Reporter's Notebook: Iran Opposition In Iraq Threatened

(CBS)

If you could travel freely in Iraq, you would be able to visit a place called Camp Ashraf. But the road north that would take you there is still too dangerous to travel – not because of roadside bombs or terrorist attacks, but because the Iraqi government doesn't want you to go there.

Iraqi journalists say that trying to go to Ashraf is a death sentence – "do not expect to come back," they say.

The reason is simple: Camp Ashraf is the target of those in Iraq's government who are most friendly with the regime in Iran, and Iran wants the camp and its inhabitants shut down forever.

To outsiders it is the strangest thing: some 3,500 Iranians living in Iraq. But they've been there for more than two decades, supplying information to Iran's enemies in their efforts to overthrow the Iranian regime.

When Ashraf was under U.S. military control, Iran couldn't touch it. But since the Iraqis took over in January, they've been systematically pressuring the Iraqi government to take action. Now it's been cordoned off for the past 20 days by Iraqi forces, gradually cutting them off from the outside world.

Residents chant "Ashraf is the city of peace, it is not a prison," to protest their treatment by Iraqi soldiers.

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Why should the U.S. care?

Ashraf is home to Iranian opposition members from the PMOI – or People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. These people are the reason Iran's nuclear program was exposed – it was their intelligence that brought it to the world's attention.

But in Iran's eyes, they are a terrorist organization. The current Iraqi government agrees and the group is still on the U.S. blacklist, although it has been taken off the list of terrorist organizations by the EU.

Tehran wants their camp shut down, wanted members arrested and handed over for trial - and their organization destroyed.

But the U.S. has an obligation to the people of Ashraf. In July 2004, the United States Government recognized PMOI members as Protected Persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention, meaning that they should not be deported, expelled or repatriated, or displaced inside Iraq.

Now, as U.S. influence wanes in Iraq, Iran's influence continues to strengthen and grow. Through Iran's allies in the Iraqi government, a noose has been applied around Camp Ashraf and the people living there, and is slowly tightening.

So far that has meant stopping fuel supplies, cutting off logistic trucks – allowing only limited shipments of food to the camp. This month, when Iraqi forces occupied a building that had been housing Iranian women, there were clashes with the camp's residents and several were beaten by Iraqi soldiers, until U.S. forces stepped in.

(CBS)

Residents of Ashraf say their family members who have travelled from Iran to see them at the camp for the past 23 years, are now being stopped from entering. Many have been held in the desert area beyond the camp by Iraqi authorities and forced to wait for weeks with no shelter, even though there are women and children among them.

The situation has been escalating since control of the camp was handed over from the U.S. military to Iraqi authorities in January this year. Although the U.S. still maintains a small monitoring presence, it is now Iraqi soldiers who surround the camp and guard its gates. And that has made it more like a prison than their home.

Now the residents of Ashraf live in fear. Their greatest enemy – the Iranian regime – has never been more powerful inside Iraq. The supreme leader Ali Khameni, when he visited Iraq in February, made it clear he expects Iraq to close the camp. Iran also wants a list of wanted PMOI members to be handed over for trial.

And since his public remarks, the residents of Ashraf say new and inhumane restrictions have been placed on them. Of particular concern to them, are the remarks made by Iraq's National Security Minister, Mowaffak Rubaie, who has promised to close the camp by late March.

On a visit to Iran Jan. 23, Rubaie said Camp Ashraf would be "part of history within two months."

Then in a statement on March 16, he said:

"The government will not go back on its decision to close down the camp ... residents have the choice between returning to Iran or going to a third country".

But their status in Iran is clear: they would be regarded as terrorists.

Other comments by Iraq's National Security Advisor are somewhat more revealing – and disturbing.

"These individuals have been brainwashed, and we must liberate them from this poison," Rubaie said. "When we carry out a process of detoxification, if this assumption is correct, this act will at first be painful. There is no alternative than to begin this painful act."

Not surprisingly, this has spread anxiety amongst the residents of Ashraf. It remains to be seen where else these families could go.

But when the world wanted to know about Iran's nuclear program, the PMOI were not regarded as terrorists – they were welcomed.

Now, it seems they may have been abandoned to their fate.

