IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 486 

Calling on the Government of Iraq to compensate the former residents of 

Camp Ashraf for their assets seized by groups affiliated with the Government of Iraq. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 28, 2017 

Mr. POE of Texas (for himself, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Ms. 

JUDY CHU of California, and Mr. SESSIONS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Calling on the Government of Iraq to compensate the former 

residents of Camp Ashraf for their assets seized by 

groups affiliated with the Government of Iraq. 

Whereas resettlement of 3,000 Iranian refugees in Iraq, 

members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), was completed in September 2016, and nearly 2,700 of these residents were relocated in Albania; 

Whereas in 2004, the United States Government recognized 

these dissidents as ‘‘protected persons’’ under the Fourth 

Geneva Convention; 

Whereas they were under the protection of the United States 

in Camp Ashraf until 2009, when their protection was 

handed over to the Government of Iraq, as reflected in 


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•HRES 486 IH 

the United States Embassy Statement on Transfer of Security Responsibility for Camp Ashraf of December 28, 

2008; 

Whereas these residents were relocated outside Iraq under 

the supervision of United Nations High Commissioner for 

Refugees (UNHCR), with active and vital engagement of 

the United States Government and full cooperation of the 

MEK; 

Whereas the United States Government and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) relocation 

plan for the transfer of these dissidents out of Iraq called 

on the Government of Iraq to ensure the safekeeping of 

the property left at Camps Ashraf and Liberty belonging 

to such dissidents; 

Whereas the Memorandum of Understanding of 25 December 

2011 between UNAMI and the Government of Iraq outlining the voluntary relocation of the residents of Camp 

Ashraf called on the Government of Iraq to ensure the 

safekeeping of the moveable and immovable properties 

belonging to the residents of Camp Ashraf with the understanding that such properties could be sold by its owners; 

Whereas the United States Government and UNAMI expressed to the residents that they would be allowed to sell 

their properties at Camps Ashraf and Liberty; 

Whereas UNHCR stated in July 2016 before the departure 

of the remaining residents of Camp Ashraf from Iraq 

that ‘‘The successful implementation of this initiative has 

also been assisted by the residents’ commitment, despite 

difficulties, to meeting the bulk of the associated costs, 

particularly for long term support of all residents reloVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:26 Jul 29, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR486.IH HR486

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•HRES 486 IH 

cated out of Iraq who have no access to state-sponsored 

assistance.’’; 

Whereas the residents’ commitment to pay for their expenses 

was based on the assumption that they would be able to 

sell their properties in Camps Ashraf and Liberty in 

order to finance their relocation, day-to-day living costs, 

and long-term accommodations; and 

Whereas the Government of Iraq firmly prevented the residents from selling their properties, subsequently seized by 

groups affiliated with the Government of Iraq: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on the Government of Iraq to com3 pensate the Iranian dissidents for their seized assets 

4 in Camps Ashraf and Liberty in order to finance 

5 their living costs and long-term accommodation in 

6 their new countries of refuge, particularly in Alba7 nia; and 

8 (2) calls on the United States Government to 

9 urge the Government of Iraq to compensate these 

10 dissidents. 

Æ 


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