Friends of a Free Iran -Sweden, in a letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, asked for immediate release of the 36 Ashraf residents and wrote: ’Unless the 36 prisoners are released without further delay, Iraq’s status as a country, respecting the rule of law will be seriously put into question.’
FRIENDS OF A FREE IRAN
Sweden
Sweden
Honorable Nouri al-Maliki
Prime Minister of Iraq
Office of the Prime Minister
Baghdad
Iraq
Stockholm, September 29, 2009
Honorable Nouri al-Maliki,
The Swedish branch of FOFI (Friends of a Free Iran) urges Iraq to release the 36 persons who were arrested in connection with the Iraqi police’s raid against Camp Ashraf on July 28.
We have been informed that on September 28, a judge in Khalis for the third time ordered the release of the 36 prisoners, a final ruling that cannot be appealed. Previous court decisions ordering the release of the prisoners have been given on August 24 and September 17.
The Iraqi police have refused to implement the court orders, apparently due to instructions from the Iraqi government. We therefore find it necessary to remind you that holding prisoners for purely political reasons, even after a court ordering their release, is wholly inconsistent with the basic principles of a modern democracy.
Unless the 36 prisoners are released without further delay, Iraq’s status as a country
respecting the rule of law will be seriously put into question.
With best regards,
On behalf of the board of FOFI/Sweden,
Gösta Grönroos, vice chairman
Elias Rudberg, member of the board
Prime Minister of Iraq
Office of the Prime Minister
Baghdad
Iraq
Stockholm, September 29, 2009
Honorable Nouri al-Maliki,
The Swedish branch of FOFI (Friends of a Free Iran) urges Iraq to release the 36 persons who were arrested in connection with the Iraqi police’s raid against Camp Ashraf on July 28.
We have been informed that on September 28, a judge in Khalis for the third time ordered the release of the 36 prisoners, a final ruling that cannot be appealed. Previous court decisions ordering the release of the prisoners have been given on August 24 and September 17.
The Iraqi police have refused to implement the court orders, apparently due to instructions from the Iraqi government. We therefore find it necessary to remind you that holding prisoners for purely political reasons, even after a court ordering their release, is wholly inconsistent with the basic principles of a modern democracy.
Unless the 36 prisoners are released without further delay, Iraq’s status as a country
respecting the rule of law will be seriously put into question.
With best regards,
On behalf of the board of FOFI/Sweden,
Gösta Grönroos, vice chairman
Elias Rudberg, member of the board
