Crime Against Humanity in Ashraf

Al-Arab Al-Yawm daily, Jordan, 13 Sept 2011 – The embargo placed on the delivery of gasoline to Camp Ashraf to torture the residents in Iraq’s scorching summer heat has disrupted many vital services in Ashraf. Despite the fact the fuel is purchased at Ashraf residents’ own expense, the Iraqi government prevents the delivery of gasoline into the camp in order to increase the pressure on the residents.
Preventing the delivery of fuel is a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and numerous other provisions of the International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
Wounded residents in the 8 April 2011 attack on Ashraf:
Banning the delivery of gasoline has created serious problems for the wounded residents in Ashraf.
United Nations Secretary General – 7 July 2011:
“I urge the Iraqi authorities to refrain from the use of force, and to ensure adequate access for camp residents to goods and services.”
Struan Stevenson, MEP and President of the Delegation for Relations with Iraq in the European Parliament, 20 August 2011:
“The restrictions of access to the camp for medical supplies, fuel, food and even water, are a crime against humanity.”
Iraqi MPs condemning anti-humane siege on Ashraf and the prevention fuel delivery
Ahmad al-Alvani, Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament Economy Commission:
“Depriving Ashraf residents of fuel in the summer heat, causing vital equipment including generators, coolers and medical devices to break down, is a human rights violation.”
Dr. Neda Ibrahim al-Jabouri, Iraqi MP:
“Essential necessities, and most specifically fuel, must be provided in the high temperature summer season. Ashraf residents’ human rights must be respected.”
Shuwan Mohammad Taha, Iraqi MP and member of the Parliament Human Rights Commission:
“The Iraqi government must practice humane behavior towards Ashraf residents based on international conventions and standards because they have had refugee status in Iraq for years. Preventing fuel delivery to Ashraf is a flagrant violation of human rights. Fuel tankers entering Ashraf for use in generators must be permitted.”
In order to enforce further pressure on the residents of this camp, the Iraqi government has resorted to a hideous siege policy. It has been seven months since the delivery of gasoline purchased at the residents’ own expense is banned. This has caused many of the residents, especially the patients and those wounded, to endure much pain and suffering due to the fact that cooling devices, refrigerators, freezers and other medical equipment to break down particularly in the summer season. Preventing the delivery of fuel is a flagrant breach of the Geneva Conventions and many provisions of the International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.