In October 2015, 24 residents of the camp were killed by an attack of over 80 missiles. Many members of the Iranian opposition group the People’s Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI/MEK) call the camp home, yet they face sustained threats from Iranian government agents. 

House Resolution 650 was introduced by Texan Republican Ted Poe. Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) said information had been received about an “imminent attack” against the camp by the Iranian government and its proxies.

Camp Liberty’s residents are awaiting resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In 2004 the United States recognized the residents as “protected persons” and pledged to protect them until they were safely re-settled. Despite these guarantees much violence has been visited on Camp Liberty, and the MEK’s previous home Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad. Over 140 MEK members have been killed, seven abducted and more than 1,300 injured.

Militias affiliated to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force are thought to be behind several of the attacks. Currently the camp is guarded by Iraqi security forces, however they have done little to stop attacks. The resolution calls on the US and Iraqi governments to work together to provide the same level of protection for the camp as the adjacent Baghdad International Airport.

A large number of the residents have been resettled in Albania. The Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC-US) has praised the Foreign Affairs Committee’s leadership on the issue, in particular the efforts of Ted Poe but also noting the bi-partisan support for the resolution.

The full resolution can be read here