VZCZCXYZ0026
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGB #0507/01 0561526
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251526Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6835
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000507 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/FO CORBIN AND NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CVIS IR IZ
SUBJECT: MEK/ASHRAF: GOI PLANS TO RELOCATE MEK ON HOLD FOR 
FORESEEABLE FUTURE 
 
REF: A. BAGHDAD 264 
     ¶B. 09 BAGHDAD 3236 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Acting Political M/C Yuri Kim for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  During a February 24 meeting with Emboffs 
and USF-I officials, the Chairman of the GOI's Ashraf 
Committee responsible for the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MeK) stated 
the following:  (1) The GOI has no plans to move the MeK for 
the foreseeable future given the national elections and the 
lack of a viable alternative site to Ashraf; (2) the GOI is 
seeking UNAMI assistance to resolve the impasse between the 
MeK and Iranian families demanding visitation with relatives 
in Ashraf; (3) an Iraqi court has issued warrants for MeK 
officials suspected of holding residents hostage; (4) the GOI 
has concluded a comprehensive investigation of the July 
clashes and is prepared to present its findings to the EU in 
Brussels; and (5) humanitarian and medical supplies are being 
delivered regularly and without interruption to Ashraf.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Everything On Hold For Now 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) On February 24, Ali al-Yassery, Chairman of the GOI's 
Ashraf Committee (and PM Maliki's 
cousin/troubleshooter-at-large), informed Post's Iran 
watchers (Emboffs) and Major Generals David Quantock and 
Nelson Cannon of U.S. Forces Iraq (USF-I) that the GOI would 
like to "keep things quiet" with the MeK in Ashraf and would 
revisit its relocation plan after the elections to determine 
the appropriate course of action.  The GOI would only seek to 
relocate the residents if/when a viable alternative site to 
Ashraf has been identified, Yassery noted.  (NOTE: Human 
Rights Minister Wijdan Selim told Emboffs separately that the 
MoHR plans to visit Ashraf and interview residents 
individually to determine their wishes regarding relocation 
and potential refugee resettlement.  She stated that these 
interviews would likely take place before July.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶3.  (C) According to Yassery, the proposed relocation site 
(Camp Samawa) in Muthanna province was not feasible given the 
camp's poor condition, prompting the GOI to reconsider Camp 
Echo in Diwaniyah province (currently a U.S. FOB/PRT).  He 
added that the GOI would have no choice but to wait until 
Echo's official transfer in 2011 or identify another facility 
suitable for 3,400 residents.  (NOTE: The GOI seems less 
enthusiastic about its original plan to temporarily house MeK 
residents in Baghdad hotels.  The January bombings targeting 
two local hotels, including one adjacent to the hotel housing 
MeK defectors, may have dampened the GOI's enthusiasm.  END 
NOTE.) 
 
Visiting Hours Are Over 
----------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Yassery also explained that over the past several 
days, family members of MeK residents have arrived from Iran 
demanding visitation rights with their relatives in Ashraf. 
Most of the nearly two dozen visiting family members have 
staged sit-ins and protests outside Ashraf's main entrance 
(Lions Gate), refusing to return to Iran until they meet with 
their relatives.  UNAMI continues to mediate between the MeK 
and GOI with the hopes of identifying a mutually acceptable 
compromise, including a "neutral" meeting site for family 
visitation. 
 
¶5.  (C) The MeK representatives insist that visits be 
conducted at their facility in Ashraf, while also claiming 
that the relatives in Ashraf do not wish to see their 
visiting family members.  (NOTE: It is not uncommon for MeK 
leaders to discourage and intimidate their followers from 
Qleaders to discourage and intimidate their followers from 
meeting relatives.  END NOTE.)  The Iraqi authorities want 
the visits held in a GOI facility in Ashraf, citing fears of 
clashes between the MeK and the visitors if the two sides 
meet under MeK auspices.  Yassery exclaimed that "these 
Iranians (relatives) are causing us problems" and refuse to 
leave.  He has asked UNAMI to use its office space at FOB 
Grizzly as the proposed neutral ground for private meetings 
between the family members, without GOI or MeK officials 
present.  In the meantime, the impasse continues to play out, 
loudly but without violence, outside Lions Gate as Iraqi 
security forces serve as a buffer between the heckling MeK 
and visiting family members. 
 
