خاتمی: شرایط اصلاح طلبان شرط تأمین مصالح و امنیت ملی و پیشرفت کشور است
دردیدار با زندانیان آزاد شدهجرس: سیدمحمد خاتمی با تاکید چندباره بر آزادی همه زندانیان سیاسی گفت: شرایطی که کف خواسته اصلاح طلبان و بخش مهمی از ملت و شرط تأمین مصالح و امنیت ملی و پیشرفت کشور است برآورده شود تا همه بتوانند در عرصه سرنوشت خود حضور فعال داشته باشند.
روز شنبه ۱۵ مهرماه تعدادی از زندانیان آزاد شده به دیدار سید محمد خاتمی رفتند.
به گزارش کلمه، در این دیدار خاتمی با تبریک میلاد امام رضا، از تمام کسانی که اینک در حصر و حبس به سر می برند یاد کرد، به خصوص کسانی که در زندان رجاییشهر دارای شرایط سخت تر هستند.
وی با ابراز امیدواری نسبت به اینکه هرچه زودتر شاهد آزادی همه این زندانیان باشیم، تاکید کرد: این امر به نفع نظام و کشور و همه کسانی است که به سربلندی میهن و سرنوشت ملت می اندیشند
رئیس جمهوری سابق کشورمان افزود: بسیاری از کسانی که دچار گرفتاری و مشکل شدند، با احساس مسؤولیت و دردمندی وارد عرصه فعالیت های گوناگون از جمله انتخابات شده و موجب پرشور شدن آن شدند، شایسته نبود که با آنان برخورد نامناسب صورت گیرد، آزادی و حقوق آنان سلب شود و در تنگنا قرار گیرند
خاتمی در ادامه با ارائه تعریفی از اصلاحات، اصلاح طلبی را یک حرکت اصیل تاریخی دانست که از میان رفتنی نیست، و اظهار داشت: راهی مناسب تر از اصلاحات برای تأمین ارزشهای اصیل انقلاب و خواستهای روشن ملت و رسیدن کشور به جایگاه متناسب با شأن این ملت بزرگ و رفع مشکلات وجود ندارد.
وی درباره انتخابات پیش رو نیز گفت: حق تعیین سرنوشت، اساسی ترین حقی است که مردم دارند و انتخابات آزاد و فراگیر، پایه مردم سالاری و تأمین این حق مسلم است.
سید محمد خاتمی در پایان اظهار امیدواری کرد همانگونه که بارها اعلام شده است، شرایطی که کف خواسته اصلاح طلبان و بخش مهمی از ملت و شرط تأمین مصالح و امنیت ملی و پیشرفت کشور است برآورده شود تا همه بتوانند در عرصه سرنوشت خود حضور فعال داشته باشند.
روز شنبه ۱۵ مهرماه تعدادی از زندانیان آزاد شده به دیدار سید محمد خاتمی رفتند.
به گزارش کلمه، در این دیدار خاتمی با تبریک میلاد امام رضا، از تمام کسانی که اینک در حصر و حبس به سر می برند یاد کرد، به خصوص کسانی که در زندان رجاییشهر دارای شرایط سخت تر هستند.
وی با ابراز امیدواری نسبت به اینکه هرچه زودتر شاهد آزادی همه این زندانیان باشیم، تاکید کرد: این امر به نفع نظام و کشور و همه کسانی است که به سربلندی میهن و سرنوشت ملت می اندیشند
رئیس جمهوری سابق کشورمان افزود: بسیاری از کسانی که دچار گرفتاری و مشکل شدند، با احساس مسؤولیت و دردمندی وارد عرصه فعالیت های گوناگون از جمله انتخابات شده و موجب پرشور شدن آن شدند، شایسته نبود که با آنان برخورد نامناسب صورت گیرد، آزادی و حقوق آنان سلب شود و در تنگنا قرار گیرند
خاتمی در ادامه با ارائه تعریفی از اصلاحات، اصلاح طلبی را یک حرکت اصیل تاریخی دانست که از میان رفتنی نیست، و اظهار داشت: راهی مناسب تر از اصلاحات برای تأمین ارزشهای اصیل انقلاب و خواستهای روشن ملت و رسیدن کشور به جایگاه متناسب با شأن این ملت بزرگ و رفع مشکلات وجود ندارد.
