Canadian Parliament unanimously adopts motion supporting Camp Liberty Iranians

                

NCRI - The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development addressed the situation in Camp Liberty, Iraq, and unanimously adopted a motion supporting residents and condemned the massacres of Iranians in the camp.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Internati onal Development

NEWS RELEASE

HUMAN RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE ADDRESSES SITUATION IN CAMP LIBERTY UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTS MOTION SUPPORTING RESIDENTS AND CONDEMING MASSACRES

Ottawa,June 16, 2014-

The Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Human Rights unanimously adopted a motion in support of the more than 3000 residents of Camp Liberty in Iraq - formerly at Camp Ashraf - all of whom are designated protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The motion followed compelling testimony on the urgency of the security and humanitarian situation at Camp Liberty, and the need for international protective action.

The residents, who are members of the Iranian dissident group Mojahedin e-Khalq [PMOI/MEK'], have been forced to live at Camp Liberty under dangerous and deplorable conditions as characterized by a wholly inadequate security infrastructure. Indeed, since 2009, they have been the victims of six violent attacks, the most lethal of which occurred at Camp Ashraf on September 1, 2013. 52 people were executed and seven hostages remain missing and unaccounted for.

The motion recognizes that the situation at Camp Liberty constitutes an urgent legal, political and - in particular- humanitarian crisis. It calls on the Untied Nations to immediately establish a permanent presence inside Camp Liberty and to launch an independent and impartial investigation into the September 1 massacre. It also recommends that Canada provide assistance for the relocation of Camp Liberty residents and accept some number of them as asylum seekers.

Said Cotler It is outrageous that there has not yet been any independent investigation into the September 1 massacre at Camp Ashraf, thereby fostering a culture of impunity. Moreover, the humanitarian and security situation remains urgent, while there has been little progress in resettling the residents. The situation requires immediate attention and action by the international community.