ASHRAF CITY
Camp Ashraf, or Ashraf City as its residents know
it, is situated north of the Iraqi town of Al-Khalis
and approximately 60 miles from the Iraqi capital,
Baghdad, and about 50 miles east of the Iranian
border.
Ashraf was built in 1986, after the PMOI relocated
from France to Iraq. The Iranian regime had made
the release of French hostages held in Lebanon
conditional upon the expulsion of PMOI leaders
from France.
What is known today as Ashraf City was once a piece
of arid land in a dry, desolate desert. Only a handful
of deserted buildings were standing and there were no
facilities, paved roads, lamp posts, and running water.
Over the years, Ashraf grew both in size and in
improvements. It became the PMOI’s largest enclave
in Iraq.
An investigative report after a delegation from the
European Parliament visited Ashraf in 2005, wrote:
Camp Ashraf “is made up of a complex of roads and
buildings. It contains all sorts of educational, social
and sports facilities. These include four Olympic size
swimming pools, a shopping centre, a zoo, a park,
a university, a full size football pitch, a ‘museum of
terrorism’ containing details of attacks on the PMOI
and its personnel by the Iranian regime, a ‘museum
of martyrs’, a mosque and even a cemetery. Due to its
size and in order to function effectively, Camp Ashraf
also has services such as shops and bakeries, a petrol
station and its own traffic police. Camp Ashraf even
has its own Cola production factory, which produces
thousands of bottles of ‘Ashraf Cola’ per day.”
Camp Ashraf is an unexpected site in the middle of
the Iraqi desert. British journalist Christine Aziz who
has visited Ashraf several times
says, “Ashraf is 14 square miles of
impeccable tidiness.”
“The first impression is of a
holiday camp rather than a
military base. Eucalyptus trees line
long driveways, men and women
tend gardens, and there’s the smell
of bread from the bakery.”
In a report on Ashraf, the Los
Angeles Times wrote, “MEK
members have built a bustling,
idyllic sprawl of self-contained
mini-villages with barracks-style
living quarters, dining halls,
recreational facilities and carefully
maintained gardens... Camp
Ashraf has its own swimming
pool, library, monument to fallen
comrades and a museum where
visitors can view gruesome videos
of Iranian regime brutality.
“Whatever their idiosyncrasies,
MEK members also project a
progressive streak and political
ethos unusual in the world, much
less the Middle East. They’re
ardent feminists. Women make up
30% of the fighters but hold an
outsized number of political and
military leadership positions.
“Far from the noise, traffic jams
and ambient daily dread of
Baghdad, Ashraf feels like a quiet
rural retreat.”
After a visit to Ashraf, a reporter
from Knight Ridder news agency
wrote, “Iraq has an oasis where
fountains gurgle over pebbles
and flowers blossom in lush
gardens… The hospital is spotless
and fully stocked, schools offer
violin lessons and drivers obey
traffic laws. The electricity is
always on, and the water is always
clean in this serene, self-sufficient
compound.”
For any foreign observer who visits
Ashraf, the most striking is the
democratic nature of relationships
that exist there. The democratic
nature of relationships within the
PMOI has given Ashraf residents
the ability to maintain their unity
despite the harsh conditions of the
past 20 years.
PMOI STATUS IN IRAQ
IRANIAN REGIME’S SCHEMES AGAINST ASHRAF RESIDENTS
Introduction
In recent months the Iranian regime has stepped up pressure on the Iraqi
government to disregard the PMOI members’ political refugee status in Iraq and
their status as protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention. It had
demanded that the PMOI members be extradited to Iran or expelled from Iraq.
Tehran has insisted that a number of PMOI members be extradited to Iran, which
would undoubtedly lead to their arrest, torture and even execution.
Background
Some 3,500 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI)