وی درباره انتخابات پیش رو نیز گفت: حق تعیین سرنوشت، اساسی ترین حقی است که مردم دارند و انتخابات آزاد و فراگیر، پایه مردم سالاری و تأمین این حق مسلم است.
سید محمد خاتمی در پایان اظهار امیدواری کرد همانگونه که بارها اعلام شده است، شرایطی که کف خواسته اصلاح طلبان و بخش مهمی از ملت و شرط تأمین مصالح و امنیت ملی و پیشرفت کشور است برآورده شود تا همه بتوانند در عرصه سرنوشت خود حضور فعال داشته باشند.
نام فرمانده قرارگاه (که این زندان در آن قرار دارد): سرهنگ فخرعلی قلی زاده است.
یکی از بازداشتی ها که مدتی در این زندان بوده, شرایط آن را چنین شرح داده است:
این زندان, زندانی غیرعلنی است. از بیست کانتینر تشکیل شده است. فاصله هر کانتینر با کانتینر بعدی یک متر است. درون هر کانتینر ۵۰-۴۰ نفر از دستگیر شدگان وقایع تبریز و ارومیه و سایرین بصورت بسیار فشرده جای داده شده اند. این زندان بدون سرویس بهداشتی است و هیچ کسی هم نمی تواند برای هواخوری یا دستشویی از کانتینر بیرون برود.
غذای زندانیان فقط آب و نان و بعضی وقت ها شاید سیب زمینی با تخم مرغ آب پز است.
از یک دریچه کوچک در بدنه کانتینر به زندانی ها غذا می دهند,بدون هیچگونه بشقاب یا قاشقی یا ….
زندانی ها همان جا در کانتینر با دست هایشان غذا می خورند و همان جا هم مجبورند دستشویی کنند. بوی تعفن همه جا را فراگرفته و امکان تنفس را برای زندانیان بسیار سخت کرده است.
این زندانی که مدتی در این بازداشتگاه بوده, به تازگی از این زندان آزاد شده است. وی آنقدر تحت فشار روحی قرار دارد که در حال حاضر دوست ندارد و نمی تواند کسی را ببیند. حرف زدن برای او سخت است. او فقط پنج دقیقه زبان باز کرد و با یکی از دوستان نزدیک خودش صحبت کرد و چند کلمه ای گفت.
بعد از دستگیری و ضرب و شتم و شکنجه زیاد با سیم و کابل در تبریز، وی را چشم بسته از تبریز به این زندان بردند و بعد از سه هفته زندگی در این زندان که مانند جهنمی برای زندانیان بود، او را چشم بسته برگرداندند. وی در حال حاضر در شرایط روحی بسیار بدی بسر می برد.
این زندانی, بی گناه و فقط به جرم آزادیخواهی دستگیر شد. اما با کلی تلاش و التماس و جستجو و خرج پول برای دادن به این و آن مامور، محل وی توسط خانواده اش پیدا شد و با انبوه رشوه و باج که توسط مزدوران گرفته شد، نهایتا با سی میلیون تومان رشوه و صد میلیون تومان وثیقه آزاد شدو با وضعیت بسیار ضعیف و رنجور به خانه اش برگشت.
در حال حاضر, سایر بازداشتی هایی که در این زندان به سر می برند, در شرایط وحشتناکی به لحاظ جسمی و روحی به سر می برند و می بایست اطلاع رسانی و اقداماتی جدی برای اطلاع از وضعیت آنها صورت گیرد.
یکی از بازداشتی ها که مدتی در این زندان بوده, شرایط آن را چنین شرح داده است:
این زندان, زندانی غیرعلنی است. از بیست کانتینر تشکیل شده است. فاصله هر کانتینر با کانتینر بعدی یک متر است. درون هر کانتینر ۵۰-۴۰ نفر از دستگیر شدگان وقایع تبریز و ارومیه و سایرین بصورت بسیار فشرده جای داده شده اند. این زندان بدون سرویس بهداشتی است و هیچ کسی هم نمی تواند برای هواخوری یا دستشویی از کانتینر بیرون برود.
غذای زندانیان فقط آب و نان و بعضی وقت ها شاید سیب زمینی با تخم مرغ آب پز است.
