Camp Liberty Under Attack

Last night in a despicable act of terrorism it is estimated that 20 Iranian Opposition members were killed in a series of missile strikes on a political exile camp on the outskirts of Baghdad in Iraq.

Camp Liberty, a former US Military Base and home to exiled Iranian opposition members, has been in operation since 2012 and houses numerous individuals that have been exiled since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

The Iraqi government has failed to keep the camp secure, safe and with the most basic of provisions. Despite vast sums of money from the EU (€14 million) and other nations, there is a lapse of responsibility and duty of care from the Government of Iraq.

“I have long been a supporter of Camp Liberty and its residents and I cannot condemn this senseless and cruel act enough. What we have witnessed last night is an act of cowardice and cruelty, to launch missiles on a residential camp under the cover of darkness.”

What we are seeing in Iraq in current times is terrorist opportunism in a country of lawlessness. Iraq is besieged with a number of security problems, but this is not new and they cannot turn a blind eye to this. I hope that the Iraqi government pursue the culprits of this terrible act and bring them to Justice.

The events of last night should intensify the efforts of the UK, the US, the EU and the UN to rehouse these political exiles in a safe location outside of Iraq, as it is now, more than ever, abundantly clear that Camp Liberty, where it is, is not a viable long term solution.”