REPORTER: Geoff Parish
IRANIAN EXILES, PROTESTORS: Democracy, yes, mullahs no, they are terrorists, they must go!
Each week in Sydney, this small group of Iranian exiles raises its voice against the might of the mullahs in Iran.
IRANIAN EXILES: Khatami is a murderer! Down with Khatami!
Their protest goes largely unnoticed by the lunchtime crowd, but they're very determined. They've got relatives and friends in a camp in Iraq that houses a militia called the People's Mujaheddin. The militia and camp residents are facing deportation to Iran, and they fear for their safety.
MOHAMMED SADEGHPOUR, IRANIAN EXILE: Iranian political refugees in Iraq, they must be saved.
It's a new element to the current controversy about responsibility for detainees in Iraq, that has embroiled Britain, the US, and now Australia. And this is the People's Mujaheddin, or PMOI. They are Iranian exiles based in Iraq, and committed to the downfall of the mullahs in Tehran. For over two decades they have been fighting for democracy in Iran.
They were supported by Iran's old enemy Saddam as they launched cross-border raids. Even though many exiles regard the PMOI as freedom fighters, the US has listed the militia as a terrorist organisation, but Australia hasn't.
This parade was held at their base, Camp Ashraf, not far from Baghdad. Despite being bombed by the US during the Iraq invasion, the Mujaheddin have peacefully handed all their weapons to US forces.
Camp Ashraf was established 25 years ago. It has its own parliament, where women play a prominent role in the National Council of Resistance.
COUNCILOR, (Translation): This council embodies the values of our country.
This is how they celebrated the new year. The camp is a mini-city, home to 4,000 people, with shopping centres and hospitals. It's now heavily guarded by the Americans, and the residents are unable to leave. But the Iraqi governing council, shown here meeting in Baghdad, says once they gain sovereignty from the coalition on June 30, they'll depart the Mujaheddin back to Iran.
Key Shia leaders on the Governing Council have strong ties to Tehran.
IRANIAN EXILES: They are terrorists! They must go! Democracy yes!
Mohammed Sadeghpour, whose close relatives were executed by the Iranian regime, has no doubts what will happen if the deportation goes ahead.
MOHAMMED SADEGHPOUR: Absolutely, these people, any of them, if they return to Iran, they going to be executed straightaway.
Iran has a bad human rights record, as this resistance video shows. The mullahs are notorious for ordering public hangings, amputation, stoning people to death and flogging. Tayeb Sadagian was imprisoned and tortured in Iran. He has relatives and good friends in Camp Ashraf and fears for their future.
TAYEB SADAGIAN: I have some very close relatives - one of the reasons I don't want to mention, because of the Iranian regime.
REPORTER: Its interesting because in Sydney wed organised to speak with someone who had a relative there and they later cancelled the interview, is that because of the fear of Iran? If I mention, of course, the Iranian regime going inside Iran, force these people, make trouble for them too. It's interesting, because in Sydney we'd organised to speak with someone who had a relative there and they later cancelled the interview. Is that because of the fear of Iran?
TAYEB SADAGIAN: Exactly.
It's believed there are two Australian citizens, or permanent residents, in Camp Ashraf, and possibly more, though the reluctance of relatives to speak out makes it hard to confirm this.
REPORTER: Who are some of your other supporters here?
TAYEB SADAGIAN: I can mention Kevin Thompson...
The Iranians have political support here and the National Resistance Council has built a global coalition which includes hundreds of British and European MPs, as well as US senators.
BRUCE HENRY, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: The department has got to comply with the orders that it makes. These obligations don't just extend to us.
Bruce Henry is a leading human rights lawyer with many years experience in human rights cases.
BRUCE HENRY: I think what we do, we go back. If they don't supply the documents...
He recently returned from a forum in Washington, called to discuss the fate of the Camp Ashraf residents. He's adamant that under international law Australia must protect them.
BRUCE HENRY: The US seems to me, is the only government that's taking responsibility on the ground for these issues. How long people can depend upon that, I am not sure. The one thing I am sure of is the Australian Government has the same responsibilities internationally as the US does. Because we chose to involve ourselves in the initial invasion, we have those same responsibilities as an occupying power.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said the Minister was aware of the Camp Ashraf situation, and any Australian resident or citizen there can be repatriated, but he was adamant that Australia is not an occupying power. Last week the Government came under attack in the Senate, with the Opposition accusing the Prime Minister of trying to weasel out of occupying-power status.
BRUCE HENRY: I am not sure what responsibility the Government is considering taking for this situation at the moment. I suspect that, like many other things in Iraq, they are hoping the Americans will solve it.
Meanwhile, US lawyers for some of those in the camp have written this letter to Colin Powell and other senior members of the Bush Administration. It contains allegations that are now becoming all too familiar. The letter alleges searches at the women's quarters in the camp conducted in: Highly intrusive and humiliating manner, it appears that some interviewees were harangued or mocked for their political beliefs.
US administrator in Iraq Paul Brenner has said the Mujaheddin won't be sent to Tehran, but to a third country, if necessary.
BRUCE HENRY: The whole issue is very much up in the air at the moment. My sense of it, as I said before, is I would be very nervous if I were sitting in Camp Ashraf today, if I knew that the only guarantee I had of any safety after 30 June was a hope that the American military would remain to protect me.
We are sure to be hearing more about Camp Ashraf.
