NCRI, 1 Oct 2013 – Australia must urge Iraq to release the seven hostages taken captive during the Camp Ashraf massacre and provide protection for more than 3,000 Iranian dissidents in Camp Liberty, the Pax Christi Catholic organization has demanded.
The call for action to help all Iranian refugees in Iraq came in a strongly-worded letter to Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop from the movement’s president Father Claude Mostowik.
Father Mostowik – who also heads the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace – wrote: “Both organisations have been in touch with your department in the past and never received replies regarding the human rights abuses perpetrated against the people of Ashraf City and Camp Liberty in Iraq.
“These ongoing threats have come into greater focus following the abduction of seven Iranian asylum seekers who are under threat of refoulement to Iran. You are no doubt aware of the ongoing abuses that are occurring in Iran with the reported number of executions in recent days.
“As well as this, the Iraqi government executed 52 Iranian asylum seekers at Ashraf City on September 1. These executions have provoked a hunger strike in Melbourne by Iranian people because they know the people who have been executed and abducted.
“One of the hunger strikers in Melbourne is personally known and I deeply concerned for his health and those of his supporters.”
Father Mostowik added: “It is imperative that you make a statement calling on the Iraqi government to release the abducted Iranians and that the Iraqi government also provide protection to the over 3000 residents at Camp Liberty from further attacks by the security forces until they can find asylum and protection in a third country. They cannot be refouled to Iran for their own safety.
The Australian government committed troops to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. We have an ongoing responsibility to the consequences of our actions. One of them is to call the Iraqi government to uphold human rights and international humanitarian law for these vulnerable people.
“Both the organisations that I represent urge to make a statement as soon as possible. Lives are at risk at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty and lives are threatened in Melbourne. Amongst the many calls and demands on you as Foreign Minister, this is an very urgent request.”
