Save Ashraf
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The Honorable Barack Obama
President, United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
On Tuesday, July 28, 2009, Iraqi forces stormed Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad, home to some 3,500 unarmed and defenseless Iranian dissidents. A day later, the AFP reported 11 were killed in the attack, citing an Iraqi official. Camp residents say 12 people have been killed and more than 400 injured. Thirty-six residents have been taken to an unknown location by Iraqi forces and their fate remains unknown. Some of those taken away are critically wounded and in need of urgent medical attention. On July 30, the Washington Post quoted residents as saying that Iraqi troops used fire hoses, pepper spray, sonic grenades and riot shields to plough through hundreds o residents. Pictures received from Ashraf show direct gun shots fired to the chest or face of residents and Humvee armored vehicles chasing people. Some residents have received multiple bullet wounds. The atrocious attack exhilarated the Iranian regime, who called it вlate but admirableв (Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2009) but has received sharp rebuke elsewhere in the world.
In 2003, in exchange for their disarmament, the U.S. military granted Ashraf residents in Iraq вprotected personв status under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and guaranteed that members would be protected from harm or forcible transfer to a country where they might face persecution. That promise was broken on July 28, 2009. When the protection of Camp Ashraf was transferred to Iraqi forces in January, the Iraqi government sent written assurances to the United States promising to treat Ashraf residents humanly and according to international law. The brutal attack on Tuesday shows that such promises from the Iraqi government are not credible and the residentsв lives will be in danger as long as Iraqi forces have control over camp Ashraf.
The attack is being interpreted as a kowtow by Mr. al-Malikiвs government to the Iranian regime (Wall Street Journal, July 30, The Guardian July 29, 2009). The fact that the United States allowed it to happen, at a time when people in Iran have taken to the streets to demand their basic rights, has been incredibly shocking.
We, the undersigned, demand practical and meaningful steps form our government ot solve this crisis, and ask for the fulfillment of the following conditions:
1. Release of all 36 residents taken captive by Iraqi forces;
2. Withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Ashraf.
3. Undertaking of Ashrafвs protection by US forces until an international force under U.S. supervision takes over protection of Ashraf;
4. Allowing of lawyers and representatives of international human rights organizations to visit Ashraf after having been denied access for the past seven months.
President, United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
On Tuesday, July 28, 2009, Iraqi forces stormed Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad, home to some 3,500 unarmed and defenseless Iranian dissidents. A day later, the AFP reported 11 were killed in the attack, citing an Iraqi official. Camp residents say 12 people have been killed and more than 400 injured. Thirty-six residents have been taken to an unknown location by Iraqi forces and their fate remains unknown. Some of those taken away are critically wounded and in need of urgent medical attention. On July 30, the Washington Post quoted residents as saying that Iraqi troops used fire hoses, pepper spray, sonic grenades and riot shields to plough through hundreds o residents. Pictures received from Ashraf show direct gun shots fired to the chest or face of residents and Humvee armored vehicles chasing people. Some residents have received multiple bullet wounds. The atrocious attack exhilarated the Iranian regime, who called it вlate but admirableв (Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2009) but has received sharp rebuke elsewhere in the world.
In 2003, in exchange for their disarmament, the U.S. military granted Ashraf residents in Iraq вprotected personв status under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and guaranteed that members would be protected from harm or forcible transfer to a country where they might face persecution. That promise was broken on July 28, 2009. When the protection of Camp Ashraf was transferred to Iraqi forces in January, the Iraqi government sent written assurances to the United States promising to treat Ashraf residents humanly and according to international law. The brutal attack on Tuesday shows that such promises from the Iraqi government are not credible and the residentsв lives will be in danger as long as Iraqi forces have control over camp Ashraf.
The attack is being interpreted as a kowtow by Mr. al-Malikiвs government to the Iranian regime (Wall Street Journal, July 30, The Guardian July 29, 2009). The fact that the United States allowed it to happen, at a time when people in Iran have taken to the streets to demand their basic rights, has been incredibly shocking.
