Iran regime "meddling" in all aspect of Iraqi's lives - Iraqi activists

Monday, 31 March 2008

NCRI- A group of Iraqi Shiite and Sunni human rights activists from across Iraq, in a press conference in Rome testified on Iranian regime's terrorist activities in Iraq and called on the European community to intervene and defend human rights in their country, particularly the rights of women, Italian news agency ANSA reported on Friday.

Five Iraqi women activists from Iraqi National Accord led by former Prime Minister Dr. Ayad Allawi and other political and human rights groups condemned the terror and violence by the Iranian-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq, the report added.

"There are at least 30 Iranians, members of Iraq's National Assembly sitting in the parliament to protect Iranian regime's interest in our country," said Ms. Abdolghader a member of Tikrit city council in the conference.

Fa'eze'h Abidi, President of the Iraqi National Accord's Women's Movement said, ''The Iranians infiltrated Iraq to gain control over the country's oil resources and the holy shrines. Moreover, they occupy the country to oust the Iranian resistance movement who have are refugees in Iraq," ANSA added.

Mona Adnan-Hossein, whose father and husband, Sunnis, were killed before her eyes said she lives in fear of Iranian militias.

''Women can not leave home without the fear of being raped and murdered. About a month ago 10 women were killed in Basra, the government has done nothing to find those responsible and even a peaceful demonstration against the murders was suppressed without any explanation," she said.

Senior Iraqi Shiite leader: Only Iran benefits current violence in Basra

Thursday, 27 March 2008

NCRI- Sheikh Kadhim Abdulwahed al-Anizan, head of the Southern Iraqi Tribal Council, in an interview with Al-Jazeera TV said on Wednesday that Iranian regime was the only party benefiting from the violent clashes in Basra.

"This is the Iranian Intelligence Ministry (MOIS) that has infiltrated everywhere in Iraq from Karbala to Najaf and to Basra," He said.

He called on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to fight against MOIS infiltrations in Iraq.

Last month, more than 130 Iraqi tribal leaders from southern Iraqi provinces in a strongly worded joint statement condemned the visit by Ahmadinejad, the Iranian regime’s president, to Iraq.

“Since five years ago Iraq has turned into the scene of the Iranian regime’s meddling and aggression. Everyday hundreds of Iraqis are victims of the Iranian exported terrorism. In southern Iraq we are witnessing the murder of our children and ransack of our oil and other national wealth by the criminal elements of the Iranian regime,” the statement said.

Last November more than 300,000 Iraqis including hundreds of Shiite tribal leaders from Sothern provinces signed a petition condemning Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and supported the presence of the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in that country.

The petition was viewed as a turning point in Iraq. For the first time there was a public and organized display of opposition toward Iranian regime’s meddling by tribal leaders in the predominantly Shiite south.

Saleh Mutlak: Iranian meddling in Iraq continues

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

NCRI- Dr. Saleh Mutlak, leader of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, in an interview with Iraqi Al-Rafeddin TV channel condemned the visit by Ahmadinejad, Iranian regime's president, to Iraq. He said the purpose of the visit was to prepare the grounds for further meddling in Iraq.

"There are many families that have lost their loved ones due to Iranian regime's meddling; today there are close to one million widows in Iraq, mainly because of the terrorism by Iranian-supported militias; our relationship with the Iranian regime is in a critical state; its meddling in Iraq has taken drastic dimensions."

The two-day visit by the mullahs? president to Iraq on March 2, 2008, faced widespread protests by Iraqi people from various social sectors and political affiliations as well as a large number of tribal leaders.

The visit had to be cut short and he did not even visit the holy Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala as scheduled.

Mr. Muhammad al-Daini, a member of the Iraqi National Assembly from the Iraqi National Dialogue Front called for the shutdown of Iranian regime's diplomatic offices in Iraq.

Over 130 Iraqi tribal leaders from southern Iraq in a strongly worded joint statement condemned the visit by Ahmadinejad to their country.

"Since five years ago Iraq has turned into the scene of the Iranian regime's meddling and aggression. Everyday hundreds of Iraqis are victims of the Iranian exported terrorism. In southern Iraq we are witnessing the murder of our children and ransack of our oil and other national wealth by the criminal elements of the Iranian regime," the statement said.

UN Special Rapporteur calls for restoration of Ashraf City’s water supply destroyed by bomb in Iraq

Friday, 07 March 2008

Source: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The Special Rapporteur on the right to food to the Human Rights Council, Jean Ziegler, issued the following statement:

Geneva, 6 March 2008: - I am deeply concerned about information I continue to receive concerning the deteriorating situation in Ashraf City/Camp Ashraf (Iraq) and its surrounding area, following an explosion on 8 February 2008 that destroyed the water pumps in Zorganieh, which supply the area.