are currently residing in Ashraf City, Iraq. The PMOI has been based in Iraq since
1986. Its members and affiliates are persecuted in Iran because of their political
beliefs and opposition to the clerical regime. Some 120,000 PMOI members and
sympathizers of have been executed in the past 27 years. A fatwa by Khomeini
condemned all PMOI members, and even their sympathizers, to death. This
explains why for the past twenty years PMOI members have resided in Iraq as
political refugees.
PMOI recognized under the Fourth Geneva Convention
PMOI members were in Iraq when the United States invaded that country in
2003. But well before the war it declared its neutrality in the conflict. When
the war ended, prompted by propaganda of the Iranian regime and some other
quarters, the Coalition Forces conducted a thorough investigation into the PMOI.
All those in Ashraf were interviewed and screened by several U.S. agencies. After
an exhaustive 16-month investigation, U.S. officials formally announced that
there was no basis to charge any member of the group with links to terrorism.
Consequently, in July 2004, the Multi-National Force–Iraq recognised the status
of PMOI members as protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PMOI members enjoy political refugee status in Iraq
Although Iraq was not a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention, PMOI
members have enjoyed refugee status in Iraq under the Iraqi constitution and
other Iraqi laws since 1986. Obviously, the current government of Iraq carries
the responsibilities of the government it succeeded. Prominent Iraqi jurists and
12,000 Iraqi lawyers have confirmed the refugee status of PMOI members in
accordance with the laws of Iraq.
In a legal opinion, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Slynn of Hadley and Professor Jean
Yves de Cara affirmed that “under the Iraq Asylum Act of 1971, the status as
refugees of members of the PMOI was recognised.”
The principle of continuity of States has important results. The State is bound by
engagements entered into by governments that have ceased to exist; the restored
government is generally liable for the acts of the usurper.” (Award of 18 Oct.
1923, Rep. Int. Arb. awards, I, p. 377).
Article 34:
1) The Republic of Iraq grants the right to political asylum to all combatants who
are under oppression and tyranny in their own country for defending freedom
and humanitarian principals to which the people of Iraq are committed in their
constitution.
2) Extradition of political refugees is forbidden.
Background on the Iranian regime’s schemes against PMOI in Ashraf
Over the past few years, the Iranian regime has resorted to every means to destroy
its main opposition. In December 2003, when Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim became
the rotating president of the now-defunct Governing Council, he issued a decree
that had been dictated by Tehran. It said that PMOI members must be expelled
in three weeks. A massive international campaign not only
neutralized the ploy but contributed to the recognition of
PMOI members as protected persons under the Fourth
Geneva Convention.
New ploys by Tehran
In recent months, the clerical regime has stepped up its
efforts against PMOI members in Ashraf. After the August
2005 abduction of two members of the PMOI by to the
Iraqi Interior Ministry commandos, the mullahs’ agents
blew up a bus in May 2006 killing 11 Iraqi workers on their
way to Ashraf.
months to leave Iraq.”
Confidential report reveals plot to expel PMOI
members
On 13 September 2006, the National Council of Resistance
of Iran cited an internal Iranian regime report about a
discussion on the possible expulsion of PMOI members from
Iraq in a meeting at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry attended by
the military advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister. It was also
suggested in that meeting that the government should agree
with the Iranian regime’s demand to extradite to Tehran 50
members of the PMOI in Ashraf.

