Iran: A victory for the Iranian Resistance and the PMOI and a defeat for the mullahs' regime in Iran.

The Turning Tide

Raymond Tranter, aprofessor emeritus at the University of Michigan and president of the American Committee on Human Rights, and Col. (Ret.) Wes Martin, Former Antiterrorism/Force Protection for Coalition Forces–Iraq, briefly describe behind the scene efforts led to successful relocation of MEK/PMOI members from Iraq to Europe.

The breaking news is in the title: “The Turning Tide.” On Sep. 12, 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry made a statement that reflected a shift away from the Iranian regime in favor of its main opposition when he announced in unusually favorable language that the Mujahedeen e-Khalq, or MEK departed from Camp Liberty and safely arrived in Albania. Kerry said a “significant American diplomatic initiative…has assured the safety of more than 3,000 MEK members whose lives have been under threat.” The tide has turned.

Backing up the Secretary are tireless efforts of UN envoys, American diplomats, and former officials to give meaning to the UN doctrine of “Responsibility to Protect.”

The United NationsHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) eventually came onto the side of Iranian dissidents. Although States are obligated for the safety of civilians on its territory, the international community has responsibility to assist States. Consider prior activities of main players in the drama of refugee resettlement.

Baghdad held Iranian dissidents in prison-like custody in camps Ashraf and Liberty, although they committed no crimes. Iranian dissidents have been attacked by Iraqi forces in 2009, 2011, and 2013, forces that held them under “protective” custody. The attacks raise the question of “Who will guard the guardians?”

Think of the history and reasoning behind responsibility to protect for this case.

First, during 2004,Washington provided each dissident with an ID card stating the U.S. military would protect them based on Article 27 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention for the protection of civilians caught up in a war zone.

Second, upon start of withdrawal of American forces from Iraq in 2009, Washington turned over to Baghdad responsibility to protect the dissidents. Because of Iraq’s prior violation of its duties, Washington continued to share responsibility to protect, e.g., using diplomatic means to induce Iraq to meet its obligations.

Third, United Nations shared responsibilities with the United States and Iraq for the humane treatment of the Iranian refugees in Iraq.

The State Department had encouraged the refugees to accept a UNHCR plan where surviving residents of the assaults of 2009 and 2011 Camp Ashraf were to be safely transported on UN armored buses to Camp Liberty. They accepted this approach. Embassy Baghdad pledged its help.

Little came from such commitments until 2016. Then UNHCR facilitated flights including charter planes to exit Iraq for Albania. Because Iraq had either participated or given prior green lights for Iranian proxies to attack, it was a remarkable flip-flop by Baghdad, largely as a result of pressure from the U.S. Congress. And the State Department spoke kindly about the MEK as “people who are in need of international protection,” after it played a positive role in the resettlement process. (more)