That pumping station provided drinking water and irrigation for Ashraf City and its surrounding area, covering more than 20,000 persons. The explosion has caused water and food shortages for the local population, which relies on local food supplies already severely affected by water scarcity. The situation is made more critical by increasingly hot weather.

Some of the reports I have received allege that the explosion may have been intended to increase pressure on over 3,000 members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/[MEK]) confined in Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. The camp remains under the control of the multi-national force under the demobilization agreement the Iraqi authorities signed with the PMOI in May 2003. 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.

The rights to food and to drinking water are protected by international human rights law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right of everyone "to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food", and other international human rights instruments, to which Iraq is a party, further spell out the protection of these rights.

The Iraqi authorities have failed to protect the inhabitants of Ashraf City and its surrounding area from the actions of third parties which are impeding enjoyment of the rights to food and water and creating a critical humanitarian situation. The competent authorities must restore urgently the water supply to all the inhabitants of the region affected by the explosion in the water pumping station; the affected population must be protected from violation of their rights by third parties. I call on the Iraqi authorities to take immediate measures to guarantee the rights to food and water of the inhabitants of Ashraf City/Camp Ashraf and its surrounding area.

*****The Special Rapporteur on the Right to food sent a letter to the Iraqi government on 17 October 2006 where he inter alia raised concern about the damages caused by a series of explosions to the water pipeline that stretches 26 km from the pumping station near the Tigris River to Camp Ashraf. This allegedly affected access of the Camp residents and nearby villages to drinking water for approximately two weeks. Irrigation was also reportedly disrupted by the explosions.

UN Special Rapporteur calls on Iraqi authorities to restore the water supply to Ashraf City

March 06, 2008
Source: UN News Centre

An independent United Nations human rights expert today called on Iraqi authorities to restore the water supply to more than 20,000 people having to endure water and food shortages since an explosion last month at a local pumping station.

Jean Ziegler, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, issued a statement voicing deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ashraf City/Camp Ashraf and surrounds since the explosion on 8 February at nearby Zorganieh.

He said locals were now experiencing water and food shortages that had been made more critical by the increasingly hot weather in the region.

Mr. Ziegler said he had received reports that the explosion may have been intended to deepen the pressure on an estimated 3,000 members of a militia known as the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI[aka MEK]) that have been confined in Camp Ashraf.

Under an agreement signed by Iraqi authorities and the PMOI in 2003, the camp remains under the control of the Multi-National Force (MNF) in Iraq and in 2004 the United States recognized PMOI members as protected persons under the Geneva conventions.

In his statement the Special Rapporteur emphasized that the rights to food and drinking water are protected under international human rights law.

“The Iraqi authorities have failed to protect the inhabitants of Ashraf City and its surrounding area from the actions of third parties, which are impeding enjoyment of the rights to food and water and creating a critical humanitarian situation.

“The competent authorities must restore urgently the water supply to all the inhabitants of the region affected by the explosion in the water pumping station [and] the affected population must be protected from violation of their rights by third parties.

“I call on the Iraqi authorities to take immediate measures to guarantee the rights to food and water of the inhabitants of Ashraf City/Camp Ashraf and its surrounding area.”

Iranian Resistance on Iraqi soil is legal - Leading Iraqi Shiite lawmaker

Wednesday, 05 March 2008

NCRI – Mr. Iyad Jamaluddin, a Shiite member of the Iraqi National Assembly in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV station dismissed Iranian regime’s claims on the presence of members of the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Iraq.

“Will PMOI pack and leave Iraq? No, it will not happen,” said Mr. Jamaluddin. “Their presence in Iraq is based on the international law,” he added.

Mr. Jamaluddin said members of PMOI are present and active in many countries throughout the world.

“The purpose of Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq was nothing but propaganda; he wanted to demonstrate that his regime is not isolated. Ahmadinejad intended to break the sanction, but he would not succeed. He would receive just a few photos, nothing else,” he said commenting on Ahmadinejad’s visit in interview with Al Arabiya TV prior to his visit.

Iraqi political leader: PMOI’s presence in Iraq is based on international law

Monday, 03 March 2008

NCRI - Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, leader of Iraqi National Dialogue Front dismissed claims by the Iranian regime for expulsion of members of the main Iranian opposition group in Iraq as baseless.

He said that the presence of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) on Iraqi soil is based on the international treaties and Geneva Convention.

“No one has the authority to expel the PMOI in Iraq; unless he intends to breach all international treaties. It is not in the best interest of the Iraqi people to break the law,” said Dr, Saleh Mutlaq in interview with Al-Rafeddin TV channel.