از یک دریچه کوچک در بدنه کانتینر به زندانی ها غذا می دهند,بدون هیچگونه بشقاب یا قاشقی یا ….
زندانی ها همان جا در کانتینر با دست هایشان غذا می خورند و همان جا هم مجبورند دستشویی کنند. بوی تعفن همه جا را فراگرفته و امکان تنفس را برای زندانیان بسیار سخت کرده است.
این زندانی که مدتی در این بازداشتگاه بوده, به تازگی از این زندان آزاد شده است. وی آنقدر تحت فشار روحی قرار دارد که در حال حاضر دوست ندارد و نمی تواند کسی را ببیند. حرف زدن برای او سخت است. او فقط پنج دقیقه زبان باز کرد و با یکی از دوستان نزدیک خودش صحبت کرد و چند کلمه ای گفت.
بعد از دستگیری و ضرب و شتم و شکنجه زیاد با سیم و کابل در تبریز، وی را چشم بسته از تبریز به این زندان بردند و بعد از سه هفته زندگی در این زندان که مانند جهنمی برای زندانیان بود، او را چشم بسته برگرداندند. وی در حال حاضر در شرایط روحی بسیار بدی بسر می برد.
این زندانی, بی گناه و فقط به جرم آزادیخواهی دستگیر شد. اما با کلی تلاش و التماس و جستجو و خرج پول برای دادن به این و آن مامور، محل وی توسط خانواده اش پیدا شد و با انبوه رشوه و باج که توسط مزدوران گرفته شد، نهایتا با سی میلیون تومان رشوه و صد میلیون تومان وثیقه آزاد شدو با وضعیت بسیار ضعیف و رنجور به خانه اش برگشت.
در حال حاضر, سایر بازداشتی هایی که در این زندان به سر می برند, در شرایط وحشتناکی به لحاظ جسمی و روحی به سر می برند و می بایست اطلاع رسانی و اقداماتی جدی برای اطلاع از وضعیت آنها صورت گیرد.
Oct 10, 2011 Relations between Iran and Turkey are becoming increasingly strained as they compete for influence in a changing Arab world.
The key military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader told Ankara at the weekend that Turkey must reconsider its policies on Syria, the Nato missile shield and promoting Muslim secularism in the region.
Otherwise, he warned, Turkey would face trouble not only from its own people, but from its neighbours, Iran, Syria and Iraq, because it was “acting in line with the goals of America”.
The characteristically undiplomatic outburst from Major-General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, an influential aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, highlighted Iran’s frustration that Ankara’s star is rising in the Arab world while Tehran’s is declining. The outcome of the contest between the region’s two major non-Arab Muslim states will help shape the future of the Middle East.
Yet, experts say, Iran and Turkey have mutually beneficial relations that neither will want to see fray beyond repair.
Sir Richard Dalton, a Middle East and North Africa expert at Chatham House, a British think tank, said: “Both are keen to maintain good economic ties. Iran has long tried to keep its commercial interests largely insulated from political difficulties.”
The Iranian regime watched with envy and dismay when Turkey’s prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, made a triumphal tour of North Africa last month. Before cheering crowds in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, he extolled Turkey’s successful brand of secular Muslim democracy as a template for the Arab world.
Mr Rahim-Safavi, the former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, fumed that this was “unexpected and unimaginable”, apparently wanting to claim that since the Egyptian people were predominantly Muslims, they would prefer a ruling system like Iran’s, which places Islam firmly at its core.
The key military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader told Ankara at the weekend that Turkey must reconsider its policies on Syria, the Nato missile shield and promoting Muslim secularism in the region.
Otherwise, he warned, Turkey would face trouble not only from its own people, but from its neighbours, Iran, Syria and Iraq, because it was “acting in line with the goals of America”.
The characteristically undiplomatic outburst from Major-General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, an influential aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, highlighted Iran’s frustration that Ankara’s star is rising in the Arab world while Tehran’s is declining. The outcome of the contest between the region’s two major non-Arab Muslim states will help shape the future of the Middle East.
Yet, experts say, Iran and Turkey have mutually beneficial relations that neither will want to see fray beyond repair.