¶6.  (C) According to Yassery, some of the relatives are 
seeking legal recourse and have filed complaints with Iraqi 
authorities alleging that their family members in Ashraf are 
being held against their will by the MeK, thereby qualifying 
as hostages under Iraqi law.  Yassery's legal adviser, Ali 
Haqi, said that an Iraqi judge has issued three arrest 
warrants against MeK members and other warrants may be 
forthcoming unless the MeK accommodate the family visits. 
Yassery acknowledged the likelihood of violent clashes if 
warrants are served.  At the urging of USG officials, he 
agreed to allow the UN more time to resolve the visitation 
impasse peacefully before pursuing legal action. 
 
Brussels Here We Come 
--------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Emboffs inquired about GOI efforts to investigate the 
July clashes with the MeK that resulted in the death of 11 
Ashraf residents and the detention of 36 others.  Emboffs 
pointed to a Spanish judge's pending inquiry into the 
incident that could result in the prosecution of a senior GOI 
security official (ref A).  Yassery confirmed that a 
comprehensive GOI interagency investigation was conducted at 
his office's behest and in coordination with the Ministry of 
Human Rights. 
 
¶8.  (C) Yassery noted that Human Rights Minister Wijdan 
presented the GOI's findings at the UN's human rights 
conference in Geneva.  He also underscored the GOI's keen 
interest in briefing its findings to the EU in Brussels, 
stating "We have our visas and are just waiting for the EU to 
invite us." 
 
MeK Defectors 
------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Yassery confirmed that there are 12 MeK defectors (10 
male, 2 female) housed in a Baghdad hotel.  ICRC informed 
Post that 11 of the defectors have requested voluntary 
repatriation to Iran and will be processed in the coming 
weeks.  (NOTE: The GOI recently transferred the defectors to 
a new hotel because the previous hotel sustained damages from 
a bombing in January targeting hotels frequented by Western 
journalists.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶10. (C) One of the recent arrivals is a female defector, 
Firouzan Taghizadeh Alamdari (DOB: 03/22/57), who initially 
claimed to be a U.S. legal permanent resident.  Firouzan's 
Amcit mother has filed an immigrant visa petition for her 
that is pending with the National Visa Center.  Yassery 
quipped that the USG should take Firouzan into custody and 
send her to her mother in the U.S.  Emboffs clarified that 
Firouzan would have to be deemed eligible for an immigrant 
visa before she could travel to the United States.  (NOTE: 
ICRC forwarded to Post an email from Firouzan's U.S.-based 
attorney, Glen M. Krebs, seeking ICRC assistance for her in 
Iraq and encouraging her to seek refuge at the U.S. Embassy 
in Baghdad.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶11.  (C) Yassery confirmed that Firouzan was examined by a 
doctor and met with UN officers this week.  She has 
apparently agreed to remain in Baghdad for the time being. 
Emboffs underscored the importance of regular and unfettered 
access to medical care for her and other MeK defectors to 
ensure their well-being. 
 
Supplies Getting In 
------------------- 
 
¶12.  (C) Yassery rejected recent MeK public claims that the 
GOI was blocking the delivery of humanitarian, medical, and 
fuel supplies.  He clarified that the GOI objected to 
gasoline deliveries given the MeK's proven efficiency with 
Molotov cocktails during the July clashes.  To drive home his 
point, Yassery said that an Iraqi police officer, injured in 
the July clashes, remains in a coma, while another has been 
paralyzed.  At USF-I's urging, Yassery reluctantly agreed to 
allow the delivery of a small quantity of gasoline to address 
the MeK's non-Molotov needs. 
 
HILL