[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1150-E1151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS AT CAMP ASHRAF

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2009

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, as we endeavor to end the war in Iraq, and 
to prevent any further military action in that region, I want to call 
attention to a resolution adopted by the European parliament on April 
24, 2009. This resolution addresses Camp Ashraf which is located in 
Iraq about 50 miles from the Iranian border. Approximately 3,000 
Iranian exiles are now residing at the Camp; these individuals have not 
been involved in the war and signed agreements with the U.S.-led Multi-
National Force regarding their status in accordance with International 
Humanitarian Law. Unfortunately, Iraqi officials have allowed the 
Iranian clerical regime to pressure those residing at Camp Ashraf and 
human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have 
expressed concern for their safety and well being.
  The European Parliament resolution urges the Iraqi government to 
uphold the human rights of those living at Camp Ashraf. I share this 
sentiment and urge my colleagues to review the full text of the 
resolution enacted by the European Parliament.

            Humanitarian Situation of Camp Ashraf Residents

       European Parliament resolution pursuant to Rule 115 of the 
     Rules of Procedure on the humanitarian situation of Camp 
     Ashraf residents The European Parliament,
       having regard to the Geneva Conventions and notably Article 
     27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the legal status of 
     Protected Persons,
       having regard to the Geneva Convention of 1951 relating to 
     the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Additional Protocol,

[[Page E1151]]

       having regard to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) 
     signed between the US and Iraqi Governments in November 2008,
       having regard to its resolutions of 12 July 2007 and of 4 
     September 2008 including references to Camp Ashraf residents 
     having legal status as Protected Persons under the Fourth 
     Geneva Convention,
       having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure, A. 
     whereas Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq was established during 
     the 1980s for members of the Iranian opposition group 
     People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), 8. whereas in 
     2003 US forces in Iraq disarmed Camp Ashraf's residents and 
     provided them with protection, having been designated 
     `protected persons' under the Geneva Conventions, C. whereas 
     the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a letter dated 
     15 October 2008 urged the Iraqi Government to protect Ashraf 
     residents from forcible deportation, expulsion or 
     repatriation in violation of the non-refoulement principle, 
     and to refrain from any action that would endanger their life 
     or security, D. whereas after the US/Iraqi Status of Forces 
     Agreement Camp Ashraf has been returned to the control of 
     Iraqi security forces as of 1 January 2009, E. whereas 
     according to recent statements reportedly made by the Iraqi 
     National Security Advisor the authorities intend gradually to 
     make the continued presence of the Camp Ashraf residents 
     `intolerable' and whereas he reportedly also referred to 
     their expulsion/extradition and/or their forcible 
     displacement inside Iraq, 1. Urges the Iraqi Prime Minister 
     to ensure that no action is taken by the Iraqi authorities 
     which violates the human rights of the Camp Ashraf residents 
     and to clarify the government's intentions towards them; 
     calls on the Iraqi authorities to protect the lives, and the 
     physical and moral integrity of the Camp Ashraf residents and 
     to treat them in accordance with the obligations under the 
     Geneva Conventions, notably not to forcibly displace, deport, 
     expel or repatriate them in violation of the principle of 
     non-refoulement; 2. Respecting the individual wishes of 
     anyone living in Camp Ashraf as regards to their future; 
     considers that those living in Camp Ashraf and other Iranian 
     nationals who currently reside in Iraq having left Iran for 
     political reasons could be at risk of serious human rights 
     violations if they were to be returned involuntarily to Iran, 
     and insists that no person should be returned, either 
     directly or via a third country, to a situation where they 
     would be at risk of torture or other serious human rights 
     abuses; 3. Calls on the Iraqi government to end its blockade 
     of the camp and respect the legal status of the Camp Ashraf 
     residents as `protected persons' under the Geneva 
     Conventions, and to refrain from any action that would 
     endanger their life or security, namely full access to food, 
     water, medical care and supplies, fuel, family members and 
     international humanitarian organizations; 4. Calls on the 
     Council, the Commission and the Member States together with 
     the Iraqi and US Governments and the UN High Commissioner for 
     Refugees and the International Committee for the Red Cross to 
     work towards finding a satisfactory long-term legal status 
     for Camp Ashraf residents; 5. Instructs its President to 
     forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the 
     Governments and Parliaments of the Member states, the UN High 
     Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee for 
     the Red Cross, the Government of the United States and the 
     Governments and Parliaments of Iraq.

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