[IrahAnatine]

Great article Lara, and thank you for bringing this up to the light. I had the chance to visit Ashraf City last year, in June. What is going on there right now is as serious as Guantanamo and the world just seems to allow it, just because Obama is not Bush. Even if we all understand the need of dialogue, human rights are human rights and lives should never be used as trade coin. This is perhaps the most shameful act of Obama's administration so far and if something happens to that camp, it will be a shame on all of us.

Again, thank you for reporting it.

Ana A.
www.babelproject.eu
www.iqare.me

[MaxMajidSaatchi]

Following the downfall of former Iraqi government, Tehran's regime has achieved a lot in Iraq. It has gained much influence in Iraq, where the loyalty of some people to Iran appears to be more than to their own country.

Despite its vast influence in Iraq, Tehran is worried about a number of issues, including the presence of unarmed members of the People?s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in City of Ashraf (Camp Ashraf).

Following the signing of U.S. - Iraq security pact, the Iranian regime?s concerns has escalated. To overcome the fears, the regime has increased pressure on the Iraqi government to at least achieve the lowest possible gain (demand a lot to ensure minimum gain).

Therefore, Iran summoned Dr. Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, the Iraqi National Security Advisor, to tell him what is required to retain some dignity, if possible. This is when threats by Iraq?s "National Security" chief to isolate the people who are protected by international law and Iraqi - U.S. pact, the aggression on Ashraf City residents and its visitors began; All sorts of harassments were exercised. Iranian visitors were not allowed to see their family members in Ashraf. They had to stay for days in cold weather waiting for al-Rubaie?s "mercy" to allow them to enter Ashraf. In this regard, "National Security" Advisor claimed that the Camp leadership did not allow visitors to have access to their families while he implicitly recognized the existence of oppressive security measures that has turned the City into a prison. The security officers witnessed how the people in charge of the camp sympathize with visitors and seek to resolve their problems in living with the pain and anguish.

In any case, Iranians returned home without being able to visit their families and their hearts were filled by grief and pain inflicted on them by the Iraqi forces. These did not comply with minimum standards of humanitarian or historical ties.

Today, following the growing cries of solidarity with Ashraf, there is an urgent need to establish a fact-finding commission. However, Mr. Rubaie tried to justify such practices by saying that the PMOI has to choose between the "departure from Iraq to their own countries of origin or move to a desert far from the border with Iran."

He went on to say "Iraq is not a place for them, take them to Europe or America, we are looking into finding an alternative place in the west, or south of Iraq, a place of living, that there will be in a camp," referring to the possibility of housing them in military bases vacated by U.S. forces in the desert of Anbar, or near Samawah.

"European countries refuse to take the Monafeqin (the term used by Iranian regime to refer to PMOI) into their own countries," said Khamenie implying in conclusion that the decision must be implemented, meaning to cut off the heads of the PMOI members in Ashraf!

In fact, members of the PMOI residing in Ashraf are "protected persons? under international laws and the Fourth Geneva Convention and they have lived in Iraq for more than 20 years. Their residence and their actions are quite clear and they are not in a secret rebellion here and there.

We repeat our call once again for an end to this senseless campaign led by the Iranian regime. We reiterate that based on international conventions the series of restrictions imposed on residents of Ashraf City and repeated threats against them must stop. This is neither in the interests of the Iraqi people nor all the defenders of rights and justice anywhere in the world.

[akbar-sweden]

To struggle for freedom and especially against freedom?s worst enemy namely religious fascism in Iran, you should be very organized, alert, persistent and having the roots in the hart of Iranian people.

Such a resistance movement in Hitler?s Germany during 30?s could spare millions of loses and casualties in Europe decade after.
This fact makes Lara?s article even more important because of Ashraf ?s roll for a future free of fundamentalism in Iran.

Thanks a lot Lara for highlighting Ashraf residency?s legally rights.

[Iran_freedom]

Excellent Article by the journalist since it enlightens the real situation. Al-Rubaie?s statement and the Iraqi forces acts show only the clerical regime?s interference and its influence in Iraqi affairs. The only one benefiting from a destroyed Ashraf is the clerical regime and such act in not supported by anyone but the Iranian regime?s mercenaries. If Iraq will start as a democratic state it should acknowledge its international duties and obligations which they have failed to do so far.
Unfortunately, Al-Rubie?s actions and remarks defile the peace seeking forces and the democratic process in Iraq. A country which is recognized for its great treatment and respect for its guests.
Nevertheless the residents of Ashraf are protected person and their rights are protected by international laws. It is a well-known fact that the Iranian regime never has and will never respect humanitarian and international laws. The Iraqi government should distance itself from the clerical regime and deny its demands if they desire to achieve a democracy. The world most act in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe staged by Al-Rubiae and demanded by the clerical regime in Iran.

