Iran:Successful Completion of the Resettlement of Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Europe

Iran:Successful Completion of the Resettlement of Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Europe

This afternoon, September 9, 2016, the final group of Camp Liberty residents (more than 280) departed Baghdad, Iraq, for Albania. This final round of departures marks the successful conclusion to the process of relocating members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) outside of Iraq despite the Iranian regime’s conspiracies, obstruction and threats, which continued until the very last day.

During the four-and-a-half-year-long resettlement process, the residents of Liberty were relocated to European countries, including Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Spain. Close to 2,000 residents left Iraq since the beginning of 2016.

In this process, the religious dictatorship ruling Iran provided red notices to Interpol and used fake arrest warrants issued by the Iraqi Judiciary in a bid to prevent the departure of 1,000 PMOI members, and arrest officials and other well-known figures.

Exploiting the post-invasion atmosphere in Iraq, the ruling clerical regime did its utmost to destroy the PMOI/MEK. Three massacres at Camp Ashraf, five missile attacks on Camp Liberty, two cases of abduction of residents, and the imposition of a full-fledged eight-year siege, which left 177 residents dead, constituted parts of this inhumane, albeit futile, plan.

Iran: Warnings of another attack on Camp Liberty, Iraq

Camp Liberty

London, 26 Aug - A letter addressing the US President Barack Obama and General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary, received on August 19, warns against another attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq where Iranian political dissidents are claiming shelter.

According to a guest column in Augusta Free Press by Prof. Raymond Tanter (former member of the U.S. National Security Council Staff) and Col. (Ret.) Wes Marten (former antiterrorism/force protection for coalition forces in Iraq), the letter was signed by “a bipartisan group of 36 former national security officials.”

Prominent figures of the U.S. politics, including Ed Rendell and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, were among those who had signed the letter. The letter expressed fear of another attack on Camp Liberty in Iraq, organised by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Despite the extreme danger that the dissidents of Iran’s ruling regime are facing at Camp Liberty, it will not be the first time that they come under such a threat. Following the July 9 rally, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Paris, which attracted a following of 100,000 supporters, the media in Iran reported that “Camp Liberty must be targeted once again with a number of missiles,” according to Otagh-e-Khabar.

IRAN: Camp Liberty - Laila Mohammadi: The echoes of a common cause

Laila Mohammadi: The echoes of a common cause

Hello. This is my flute!

It appears to be a musical instrument but in fact, it is an efficient weapon that has harmonized hearts of the freedom fighters

with the Iranian people and people all over the world.

I played my flute in a beautiful sunrise in Ashraf. Within a short time I saw a young boy playing the same tune in Iran and then I heard its echo all over the world…! I call this reverberation, one of a “common cause”.

I found this common cause in my childhood. I learned it from my father who was a political prisoner at the time. I found it in the sad eyes of “Farshid”, a poor young boy with little clothing in the brutal cold winter. He was selling goods for a living in front of my high school. Farshid would sell pens in the morning and in the evening he would polish shoes on the street. There are many “Farshid”s in Iran. Yes. In Iran, there are many children and young adults whose childhood and dreams have been changed to gloom and dark prospects because of poverty.

Iraqi merchants wishing to purchase residents’ property are barred from Camp Liberty

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

A blatant hampering of the resettlement

The Governmental Committee tasked to suppress Camp Liberty residents headed by Faleh Fayyad prevented two groups of Iraqi merchants who wanted to purchase residents’ property from entering Camp Liberty on Thursday, April 14, 2016. Similarly, on the previous day, two other merchants who had come to purchase the property were turned back at the entrance to the airport area

This inimical behavior is being implemented despite the fact that the sale of the property in Liberty is one of the requisites for the transfer of residents out of Iraq. The Government of Iraq had already declared its consent with the sale of residents’ property. Residents wish to sell their property to provide for part of their resettlement expenses. It seems that in addition to imposing pressures on and psychological torture against residents, another objective of the suppression committee in preventing the sale of the property is to repeat a scenario of systematic plundering and stealing of the PMOI property that it has already executed in Camp Ashraf.

Iran political prisoner denounces demagoguery in Christmas message

Ali Moezzi, an Iranian political prisoner in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison,

Ali Moezzi, an Iranian political prisoner in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, has sent a message on the occasion of Christmas, denouncing the Iranian mullahs’ reactionary interpretation of religion.

Two of Mr. Moezzi daughters are members of the main Iranian opposition group People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Camp Liberty, Iraq. Mr. Moezzi is held in Ward 8 of the dreaded Evin Prison.

