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Prominent New Yorkers Call for International Intervention for Protection of Camp Ashraf; Immediate Release of 36 Abductees

NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a news briefing today the "International Committee for Implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention for Ashraf Residents" condemned the July 28 barbaric and unprovoked attack on Camp Ashraf by Iraqi troops of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government.

Stressing that "the human rights of the residents of Ashraf are violated," Rev Dr. David B. Lowry, Director of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation at the Desmond Tutu Center, called the assault a horrific mistake. He said that the United States must share the blame for the attack, as it was at its urging that PMOI/MEK (People's Mojahedin of Iran) gave up arms and placed itself under the protection of the United States. Rev. Lowry called upon the world community to ensure Ashraf boundaries are secure and its residents safe.

Noting the PMOI's revelations about Iran's nuclear program, Professor Rabbi Daniel Zucker, Chairman of Americans for Democracy in the Middle East, criticized the muted response of President Obama's administration to the atrocities at Camp Ashraf. Rabbi Zucker said: "Such inaction puts your entire Middle East Peace Proposal into jeopardy." "If you break a promise to a small group, where there is almost no cost involved, how can you be trusted to fulfill promises that involve great costs in dollars, manpower, and quite possibly in lives," he asked.

Rev. Pierre Gasner Damus of Charge of St Bartholomew's Church and Father Charles Perrin of Grace Episcopal Church denounced the Iraqi government's denial of food, medicine, and security to Ashraf and called for immediate release of thirty-six abductees of Ashraf.

In today's briefing, families of Ashraf residents demanded that United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) set up a monitoring office at Ashraf as prelude to formation of an international protection force.

Ali Asghar Tasslimi, whose brothers are in Ashraf, said: "We will raise our voices so loud that the conscious of humanity is finally awakened and. . . aware of crimes against humanity," in Ashraf. Maryam Fakhar said: "My father is in Camp Ashraf. That's why I am on my 17th day of hunger strike. I am asking the U.S. and the UN to intervene. Iraqi forces have proven that not only they cannot protect, they are in Ashraf to kill."

SOURCE International Committee for Implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention