Backers of Iran opposition enter third month of UN sit-inSupporters of the People's Mujahedeen mu·ja·hi·deen also mu·ja·he·deen or mu·ja·hi·din pl.n. Muslim guerrilla warriors engaged in a jihad. [Arabic or Persian muj Organization of Iran, the main Iranian opposition group, began the third month of a protest in front of UN headquarters Tuesday, seeking protection for residents of a group encampment in Iraq. The several dozen protesters who have parked themselves across from the UN complex for 61 days want a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Ban Ki-Moon (bän kē-m  n), 1944–, South Korean diplomat, secretary-general of the United Nations (2007–), b. Chungju, grad. Seoul National Univ. (B.S. to draw his attention to the plight of 3,800 people in Camp Ashraf Camp Ashraf or Ashraf City is situated northeast of the Iraqi town of Khalis, about 20 kilometers west of the Iranian border and 60 kilometers north of Baghdad. The city of Ashraf was named in commemoration of Ashraf Rajavi, a famous political prisoner at the time of the Shah. , said Nasser Rashidi, an activist with the movement.
The camp, located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Baghdad and 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Iranian border, has for 22 years housed members of the PMOI PMOI People's Mujahedin of Iran , considered a terrorist organization by the European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Founded in 1965 with the aim of replacing first the Shah and then the clerical regime in Iran, PMOI has in the past operated an army inside Iran. After being thrown out of Iran in the 1980s, its members sought refuge abroad, notably in Iraq where they established the military Camp Ashraf in Diyala province. The group was financed by Saddam Hussein to carry out attacks against the regime in Tehran. The US military disarmed the PMOI after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in April 2003. According to Rashidi, director of the National Coalition of pro-Democracy Advocates, the demonstrators in front of the UN want Ban "to monitor the situation in Camp Ashraf and to ensure that the Iraqi government admits that the residents of the camp are political refugees protected by the Geneva Convention Geneva Convention Declaration of Geneva Global village A standard established in 1864 regarding the conduct of the military towards medical personnel, and obligations of medical personnel during acts of war. . "Their fear is that the influence of Iran on the Iraqi Government could lead to their expulsion, or worse, to their extradition back to Iran," especially after the US military withdraws from Iraq, he said. In March, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani declared that the PMOI were terrorists and that Iraq wanted to get rid of them. "As long as the US has a presence in Iraq, the US is responsible for the protection of the residents in Camp Ashraf," Rashidi said. 
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