His message reads in part: “Greetings to my Christian and Muslim compatriots on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of Christ which coincided this year with the birth of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad is a cause for double celebration. These prophets were harbingers of mercy and emancipation and equality and unity. Being reactionary is incompatible with the path of the prophets who are the pioneers of historical progress. The mullahs ruling Iran and Salafist and blood thirsty fundamentalists do not know Christ or Mohammad or Abraham. They foster despicable and ugly qualities in people and promote demagoguery. In anticipation of these festive days, we ask God to eradicate this scourge of the era and help us to establish friendship, co-existence, peace and cooperation between human societies."

Mr. Moezzi who suffers greatly due to obstruction of the intestines was prevented last month by the regime’s henchmen from being transferred to hospital. Following protests by political prisoners in Evin, he was taken to the prison infirmary, but was returned to the ward shortly afterwards without receiving any treatment.

Mr. Moezzi who is a political prisoner of the 1980s suffers from various diseases, including cancer and acute kidney disease, due to years of torture and imprisonment in the Iranian regime’s dungeons. Nonetheless, along with a number of other political prisoners, he staged a hunger strike last month to protest the suppression and the arrest of families of political prisoners and their supporters.

Fmr Jordanian ambassador to Iran condemns missile attack on Camp Liberty

Dr. Bassam al-Omoush, a former Jordanian minister 

Dr. Bassam al-Omoush, a former Jordanian minister of administrative development and former Ambassador to Tehran, has called for Iraq’s National Security Advisor Faleh Fayyad to be replaced and international protection be provided to members of the main Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) in Camp Liberty in Iraq.

Dr. al-Omoush issued a statement regarding the October 29 missile attack on Camp Liberty and reminded the international community of its responsibility to secure the wellbeing and protection of the camp’s residents.

Excerpts of his statement:

On October 29, 2015, a deadly attack on Camp Liberty by elements of Iranian regime in the government and security forces of Iraq led to hundreds of casualties among the camp’s residents, including 24 dead, and the destruction of large sections of the camp. Located in one of the most protected areas of Baghdad and near the Baghdad International Airport and place of deployment of U.S. forces, this attack on the camp would have been impossible without the collaboration of part of the Iraqi state and security apparatuses.

A year and a half after the removal of Nuri Maliki from power in Iraq, the file of Camp Liberty remains in the hands of Faleh Fayyad, a well-known element of the Iranian regime who has been directly involved in the massacres of the residents over the past seven years.

Despite many international calls, the government of Iraq continues to dodge its responsibilities in protecting the camp and has not initiated any investigations into the October 29 massacre.

Moreover, Iraqi forces are barring attempts to normalize the conditions in the camp devastated by the missile attack and are also hampering delivery of food, fuel and basic needs to the residents.

We are thus calling on our own government, the United Nations, the U.S. government and the European Union to compel the government of Iraq to live up to its commitments to the residents, and in particular:

1. Camp Liberty should be designated a refugee camp under UNHCR supervision to ensure residents’ security by the UN.

2. Immediate needs of Camp Liberty should be provided following the missile attack to normalize the condition of the camp.

3. Camp Liberty’s file should be removed from the hands of Faleh Fayyad, and those managing the camp ought to be replaced with individuals not associated with the Iranian regime.

4. The residents should be allowed to sell their property in [Camp] Ashraf or be reimbursed for it to be able to provide for their expenses.

No news of Iran political prisoner for nearly 2 months

political prisoner Misaq Yazdan-Nejad

Seven weeks have passed since political prisoner Misaq Yazdan-Nejad was moved into an isolated ward of Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, with the regime giving no information during this time to his family about his state.

Mr. Yazdan-Nejad is a relative of a member of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) in Camp Liberty.

He was arrested at his home on September 10, 2007 by agents of the regime's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and sentenced by the fundamentalist regime's kangaroo courts to 13 years in prison for attending a ceremony to mark the 19th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of 30000 political prisoners in Iran. At the time he was a linguistics student in Payam-e Nour University.

On October 26, Mr. Yazdan-Nejad was transferred out of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, ostensibly for medical treatment; but instead of taking him to a hospital, the regime's agents transferred him to Ward 2A of Evin Prison, a notorious secluded ward which is run by agents of the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).

He has not been given visitation rights to see his family at Evin Prison.

Mr. Yazdan-Nejad who has spent more than eight years in prison, including at least eight months in solitary confinement, had previously been arrested for visiting his sister, a member of the PMOI (MEK), in Camp Ashraf, Iraq.

Misaq’s father and mother have previously endured three years of imprisonment, and three of his uncles were martyred by the regime for supporting the PMOI (MEK).

