Amnesty: Iraq must curb Iran attacks

International human rights group Amnesty International has called for an Iraqi investigation into an attack on an Iranian exile camp on Saturday, after it left several people dead and many more injured. Camp Liberty, home to some 3,000 Iranians in exile inside the country, came under assault on February 9. “The attack against Camp Liberty is a despicable crime,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director. “Authorities in Iraq must ensure not only that those responsible for this attack are brought to justice but that those living in the camp are protected.”   International leaders, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have joined in condemning the violence. The residents of Camp Liberty, members of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran which opposes the Iranian government, were recently relocated to a site in north-east Baghdad – after having been settled for 25 years in Camp Ashraf.    Residents claimed the Iraqi forces attacked some of them during the relocation process in 2012.   In April 2011, Iraqi troops stormed Ashraf using “grossly excessive force,” Amnesty claimed. Some 36 people ­-- 28 men and eight women -- were killed and more than 300 wounded. Those injured were prevented from leaving the camp to obtain medical treatment.