On September 1st, Iraqi forces under the direct command of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki attacked camp Ashraf for the third time, murdering 52 residents and abducting 7 others, including six women and a man.
In protest to this crime against humanity, and in outrage to the silence and the inaction of the United States and United Nations – which had direct responsibility in ensuring the safety and security of the Ashraf residents – several hundreds of Camp Liberty residents have gone on hunger strike since the day of the attack.
They demand that the seven hostages in custody of Maliki’s government be immediately release and the security of camp Liberty provided by United Nations Blue Helmet forces. They have made their demands clear through hundreds of letters, video messages, articles and phone calls, and they’ve repeatedly called on the United States and the United Nations to take action before it becomes too late.
The hunger strikers include former students and graduates from Iran and countries abroad, including the United States and Europe; athletes, writers, poets, music composers, artists and singers.
With the hunger strike’s eighth week coming to a close, the health conditions of the hunger strikers is deteriorating at an accelerating pace.
All hunger strikers have lost an average of 10 kilograms of weight, and are suffering from different symptoms, including dimness of sight and hearing, muscular cramps, digestive problems, dizziness, extreme fatigue and insomnia.
Dozens of hunger strikers are being put under medical care on a daily basis, and many have been hospitalize because of their critical conditions. Doctors have tried to talk them into breaking their hunger strike, but the hunger strikers are adamant on continuing their hunger strike, stating that the idleness of the US and UN have left them with no other option to have their voices heard. They are insisting on immediate release of the seven hostages who are under control of PM Maliki and their protection in Camp Liberty.
