to stand up for their desires of freedom.
Angered by self emulation of an impoverished man, protesting his own harassment by government authorities, Tunisians flared up a regional wave of revolutions in North Africa immediately reaching Egypt. In a short period of time, two previously considered untouchable and totally stable governments of Tunis and Egypt, toppled.
How To Become A “Tehran-Based” Journalist And Keep Your Job
Hamid Yazdanpanah
Jason Rezaian is, by his own admission, one of the only “foreign” journalists currently permitted to work in Iran. As we all know since the 2009 elections, the Iranian regime has been loath to allow any foreign journalists access to the country, however Mr. Rezaian has had no problem in this matter.
Indeed Mr. Rezaian has spent a considerable amount of time in Iran, and seemingly continues to enjoy a close relationship with the state; as he concedes in this commentary he wrote for the New York Times: “Last night I rode with some of them in a back of a truck plastered with the incumbent’s photos. These were members of the Bassij, the youth militia — young men in their 20s who are the new generation of the Islamic revolution.”
MEK Terrorist Designation; an In-depth Look
Nima Sharif
Recently in Washington, DC a number of former high ranked officials and public figures from both parties, made calls for the removal of the main Iranian oppositions group, the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq Organisation of Iran (MEK) from the State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations list. At the same time some discussions began to appear in online publications and blogs with arguments such as the MEK being a cult or being unpopular.
In an in-depth fact-finding researched paper, “Iranian Dissidents and Their Critics“, Raymond Tanter[1] of Iran Policy Committee, addresses these issues surrounding the MEK.
