[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 8 (Thursday, January 20, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ASSAULT ON CAMP ASHRAF

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2011

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on January 7th of 
this year, residents of Camp Ashraf were attacked by Iranian agents and 
supporting Iraqi forces. Camp Ashraf houses over 3,400 supporters of 
Iran's opposition and are currently under the ``protected persons'' 
status in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention.
  176 people, including 91 women were injured when the agents hurled 
stones, bottles, metal pieces and Molotov cocktails into the Camp. This 
barrage builds on a broader campaign against the people that were 
exiled from their homeland after calling for an end to the oppressive 
Iranian regime.
  For the past 11 months, 180 loudspeakers have been installed beyond 
the fences of the Camp that continuously play Iranian propaganda and 
messages that threaten the property, homes and lives of residents. To 
me, this presents a compelling reminder that the freedoms we enjoy are 
far from universal and there are those struggling for the same 
liberties. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to speak out against the 
Iranian and Iraqi forces involved in the assault on Camp Ashraf and 
remember those injured in the violence.

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