UN General Assembly adopts 62nd resolution censuring rights abuses in Iran

UN_General_Assembly

MaryamRajavi: Ruling mullahs who have been condemned 62 times by the UN should be brought to justice for crimes against humanity

On Thursday, December 17, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution strongly condemning the brutal and systematic violation of human rights in Iran, in particular the mass and arbitrary executions, increasing violence and discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities. This is the 62nd UN resolution condemning rights abuses by the clerical regime.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, welcomed the resolution and said: "Mounting violations of human rights in Iran and condemnations of the clerical regime by the highest international body for consecutive years through the past three decades vividly indicates that this regime has no place in the international community and should be rejected by the international community. The murderers of the Iranian people, whose bleak record includes the execution of 120,000 political prisoners and seven massacres in Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty must be held accountable by the UN Security Council and be brought to justice for crimes against humanity. This is the only way to respect the vote of the majority of countries against human rights abuses in Iran over the past 30 years, especially in light of the fact that most of the current leaders of the regime have held key positions in the past 35 years and have taken part in crimes against humanity.”

"The misguided calculation that by resorting to silence in the face of human rights violations in Iran, the regime's nuclear projects and export of terrorism and fundamentalism could be contained is a dangerous mistake that stems from short-term economic interests and short-sighted political considerations. The clerical regime considers inaction in the face of its crimes against humanity as a green light to continue its tortures and killings and emboldens it in warmongering in Syria, Iraq and the entire region. It reassures the regime that the international community is not serious about confronting its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons," Mrs. Rajavi added.

The resolution expresses “serious concern at the alarming high frequency of, and increase in the carrying-out of the death penalty, in disregard of internationally recognized safeguards, ... and at the continuing imposition and carrying-out of the death penalty against minors and persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18” and calls on the Iranian regime “to abolish, in law and in practice, public executions… and executions carried out in violation of its international obligations” and “to ensure, in law and in practice, that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

The resolution expresses serious concerns about “all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against women and girls, violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities” and calls for the elimination “in law and in practice” of “all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic or other minorities.”

The resolution also calls upon the regime “to end widespread and serious restrictions… on the right to freedom of expression, opinion, association and peaceful assembly” and “to release persons arbitrarily detained.”

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

December 17, 2015

British MPs demand sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran

British MPs demand sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, December 10, cross-party MPs from both Houses of Parliament held a conference in the House of Commons discussing the state of human rights and the current political situation in Iran, the region as well as a recent terrorist attack on Camp Liberty.

Speakers at the conference that was chaired by co-Chairman of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom (BPCIF), Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, included: Rt Hon. David Jones MP; Steve McCabe MP; Bob Blackman MP; Jim Shannon MP; Rt Hon. Lord Dholakia; Lord Clarke of Hampstead CBE; Lord Maginnis of Drumglass; Lord Cotter; Lord Judd; Peter Carter QC, Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales; Peter Mathews TD, Independent member of the Irish Parliament; Paulo Casaca, former MEP; Mrs Dowlat Nowrouzi, NCRI UK Representative and Linda Lee, former President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

In her remarks to the conference, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Mrs Maryam Rajavi, thanked the MPs from both Houses of Parliament for their efforts to promote human rights in Iran and said ”The mullahs’ brutality in violating our people’s rights is because they want to hold on to power. It’s because the people of Iran … have not surrendered to this barbarism [and] staged a widespread resistance against the regime. Every month, teachers, students, workers and other strata stage hundreds of protests. Every day, the protests become louder. Even political prisoners send messages from inside the jails calling on people to resist … [these] protests have inspired many uprisings so far will ultimately realise the great change and make Iran the cradle of human rights and freedom.”

On Camp Liberty, Mrs Rajavi said, “Since 2009, 141 PMOI members have been killed and hundreds more, seriously wounded or disabled in these attacks … It is time for US and UN to fulfill their promise and make sure residents are allowed to sell their property at Camp Ashraf to finance their relocation.”

Maryam Rajavi: Human rights and freedoms in Iran can be reestablished with struggle and uprising

 مریم رجوی ریئس جمهور برگزیده مقاومت ایران 

Mrs.Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, former US Senator and U.S. Democratic Party Nominee for vice-president, Joseph Lieberman, and Professor Alejo Vidal Quadras, former Vice-President of the European Parliament spoke at the event.

Greetings to all of you. Let me express my appreciation as well as those of PMOI members in Camp Liberty and our compatriots in Iran to Senator Lieberman.

His presence represents the American people’s friendship for the people of Iran and a big front of high-ranking US personalities who advocate a correct Iran policy, one that is devoid of appeasement of the religious dictatorship; he also represents the friendship and respect among followers of all religions.

We salute him.

I would also like to welcome representatives of the Iranian communities in Europe.

These communities include experts, artists, businessmen and those who represent the true desires of the Iranian people for democracy and progress.

This meeting on the eve of the International Human Rights Day is particularly important for our people who live under one of the most oppressive regimes of our time.

