IRAQ: HANDS OFF CAIN- DON'T DEPORT THE ASHRAF IRANIAN REFUGEES

December 29, 2008: Hands Off Cain secretary Sergio D’Elia sent Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki an appeal saying he was "very concerned" by the Iraqi Government's project of dismantling the Ashraf camp and the probable deportation of the refugees to Iran.
The camp has approximately 3,500 Iranian Mojahedin refugees. According to Hands Off Cain, the Iraqi Government's intentions were made clear a week ago by the Councillor for National Security, Mouwaffaq Al-Rubaie. After a visit to Camp Ashraf, he allegedly declared publicly that the Iraqi Government 'is continuing with its plan to close the camp and deport the residents to their home country or a third country.'  
"The realisation of such a proposition would be a humanitarian catastrophe. From the moment the members of the Iranian Opposition are repatriated, they risk torture and execution by the Mullah’s regime," D'Elia wrote to al-Maliki in the letter. He also reminded al-Maliki that the protection of Ashraf is assured by the American forces in Iraq under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
D’Elia continued: "The Ashraf residents must continue to receive protection by the American Military as long as they remain in Iraq and, then, they must be effectively protected by the Iraqi Government." "This is what was emphasised by authoritative international institutions like the UN High Commission on Refugees, the UN High Commission for Human Rights, and the International Red Cross as well." (Sources: HOC, 29/12/2008)