The pipeline supplying water to Ashraf from the Tigris
River has been blown up twice by agents of the Iranian
regime. Ayatollah Al-Moussavi Al-Qassemi, a prominent
Shiite cleric, was assassinated for having expressed support
for the PMOI. In another terrorist attack Abdolrahim
Nasrollah, Secretary General of the Movement for Justice
and democratic Progress in Iraq, and 10 of his colleagues
were killed simply for having
voiced support for the PMOI
and reaffirming their rights as
political refugees in Iraq.
According to the same report, Iraqi Major General Kan’ani
said in the meeting that he had already informed U.S.
authorities that the Iraqi Government intended to expel
PMOI members from Iraq. The report added that a new
committee had already been set up comprised of the
representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs, human
rights and justice, and that it had asked the cabinet to

In fulfilling the mullahs’ demands,

the Iraqi government has cut off
fuel and food rations and other
essential needs to Ashraf. Even the
request for fuel for the hospital in
Ashraf was officially rejected by
the Oil Ministry.

Under pressure from the Iranian

regime the Iraqi government has
called for the expulsion of the
PMOI members from Iraq.
Remarks by the Prime
Minister of Iraq
While in Tehran, Nouri al-
Maliki, the Prime Minister of
Iraq, entered into an agreement
with the clerical regime to expel
PMOI members from that
country. A joint declaration with
the Iranian regime called for
the expulsion of the PMOI. On
July 19, 2006, the French news
agency, AFP, wrote, “Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he
was looking for ways to end the
presence in his country of the
Iranian opposition group, the
People’s Mujahedeen of Iran.” He
also announced the formation
of a committee to deal with the
expulsion of PMOI members.

In an interview with Iran’s state

television, al-Maliki said that
PMOI members “were given six
request from the Coalition Forces that oversaw security and Mojahedin of Iran since 1986 (for 20 years) is based on Article
protection of Ashraf City to deliver all available information 34 of the 1970 Constitution. During this period, according
about the Mojahedin to the Iraqi government. to Law No.51 of Iraq dated 1971, they have enjoyed the
rights of political refugees. Paragraph 4 of Article 210 of the
Iraq Deputy Prime Minister reaffirms PMOI members’ Law on Residence of Aliens ratified in 2000, outlines the
legal status in Iran residence of PMOI in Iraq as political refugees.”
According to the Iraqi media, “Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister
for Security and Services, Dr. Salaam al-Zubai, reaffirmed International outrage
PMOI members’ rights to a legal presence in Iraq as political The attempt by the Iraqi government to expel the PMOI
refugees and said, ‘They also enjoy the special status of members has been widely condemned by jurist, lawyers,
protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention human rights advocates and members of parliament. The Rt.
and are protected by U.S. forces.’” (Al-Safir daily, 9 August Hon. The Lord Slynn of Hadley, former Advocate General
2006). of the European Court of Justice, wrote to the Iraqi Prime
Minister, expressing his deep concern over such blatant
Political dignitaries support PMOI presence in Iraq violation of international law.
Following the remarks by the Iraqi Prime Minister, the
most important Iraqi political leaders and personalities and Lord Corbett of Castle Vale and 16 other members of
several parliamentary factions have issued statements and or British Parliament, the inter-parliamentary group of Friends
conducted interviews in which they have reaffirmed PMOI of a Free Iran at the European Parliament, and dozens of
members’ legal status in Iraq and condemned the Iranian parliamentarians from Europe and North America wrote
regime’s measures against them. They included, Dr. Adnan al- to Iraqi officials expressing grave concern over the plight
Dulaimi, the Secretary General of the Iraqi People’s Congress, of PMOI members in Iraq and remarks by Iraqi officials.
Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, President of the Iraqi National Dialogue They called on the Iraqi government to reaffirm the political
Front and Sheikh Khalaf al-Elyan, Secretary General of the refugee status of PMOI members in Iran.
Iraqi National Dialogue Council..

President of the Iraqi Bar Association:

In a letter to the Minister of Human
Rights on 3 October 2006, Mr. Jassim
Bahadoli, President of the Iraqi Bar
Association, wrote, “Numerous legal
opinions by Iraqi and international
jurists and clauses of the constitution
at the time when the members of the
People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran
(PMOI) legally entered Iraq (including
article 34 of the 1970 Constitution, law
number 51 dated 1971, and paragraph
4 of article 210 of the Law on Residence
of Aliens ratified in 2000) outline
the basis for the legal presence of the
PMOI members in Iraq as political
refugees. Under international law,
when there is a change of government,
the new government is bound by the
responsibilities of its predecessors.”

President of Union of Iraqi Lawyers

wrote:
In a letter on 5 October 2006 to General
John D. Gardner, Deputy Commanding
General of the Multi-National Force-
Iraq, Mr. Kamal Hamdoun, President of
the Union of Iraqi Lawyers, wrote, “I am
writing to register the legal opinion of
myself and the Union of Iraqi Lawyers
whom I represent, on the legal status
of members of the People’s Mojahedin
Organisation of Iran as political refugees
in Iraq protected by the Fourth Geneva
Convention.
The presence in Iraq of the People’s