IRANIAN EXILES, PROTESTORS: Democracy, yes, mullahs no, they are terrorists, they must go!
Each week in Sydney, this small group of Iranian exiles raises its voice against the might of the mullahs in Iran.
IRANIAN EXILES: Khatami is a murderer! Down with Khatami!
Their protest goes largely unnoticed by the lunchtime crowd, but they're very determined. They've got relatives and friends in a camp in Iraq that houses a militia called the People's Mujaheddin. The militia and camp residents are facing deportation to Iran, and they fear for their safety.
MOHAMMED SADEGHPOUR, IRANIAN EXILE: Iranian political refugees in Iraq, they must be saved.
It's a new element to the current controversy about responsibility for detainees in Iraq, that has embroiled Britain, the US, and now Australia. And this is the People's Mujaheddin, or PMOI. They are Iranian exiles based in Iraq, and committed to the downfall of the mullahs in Tehran. For over two decades they have been fighting for democracy in Iran.
They were supported by Iran's old enemy Saddam as they launched cross-border raids. Even though many exiles regard the PMOI as freedom fighters, the US has listed the militia as a terrorist organisation, but Australia hasn't.
This parade was held at their base, Camp Ashraf, not far from Baghdad. Despite being bombed by the US during the Iraq invasion, the Mujaheddin have peacefully handed all their weapons to US forces.
Camp Ashraf was established 25 years ago. It has its own parliament, where women play a prominent role in the National Council of Resistance.
COUNCILOR, (Translation): This council embodies the values of our country.
This is how they celebrated the new year. The camp is a mini-city, home to 4,000 people, with shopping centres and hospitals. It's now heavily guarded by the Americans, and the residents are unable to leave. But the Iraqi governing council, shown here meeting in Baghdad, says once they gain sovereignty from the coalition on June 30, they'll depart the Mujaheddin back to Iran.
Key Shia leaders on the Governing Council have strong ties to Tehran.
IRANIAN EXILES: They are terrorists! They must go! Democracy yes!
Mohammed Sadeghpour, whose close relatives were executed by the Iranian regime, has no doubts what will happen if the deportation goes ahead.
MOHAMMED SADEGHPOUR: Absolutely, these people, any of them, if they return to Iran, they going to be executed straightaway.
Iran has a bad human rights record, as this resistance video shows. The mullahs are notorious for ordering public hangings, amputation, stoning people to death and flogging. Tayeb Sadagian was imprisoned and tortured in Iran. He has relatives and good friends in Camp Ashraf and fears for their future.
TAYEB SADAGIAN: I have some very close relatives - one of the reasons I don't want to mention, because of the Iranian regime.
REPORTER: Its interesting because in Sydney wed organised to speak with someone who had a relative there and they later cancelled the interview, is that because of the fear of Iran? If I mention, of course, the Iranian regime going inside Iran, force these people, make trouble for them too. It's interesting, because in Sydney we'd organised to speak with someone who had a relative there and they later cancelled the interview. Is that because of the fear of Iran?
TAYEB SADAGIAN: Exactly.
It's believed there are two Australian citizens, or permanent residents, in Camp Ashraf, and possibly more, though the reluctance of relatives to speak out makes it hard to confirm this.
REPORTER: Who are some of your other supporters here?
TAYEB SADAGIAN: I can mention Kevin Thompson...
The Iranians have political support here and the National Resistance Council has built a global coalition which includes hundreds of British and European MPs, as well as US senators.
BRUCE HENRY, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: The department has got to comply with the orders that it makes. These obligations don't just extend to us.
Bruce Henry is a leading human rights lawyer with many years experience in human rights cases.
BRUCE HENRY: I think what we do, we go back. If they don't supply the documents...
He recently returned from a forum in Washington, called to discuss the fate of the Camp Ashraf residents. He's adamant that under international law Australia must protect them.
BRUCE HENRY: The US seems to me, is the only government that's taking responsibility on the ground for these issues. How long people can depend upon that, I am not sure. The one thing I am sure of is the Australian Government has the same responsibilities internationally as the US does. Because we chose to involve ourselves in the initial invasion, we have those same responsibilities as an occupying power.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said the Minister was aware of the Camp Ashraf situation, and any Australian resident or citizen there can be repatriated, but he was adamant that Australia is not an occupying power. Last week the Government came under attack in the Senate, with the Opposition accusing the Prime Minister of trying to weasel out of occupying-power status.
BRUCE HENRY: I am not sure what responsibility the Government is considering taking for this situation at the moment. I suspect that, like many other things in Iraq, they are hoping the Americans will solve it.
Meanwhile, US lawyers for some of those in the camp have written this letter to Colin Powell and other senior members of the Bush Administration. It contains allegations that are now becoming all too familiar. The letter alleges searches at the women's quarters in the camp conducted in: Highly intrusive and humiliating manner, it appears that some interviewees were harangued or mocked for their political beliefs.
US administrator in Iraq Paul Brenner has said the Mujaheddin won't be sent to Tehran, but to a third country, if necessary.
BRUCE HENRY: The whole issue is very much up in the air at the moment. My sense of it, as I said before, is I would be very nervous if I were sitting in Camp Ashraf today, if I knew that the only guarantee I had of any safety after 30 June was a hope that the American military would remain to protect me.
We are sure to be hearing more about Camp Ashraf.