Sir Richard Dalton, a Middle East and North Africa expert at Chatham House, a British think tank, said: “Both are keen to maintain good economic ties. Iran has long tried to keep its commercial interests largely insulated from political difficulties.”
The Iranian regime watched with envy and dismay when Turkey’s prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, made a triumphal tour of North Africa last month. Before cheering crowds in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, he extolled Turkey’s successful brand of secular Muslim democracy as a template for the Arab world.
Mr Rahim-Safavi, the former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, fumed that this was “unexpected and unimaginable”, apparently wanting to claim that since the Egyptian people were predominantly Muslims, they would prefer a ruling system like Iran’s, which places Islam firmly at its core.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi Denied Medical Care
HRANA News Agency – On Saturday night, October 1, 2011, Ayatollah Boroujerdi visited the prison clinic in Evin because of heart problems, but prison officials refused to provide medical care for him. Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi is a prisoner of conscience whose pre-existing medical conditions have deteriorated since his arrest on October 8, 2006.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), last night, Ayatollah Boroujerdi complaining of chest pain visited the clinic in Evin Prison to seek medical care. The medical staff didn’t admit him into the clinic and asked for his immediate transfer to a hospital outside the prison. However, the prison officials have refused to comply with this request.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi suffers from heart problems and lacks the necessary balance to walk independently due to swelling of both feet.
HRANA News Agency – On Saturday night, October 1, 2011, Ayatollah Boroujerdi visited the prison clinic in Evin because of heart problems, but prison officials refused to provide medical care for him. Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi is a prisoner of conscience whose pre-existing medical conditions have deteriorated since his arrest on October 8, 2006.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), last night, Ayatollah Boroujerdi complaining of chest pain visited the clinic in Evin Prison to seek medical care. The medical staff didn’t admit him into the clinic and asked for his immediate transfer to a hospital outside the prison. However, the prison officials have refused to comply with this request.
Ayatollah Boroujerdi suffers from heart problems and lacks the necessary balance to walk independently due to swelling of both feet.
Twenty One Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Esfahan
HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, September 29, 2011, twenty one Baha’i citizens were arrested in Esfahan and taken to an unknown location. Amongst the detainees, there was a 9 year old child.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), on Thursday, Iranian security agents arrested the following Baha’i citizens in Esfahan:
After these Baha’i citizens were arrested, the houses of Parisa Rahmani, Farzad Rohani and Ataullah Daneshgar were searched and Baha’i religious artifacts were confiscated.
HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, September 29, 2011, twenty one Baha’i citizens were arrested in Esfahan and taken to an unknown location. Amongst the detainees, there was a 9 year old child.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), on Thursday, Iranian security agents arrested the following Baha’i citizens in Esfahan:
- Anisa Daneshgar
- Arman Rahimi
- Ataullah Daneshgar
- Darab Yazdani
- Dariush Dastpiesh
- Dina Safarpour (9 years old)
- Fardoas Niki
- Farid Eshtiagh
- Farzad Rohani
- Fazel Behnam
- Heshmatullah Niki
- Laleh Namjoian
- Lava Daneshgar
- Parisa Rahmani
- Roheia Hakimon
- Saha Behnam
- Samira Ghaneh
- Shahla Sanaei
- Sohela Davardan
- Sohela Vahedian
- Taj Almalok Janamian
After these Baha’i citizens were arrested, the houses of Parisa Rahmani, Farzad Rohani and Ataullah Daneshgar were searched and Baha’i religious artifacts were confiscated.
Baha’i Citizen Bashir Ehsani Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
His trial was held in August and his charges included disturbing public order and possession of satellites. However, Judge Pirabbas has ignored the report of his interrogator and has changed his charges into gathering and conspiracy to disturb national security.
The interrogator had acquitted him of conspiracy, blasphemy and anti-regime propaganda.
He had been summoned before and was interrogated for hours in one instance.
He was arrested following the Ashura protests and later released on bail. The authorities raided his home in February but were unable to arrest him.
His trial was held in August and his charges included disturbing public order and possession of satellites. However, Judge Pirabbas has ignored the report of his interrogator and has changed his charges into gathering and conspiracy to disturb national security.
The interrogator had acquitted him of conspiracy, blasphemy and anti-regime propaganda.
He had been summoned before and was interrogated for hours in one instance.
