Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 14 / Trend T. Konyayeva /
The Iraqi authorities must not forcibly resettle about 3,400 Iranian opposition group members from north of Baghdad where they have lived since the mid-1980s, Amnesty International said today.
"Whatever actions the Iraqi authorities decide to take toward the future Camp Ashraf, the rights of all its citizens must be protected and observed," Amnesty International Middle East and North African Deputy Director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said.
Sources who wished to remain anonymous told Amnesty International that the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf, which is located 60 kilometers north of Baghdad, were given until Dec. 15 to leave their town. Otherwise they were told that they would be forcibly resettled to other areas of Iraq, or returned to Iran.
More than 3,000 members and supporters of the Iranian opposition group People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran live in Camp Ashraf. The group has been living there for over 20 years. At present, the camp is a small town with shops, medical and other facilities.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Camp Ashraf residents will be transported to the southern province of Muthanna.
Amnesty International fears that the resettlement measures will entail arrests, torture and tough treatment and murder.
Since mid-2008 the Iraqi government has repeatedly said it wants to close Camp Ashraf, and that its inhabitants must leave Iraq, or they will be expelled from the country.
On July 28-29, Iraqi security forces raided the camp, and at least nine people were killed and many more were injured. Reports also circulated in the press that 36 people were detained, tortured and beaten. They were released Oct. 7.
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