HR 202: Letter to the Chairman from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Camp Ashraf, Iraq

Thank you for your follow up letter of 16 September about Camp Ashraf, Iraq. I apologise for the late reply.

 

As you may already be aware, there have been a number of developments surrounding the 36 detainees since your last letter. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with as full a picture as we can of events that led to their eventual return to Camp Ashraf, and ultimately the end of their hunger strike.

 

Following confrontations on 28 July at Camp Ashraf, 36 residents were arrested. They were initially arrested for charges relating to violence at the Camp. A court ordered their release on these charges, most recently on 28 September. In parallel, they were charged with immigration violations and it was on these charges that they remained in detention until 7 October. On 30 September/1 October they were transferred to the International Zone in Baghdad, before being moved to the al-Muthanna Army base.

 

The UN and ICRC visited the detainees during their detention and confirmed they had access to food, water and medical care. The Iraqi Human Rights Minister, Wijdan Salim, also visited the detainees in the al-Muthanna Army base. In protest at their arrest, the 36 detainees went on hunger strike, and latterly apparently refusing liquids as well as solid food. MeK supporters in several cities across the world also went on hunger strike in solidarity.

On 6 October our Ambassador in Baghdad called on the Iraqi Human Rights Minister, Wijdan Salim to raise concerns about the treatment of the 36 detainees. The Minister explained that her team had been locked in difficult negotiations with the 36 detainees, their lawyers, the UN, ICRC and the US to find a way of solving the problem. An agreement was drafted agreeing that they would be returned to Ashraf on condition that they agree to be resettled in a third country, but not Iran. At the last moment the detainees refused to sign.

 

We understand there was an apparent change of heart overnight and on 7 October an agreement witnessed by UNAMI, ICRC and MNF-I. was signed in which the 36 agreed to leave the country at the request of the GoI when a third country was ready to accept them. They were returned to Camp Ashraf on 7 October.

 

On their release the leader of the MeK, Maryam Rajavi, called on all those on hunger strike to end their protest, a call which was immediately observed.

 

Although this letter is late, the FCO has been trying to keep Parliamentarians, including Andrew Mackinlay MP, briefed on developments. Ivan Lewis is meeting with a number of interested Parliamentarians on Thursday 15 October to discuss the latest developments and to outline FCO policy, to which you are most welcome to attend. My officials will be in touch with your office to provide further details.

 

I hope you find this information useful.

 

14 October 2009