Brussels, 12/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The leader of the European Parliament's Iraq delegation, Struan Stevenson (ECR, UK), and Charles Tannock (ECR, UK) have called on the EU to take action for the release of the seven residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq - six women and one man - who disappeared during the attack on 1 September (see EUROPE 10912 and 10913). Stevenson and Tannock believe that the seven are about to be handed over to the Iranian authorities. “I call upon EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to demand from the Iraqi government not to hand over refugees to a regime that will surely endanger their lives (…). Our silence allows the Iraqi government to believe it can continue to act with impunity”, said Tannock.
“Only a concerted and loud effort by the EU, US and UN will stop Iraq from handing over refugees to a regime that will almost certainly harm them”, said Stevenson. In his view, it is clear that if the hostages are handed over to Iran they risk being tortured and executed.
Questioned on the issue by other MEPs during the Parliament's plenary session on 11 September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said she had that day spoken to the Iraq's foreign affairs minister to remind him of the importance of ensuring the safety of the residents of Camps Ashraf and Liberty. They had discussed the massacre of 1 September and the situation of these seven people. The United Nations has called on the Iraqi government to investigate their disappearance. The 42 survivors of the attack on Camp Ashraf have been transferred to Camp Liberty, where they join over 3,000 other residents who are members of the People's Mujahedin, opposed to the Iranian regime. (CG/transl.fl)