We honor the International Human Rights Day by paying respect to all brave men and courageous women in Iran and around the world who sacrificed their lives or have risen up to bring human rights and democratic freedoms to oppressed nations.

For the people of Iran this day is a reminder of 120,000 martyrs of PMOI and other victims of execution under religious fascism including 30,000 prisoners massacred in 1988 and all the political prisoners executed in recent years, as well as those slain in camps Ashraf and Liberty particularly the 24 freedom fighters who lost their lives last month in a rocket attack at the behest of the clerical regime.

Yes, this day is a reminder that our people’s human rights are being stoned in Iran.

It is a reminder that today the Iranian people do not have the right to live free and have no safeguards against arbitrary arrests, torture and harassment.

It reminds us that they are deprived of any comfort or security, that they do not have the right to freely choose what they wear, that their right to freedom of belief, conscience and religion has been taken away from them, that they are deprived of the right to freely hold social gatherings; and the right to a free election in order to establish the representative government they deserve.

Therefore, the International Human Rights Day is a reminder that the Iranian nation is entitled “as a last resort to rebellion against tyranny and oppression” to overthrow the religious dictatorship ruling Iran and to replace it with a government based on freedom, democracy and equality.

I sincerely hail my fellow compatriots who have risen up these days outside Evin Prison and other government centers to protest the arrests, executions and stepped up pressure on political prisoners.

Yes, we must earn our rights.

And we must gain back our hijacked freedoms and human rights with our own struggle and uprisings.

Unfortunately, based on illegitimate considerations, particularly during the nuclear negotiations and agreement with Tehran’s oppressive regime, Western governments turned a blind eye on the flagrant violations of human rights in Iran including the 2,000 executions under Rouhani.

After signing the agreement, they sent large political and commercial delegations to Iran one after the other to win a share of Iran’s market after sanctions are lifted.

Since the nuclear agreement in July 2015, the regime has hanged a large number of prisoners in Iran and has intensified its warmongering and bloodshed throughout the region.

We call on Western governments to review their policy that has so far contributed to instability in the region and reinforced the main threat to global peace and security and to make their relations with the Iranian regime dependent on end to executions and torture, and freedom of political prisoners.

Iran’s clerical regime has been condemned 62 times so far by various United Nations agencies for its gross violation of human rights in Iran.

In addition, the regime and Khamenei himself, are directly responsible for the massacre of 300,000 Syrians in the past four years and displacement of more than half of the population; they are also directly responsible for the genocide of Sunnis in Iraq by the Quds Force militias.

In view of these crimes, it is unacceptable that the Iranian regime’s file has not been referred to the UN Security Council.

It is the responsibility of the UN Security Council to make the necessary arrangements for prosecution of the leaders of the Iranian regime, particularly Khamenei, as perpetrators of these crimes in an international court.

Dear friends,

In recent days, another terrorist attack in California shocked the world.

On behalf of the Iranian Resistance, I condemn this crime and extend my condolences to the families of the victims.

Like the November 13 massacre in Paris, this shooting also took place under the banner of Islam, while Islam is shocked by such barbarism.

Iran’s mullahs massacred 30,000 political prisoners in 1988 under the name of Islam.

Those who massacred unarmed people in concert halls and health centers are all of the same ideology.

Indeed, all religions have been sent to free mankind from all forms of oppression.

All of us are sisters and brothers. We are all children of Abraham.

What binds us is not hate, tyranny or oppression, but liberty, compassion and unity.

We say there is no dispute between Shiites and Sunnis, Muslims and Christians, or nations of the Middle East and West or their cultures.

The dispute, however, is between ruling dictatorships and nations who seek freedom.

Anyone who claims to be Muslim must stand up to Bashar Assad and Khamenei, and not kill innocent people.

I must repeat that the solution to this paradox is at the hands of the people of the region to struggle against extremists particularly with an alternative that is based on democratic and tolerant Islam.

Their resolve and struggle will definitely put an end to the dictatorships that have created and promoted fundamentalism.

Therefore we warn everyone about the efforts of the Iranian regime and its allies to save the Assad regime and cover up the consequences of Tehran’s failed strategy.

In the past weeks, the governments of US, France and Turkey officially confirmed that the Bashar Assad regime buys oil from Daesh.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that Assad’s financial resources are always restored by the Iranian regime.

So the mullahs of Tehran through Bashar Assad finance the genocides by Daesh.

Yes, Daesh has found the opportunity to grow and expand with the support of Bashar Assad, and it will not be destroyed with Assad in power.

This calls for Western governments to adopt a policy that supports the desires of the innocent people of Syria for a speedy overthrow of Bashar Assad, gives substantial backing to the Free Army of Syria in its struggle against the regime, and insists on the eviction of foreign troops, specifically the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) from Syria and Iraq.

I thank you all.