[nasim111]

Thanks a lot Lara for a great report. The most telling sentence was:
"Now, as U.S. influence wanes in Iraq, Iran?s influence continues to strengthen and grow".
Is that why so many American soldiers gave their lives? So that Iran can get stronger in Iran and can get rid of its arch enemy, the PMOI ? Is that why billions of dollars were spent and so many lives were given sleflessly? I don't think so.
They didn't die to add Iraq to Iran's territory or to see Iran execute 3500 people freely. US needs to do the right thing now or will lose credibility with its own people and the Iranians forever. Keeping Ashraf residents safe and cleaning up the Iraqi govermment from Iranian puppets is the right way to honor all those who sacrifices for a free Iraq.

[ashrafcity]

It a good report to start with. Lara you are a brave and dedicate journalist and I hope you will do more. This issue needs to be published as soon as possible before it is too late. Let us not forget that these people are not only PMOI members who are trying to free their country. They are the ones that:
1. Exposed Mullah?s nuclear program when IAEA was unaware.
2. Exposed and stopped Iranian regime?s meddling in Iraq.
3. The fundamentalist regime in Iran fears them the most
All the above issues are not only concerns of Iran but the world as well. Therefore the world owes them

Al-Rubaiei is hired and supported by Iranian government. Iraqi government is being watch by free world so far has not been able to overcome the pressure by Iranian regime. Therefore the Iraqi forces cannot and are not able to protect the camp. It is US legal and moral obligation to make sure that Ashraf and its residence are being well protected from the Mullahs and their people in Iraqi government.
Ahmad- Rome

[masoudlondon]

3 million Iraqi Shiites declare support for PMOI and condemn Iranian regime's meddling in Iraq.
Ashraf is hope for the Iranian and Iraqi people.

[figelstein]

The case of Camp Ashraf is one of the under told stories of our time. Lara Logan has touched upon a very important saga. Tehran is bent on getting its hands on 3500 dissidents in Iraq. to what end? Gallows.
What happens to them is the limutus test for the new Iraqi government's adherence to democracy and international obligations. I heard there is talk of relocating this people in Iraq. I am not a lawyer. But this sounds ludicrous. Why should they be moved from their home? Because people like Ahmadinejad desire so?
The US has more than moral responsibility. If Obama administration reneges on its commitment on these people, so much for change he had promised. That would be a disaster for the U.S. prestige and image.
These people have one enemy: Tehran and its appeasers. The very same bunch that have put us on the verge of a nuclear crisis. Should the world simply sit and watch? Absolutely not.
The news media should cry out.
By the way, why don't we see anything on this in our TVs?

John Figelstein

[John_antimullh]

Thank you Lara for informing us about the humanitarian situation in the Camp Ashraf and the PMOI. It is shameful for U.S. to first put in place and then leave behind butchers as Iraq?s National Security Minister, Mowaffak Rubaie, who on behest of the Iranian sadist mullahs has promised the disarmed and peaceful people of Ashraf a "painful process". They are a democratic opposition in Iran and ally of the free world. If President Obama is seeking a successful Iraq's Policy, he should show his support for the plight of the Ashraf residents intensely and U.S. should resume their protection. If we do not prevent further suppression of the PMOI in Iraq, the Iranian Mullahs will gain a clear upper hand in the anticipated US-Iran talks. By suppressing the PMOI, the democratic opposition of Iran, and keeping them in the U.S. terrorist list, the US has been helping the Iranian mullahs to spread throughout the region from Persian Gulf and Iraq to Lebanon. It is time to learn from previous mistakes and stop the mullahs, stop the A Bomb.

[Ebadolah]

This is a very good and honest report. I would like to see more.This kind of reporst basically will help Mr. OBAMA administration & Hillary Clinton to make a decision to stop a huge human tragedy. The Iranian regime will execute most of them without any fair trial. If they succeed on this mater and expel them from Iraq that means the Iraqi Government is a poppet of Iran. They are fighting for freedom and justice for Iran. We like it or not they are dedicated individuals to challange and fight with EVIL regime of Iran & bring democracy to their homeland IRAN.