[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 23]
[House]
[Page 31909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN CAMP ASHRAF

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to address what could develop 
into a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq. Residents of Camp Ashraf, 
opponents of the Iranian regime who found a home in Iraq, appear to 
have been abandoned by the United States and other nations as they are 
subjected to unlawful seizure and detainment by Iraqi forces.
  The Iraqi government must be called upon to respect the human rights 
of Ashraf residents and to honor its written commitment that it will 
treat all Ashraf residents humanely. The U.S. Government must ensure 
that the new democracy that we have helped prop up in Iraq does not 
forcibly return Ashraf residents to Iran, where they will face certain 
persecution, torture, and possibly even death. They must not be 
relocated to any country where they will be persecuted based upon their 
beliefs.
  On a day when we have demonstrated here on the floor our support for 
the people and pro-democracy forces inside of Iran, let us not forget 
those in Camp Ashraf, Iraq.

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