He was arrested following the Ashura protests and later released on bail. The authorities raided his home in February but were unable to arrest him.
Journalist Hamid Moazeni from city of Bushehr held incommunicado
In continuation of the new wave of security pressures on journalists and political activists, on Tuesday morning of last week, Intelligence agents arrested journalist Hamid Moazeni in the southern city of Bushehr.
According to Human Rights House of Iran, despite efforts by various parties to obtain information, Hamid Moazeni’s whereabouts and condition remain unknown, and no reason has been given for his arrest. After he was detained the journalist was only able to speak to his mother for a few brief moments.
After his brief conversation with his mother, Hamid Moazeni’s friends and relatives expressed great concern for his welfare.
Hamid Moazeni worked for Mehdi Karoubi’s election campaign during the 2009 presidential elections. He was involved with many publications in Bushehr province. He edited weekly southern publications including “Birami”, “Avab Baharestan”, “Daryay-e Jonoub”, and “Salam Jonoub”.
US hikers’ lawyer prevented from leaving Iran
AFP - Lawyer Masoud Shafii who represented the now free US hikers held for two years in Iran on espionage and illegal entry charges was barred from leaving the country on Sunday, a source close to the case told AFP.
“This morning at around six o’clock (0230 GMT), after getting his passport stamped and as he was boarding the plane, his passport was confiscated by order of the judiciary,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source added that Shafii ”could not proceed to his final destination which was the United States,” without elaborating on why his passport had been seized.
On Tuesday Shafii was arrested at his home and questioned for several hours by judiciary officials before being released, the source said, adding that agents confiscated documents, his computer and his passport, but returned them later.
Shafii represented Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd in a case which lasted for more than two years. He always maintained that his clients were innocent, and was criticised by conservative hardliners in the Islamic republic.
Shafii also criticised the judiciary for not allowing him proper access to the three, as required by the law.
He met them briefly only three times in two years, once before the start of their trial, and once before each of two hearings in February and August.
Bauer, Fattal and Shourd were charged with illegal entry and spying on Iran after they were arrested in July 2009 along the unmarked Iran-Iraq border.
Shourd was released on bail in September 2010 on health grounds, and her two companions were freed on bail on September 21 after being sentenced in August to eight years in prison each by a Tehran revolutionary court.
Four days later Fattal and Bauer accused Iran at a New York news conference of using them as hostages in its power struggle with the West, and described hearing the anguished cries of fellow inmates being beaten in Tehran’s Evin prison.
Iran’s judiciary promptly denied their charges.
The hikers case angered Washington, already mired in deep differences with Tehran over its controversial nuclear programme, its refusal to recognise Israel and its support for militant groups in the Middle East.
AFP - Lawyer Masoud Shafii who represented the now free US hikers held for two years in Iran on espionage and illegal entry charges was barred from leaving the country on Sunday, a source close to the case told AFP.
“This morning at around six o’clock (0230 GMT), after getting his passport stamped and as he was boarding the plane, his passport was confiscated by order of the judiciary,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source added that Shafii ”could not proceed to his final destination which was the United States,” without elaborating on why his passport had been seized.
On Tuesday Shafii was arrested at his home and questioned for several hours by judiciary officials before being released, the source said, adding that agents confiscated documents, his computer and his passport, but returned them later.
Shafii represented Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd in a case which lasted for more than two years. He always maintained that his clients were innocent, and was criticised by conservative hardliners in the Islamic republic.
Shafii also criticised the judiciary for not allowing him proper access to the three, as required by the law.
He met them briefly only three times in two years, once before the start of their trial, and once before each of two hearings in February and August.
Bauer, Fattal and Shourd were charged with illegal entry and spying on Iran after they were arrested in July 2009 along the unmarked Iran-Iraq border.
Shourd was released on bail in September 2010 on health grounds, and her two companions were freed on bail on September 21 after being sentenced in August to eight years in prison each by a Tehran revolutionary court.
Four days later Fattal and Bauer accused Iran at a New York news conference of using them as hostages in its power struggle with the West, and described hearing the anguished cries of fellow inmates being beaten in Tehran’s Evin prison.
Iran’s judiciary promptly denied their charges.
The hikers case angered Washington, already mired in deep differences with Tehran over its controversial nuclear programme, its refusal to recognise Israel and its support for militant groups in the Middle East.
