The fanatics in Tehran see intelligentsia as their biggest enemy. The main bastion of resistance for those who have escaped persecution is Camp Ashraf, or Ashraf City as its residents know it. It is situated 60 miles east of the Iranian border north of the Iraqi town of Al-Khalis.
Ashraf was created in 1986. That which is known today as Ashraf City was once a piece of arid land in a dry, desolate desert. Only a handful of deserted buildings were standing and there were no facilities, paved roads, lamp posts, and running water.
After a visit to Ashraf a reporter from Knight Ridder news agency wrote:
“Iraq has an oasis where fountains gurgle over pebbles and flowers blossom in lush gardens.
The hospital is spotless and fully stocked, schools offer violin lessons and drivers obey traffic laws. The electricity is always on, and the water is always clean in this serene, self-sufficient compound.
One of the remarkable attributes of Ashraf is the existence of thousands of people who knowingly chose to come to Ashraf with only one goal and desire which is to put their lives for their people’s freedom from the clutches of the mullahs’ religious dictatorship.
For any foreign observer that visits Ashraf, the most striking characteristic is the democratic nature of relationships that exist there since in this city precious human values are respected the most. The democratic nature of relationships within the PMOI has given Ashraf residents the ability to maintain their unity despite the harsh conditions of the past 20 years, which includes coming under aerial bombardment and missile attacks by the mullahs’ regime, and differences of opinion and thought among the residents of Ashraf."
Foreign observers are also astounded at the high morale in Ashraf. Such a level of liveliness under such difficult conditions comes from the depth of their conscious decision to remain in Ashraf and their profound belief in freedom.
Over the years, Ashraf grew both in size and in improvements. It became the Iranian main resistance’s (PMOI) largest enclave in Iraq.
The Ayatollahs in Iran realise that Ashraf have inspired millions inside the country to protest and defy the expansion of Islamic fanaticism across the nation.
A Fatwa (a religious decree) been issued for the execution of Ashraf residents by the supreme leader, similar to the Fatwa which lead to massacre of 30,000 likeminded people in just two weeks in prisons in 1988.
Since the handover of security of Ashraf to Iraqi authorities January 1, 2009 Asgraf residents have been continuously threatened by proxies of the Iranian mullahs in Iraqi government. In July 2009 Ashraf was attacked by Iraqi forces who were supposed to provide protection. The brutal attack led to 11 deaths, more than 500 injured and 36 abducted refugees. It took a 72 day international campaign with hundreds of people on hunger strike all over the world, to gain the release of hostages in the hands of Iraqi forces.
Now the Iraqi government on direct orders of Iranian regime has called for transfer of Ashraf residents to a remote place in deserts of southern Iraq. Their displacement, contrary to international law and Iraq's legal and moral obligations, will result into a humanitarian catastrophe and leaves all Ashraf residents vulnerable to attacks by Iranian regime and the Qods (Jerusalem) Force of Iranian Revolutionary Guards who are behind hidden occupation of Iraq.
This situation needs immediate attention. These people need urgent support, especially as their legal status as UN refugees and protected persons has not yet been acknowledged by Iraqi authorities. UK Committee in support of Ashraf (UKCSA) is sponsoring this very urgent case to help prevent a catastrophe.
UKCSA is a non-profit committee set up to defend the rights of the people in Ashraf through public awareness campaigns and other means to raise the profile of the camp in the free world. Ashraf residents’ lives are threatened because of their defiance to the mullahs’ regime. They will face barbaric punishments, torture and execution if returned to Iran.
UKCSA also campaigns to put a stop to executions and the inhuman treatment of political prisoners inside Iran.
Considering the recent conspiracies of the Iranian government against Ashraf, UK Committee in Support of Ashraf has an urgent appeal to support the legal campaign for protection of Ashraf and preventing forceful transfer of its residents.