Association of Independent Iraqi Jurists condemn Maliki’s remarks against PMOI

August 09, 2007

NCRI - Association of the Independent Iraqi Jurists, in a statement, strongly condemned al-Maliki’s remarks regarding expulsion of People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) from Iraq and described it unlawful.

The jurists’ association stressed on the right of the PMOI's stay in Iraq as a legitimate right recognized by international law and conventions and general principles of human rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Additionally, the PMOI members enjoy the "Protected Persons" status under the Fourth Geneva Convention and no one should talk about their expulsion.

Text of the statement of The Association of Independent Iraqi Jurists:

We, the Association of Independent Iraqi Jurists, are not surprised by the assertions of the Prime Minister regarding his visit to Iran, the same way we are used to such remarks and other similar remarks made by other officials of the new state of Iraq starting from the former Governing Council. This will not be the last one as if the issue of the People's Mojahedin's (PMOI/MEK) presence in Iraq is the first national priority.

It seems as if the national unity government is fully realized, terrorism has been uprooted, unemployed is resolved, and all services such as electricity, water, paving roads, building houses and other infrastructures are provided and there is no other problem than settling the issue of the PMOI!

We ask the Iraqi government to be responsible for national priorities before talking with the Iranian regime over the important and special case of the PMOI. The Iranian regime is a regime that has proven its hostility toward Iraq and its nation ever since the Khomeini’s regime came to power; it is a regime that has decided to export "revolution" to other countries of the world, especially to Islamic and Arab states and above all Iraq. The regime took advantage of the situation in Iraq under occupation, and is the first winner of the current state in Iraq.

The regime knows well that the PMOI is a major obstacle to its ominous intentions in Iraq. Therefore, it is using all its power to remove this obstacle and to this end it has been using all its agents within the Iraqi government.

There should be no deal on this organization’s right to stay in Iraq. This is a right recognized under the international law and conventions and general principles of human rights contained in Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In addition to this, the PMOI members enjoy the "Protected Persons" status under the Fourth Geneva Convention and no one should talk about their expulsion. No matter who is making such comments, whether it is the prime minister or the government spokesman.