Workers on Strike at Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex – Day 7
HRANA News Agency – Seven days have passed since 1500 workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province began their strike. Free Trade Union of Iranian Workers has reported that security agents have arrested 3 workers and taken them to the Intelligence Agency located at the port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini.
According to reports issued by various labor organizations, three workers, Mansour Abbasi, Mohammad Bagher Bagheri and Jasem Bedrani were summoned by agents and then arrested.Two of the detainees are labor activists and representatives of the striking workers.
In March 2011, the workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex were also on strike which ended after an agreement was reached between the workers, the management of this company and government officials. According to the signed agreement, Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex was given 3 months to dissolve contracting firms in order to offer a uniform corporate employment contract to all of its workers. Unofficial resources have reported that the terms of this agreement has not yet been fulfilled.
It has been reported that the Chief Operating Director of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex has threatened 1500 striking workers during a speech in front of the managers of contracting firms. Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex is a government-owned corporation in Khuzestan Province.
HRANA News Agency – Seven days have passed since 1500 workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province began their strike. Free Trade Union of Iranian Workers has reported that security agents have arrested 3 workers and taken them to the Intelligence Agency located at the port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini.
According to reports issued by various labor organizations, three workers, Mansour Abbasi, Mohammad Bagher Bagheri and Jasem Bedrani were summoned by agents and then arrested.Two of the detainees are labor activists and representatives of the striking workers.
In March 2011, the workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex were also on strike which ended after an agreement was reached between the workers, the management of this company and government officials. According to the signed agreement, Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex was given 3 months to dissolve contracting firms in order to offer a uniform corporate employment contract to all of its workers. Unofficial resources have reported that the terms of this agreement has not yet been fulfilled.
It has been reported that the Chief Operating Director of Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex has threatened 1500 striking workers during a speech in front of the managers of contracting firms. Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex is a government-owned corporation in Khuzestan Province.
Iraqis displaced from Iran shelling face disease, lack of food
Iran’s shelling of Kurdish separatist rebel bases in north Iraq has displaced hundreds of families, a migration group said Monday, voicing fears disease may spread in the camps where they are living.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it was aware of 884 families that had been displaced along the Iraq-Iran border in Iraq’s northern Kurdish province of Arbil, and said the families were being put up in temporary camps.
“The families are living without electricity in the camps and are suffering from a lack of food,” it said in a statement. “There is also a fear that disease will spread due to families using nearby streams, which are highly polluted, as their source of water.”
“There have been numerous reports that children within the camps are suffering from acute diarrhea as a result. Thus, the most pressing need for these families is health checks, medicine and water purification kits.”
The IOM noted that many of the families displaced had relied on farming to survive, and “were particularly affected by the destruction of their land and livestock by the shelling.”
Iran began shelling districts along its border with Iraq in July in a campaign against the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK). Tehran accuses authorities in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region of providing the PJAK with a vast safe haven.
The PJAK, labeled as terrorists by Tehran, has often clashed with Iranian forces, sparking retaliatory bombing of their rear bases in the mountainous border districts of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iran’s shelling of Kurdish separatist rebel bases in north Iraq has displaced hundreds of families, a migration group said Monday, voicing fears disease may spread in the camps where they are living.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it was aware of 884 families that had been displaced along the Iraq-Iran border in Iraq’s northern Kurdish province of Arbil, and said the families were being put up in temporary camps.
“The families are living without electricity in the camps and are suffering from a lack of food,” it said in a statement. “There is also a fear that disease will spread due to families using nearby streams, which are highly polluted, as their source of water.”
“There have been numerous reports that children within the camps are suffering from acute diarrhea as a result. Thus, the most pressing need for these families is health checks, medicine and water purification kits.”
The IOM noted that many of the families displaced had relied on farming to survive, and “were particularly affected by the destruction of their land and livestock by the shelling.”
Iran began shelling districts along its border with Iraq in July in a campaign against the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK). Tehran accuses authorities in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region of providing the PJAK with a vast safe haven.
The PJAK, labeled as terrorists by Tehran, has often clashed with Iranian forces, sparking retaliatory bombing of their rear bases in the mountainous border districts of Iraqi Kurdistan.