We, the undersigned, demand practical and meaningful steps form our government ot solve this crisis, and ask for the fulfillment of the following conditions:
1. Release of all 36 residents taken captive by Iraqi forces;
2. Withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Ashraf.
3. Undertaking of Ashrafвs protection by US forces until an international force under U.S. supervision takes over protection of Ashraf;
4. Allowing of lawyers and representatives of international human rights organizations to visit Ashraf after having been denied access for the past seven months.
714 Signatures
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SIMIN SOLEIMANIE
- Comments
- SAVE ASHRAF!
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Kaveh Jaf
- Comments
- Save Ashraf
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seana khoshbaten
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tania kianfard
- Comments
- Please help save these innocent lives!!
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Nasseem Hessami
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DR MARJAN GHASSEMIAN
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Sal Saatchi
- Comments
- VIVA ASHRAF
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Zoe Rahimi
- Comments
- I support Camp Ashraf!
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asal
- Comments
- justice
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Nazy Faraz
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Mary McCann
- Comments
- President Obama, We must bear witness & do what we can. Elie Wiesel has unique insight please, read his Foundation's Petition.
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Sam Cooper
- Comments
- WE MUST ALL STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS!!
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iradj
- Comments
- Mr. Obama, you remember the poem you read from Saadi, when you sent a message to Iranian people at Nourooz? I hope you still remember the meaning of it!
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Farzaneh Yaz
- Comments
- Please SAVE Ashraf
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bigham
- Comments
- protection ashraf
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Arrion Azimi
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Siv Iren Smaadal
- Comments
- No comment or commets :it dosent matter,if the person dosent care !
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sheyda naserzadeh
- Comments
- support ashraf camp, stop violation in asharf
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Sima Yazdani
- Comments
- WWII memorial : "Americans Came to Liberate, Not to Conquer; Restore Freedom and put an end to Tyranny"! Hence, we request your attention to this matter; we request your support for compliance with the agreed upon agreements between US forces and Residents of Camp Ashraf -as protested people status - 4th geneva convention
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Babis Dermitzakis
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parandaque
- Comments
- protection ashraf
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navid
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Riley
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hossein khazra
- Comments
- В
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Sepideh Mosazadeh
- Comments
- Azadi
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Erik Wahlberg
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Nasser Sharif
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Zohal Sayar
- Comments
- The only true principle for humanity is justice, and justice to the feeble is protection and kindness.
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khosro
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hamid assadian
- Comments
- wher is human right?
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Shahab Khademi
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Aida Farssyabi
- Comments
- Dear Mr. Obama, I have supported you and your presidential election, however, after HAVING seen what IS HAPPENING in camp ashraf [has happened], and YOUR CLOSED EYES before it, I am ashamed of having hoped one day for you. My mother lives in camp Ashraf and it is your duty to provide for them and the other inhabitants of the camp.
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Panahi, Khosrow
- Comments
- В
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Mahshid Naini
- Comments
- President Obama, please don't close your eyes on all these injustice
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Koorosh
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sahra Rahbari
- Comments
- viva Ashraf please save Ashraf
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Barbara Yamaguchi
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ensieh
- Comments
- Mr. Obama it is time to make a "CHANGE" you promised Stop ignoring Residents of Ashraf and provide their security immediately
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Zeeshan Armar
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bigham mitr
- Comments
- the mojahedine is the best
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Daligou thomas
- Comments
- free mojahedine
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ni
- Comments
- SUPPORT ASHRAF CITY
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Azadeh Dadvand
- Comments
- Please do not allow the horrible treatment of these unarmed people to continue! We promised them protection! Does the word of the U.S. Government mean nothing anymore?
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ramin yousefi
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roya sadeghi
- Comments
- down with irans regim
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Golpar Parvardeh
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Elham Asadian
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sina dashti
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Maryam Amiri
- Comments
- درود بر قهرمانان شهر اشرف
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Inderraj
- Comments
- How can WE call ourselves HUMAN BEINGS when others are being killed like this and we dont do anyhting about it?
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714
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