Thousands of Iranian-Americans to Rally Outside the State Department

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to prevent a humanitarian disaster and to unshackle Iran's democratic movement, Human Rights and Democracy International (HRDIP) will stage a rally and march to protect the rights and security of Camp Ashraf residents and call for the delisting of the main Iranian opposition movement, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MeK). Thousands from around the United States and elsewhere will unite for the major rally outside the State Department demanding that the residents of Camp Ashraf, the besieged home of the 3,400 members of the MeK, be given the protection that they were promised by the U.S. in 2004.

When: August 26, 2011; 11a.m.; rally and march

Where: U.S. Department of State (22nd and C Sts. NW, Washington, D.C.)

Who: HRDIP and communities from across America; Speakers - former senior national security officials and current members of Congress

Why: The demonstration comes at a crucial moment as the State Department completes a court-mandated review of the MeK's status. In its judgment in July 2010, the federal court of appeals in the District of Columbia, ruled that MeK's due process rights had been violated, strongly suggesting that it be de-listed.

In a bi-partisan initiative, nearly 100 Members Congress cosponsored a resolution calling on the Secretary of State to de-list the MeK. Dozens of senior diplomatic, military, intelligence and policy officials in four U.S. administrations have also asked for the protection of the residents of Ashraf, and for the MeK's removal from the FTO list.

The participants, which include families of Camp Ashraf residents, warn of an impending massacre at Ashraf and urge the U.S. Government to abide by its commitments to ensure the protection of the residents of Ashraf by removing the MeK from the terrorist list, among other actions.

For more information contained in this release, please visit www.hrdip.com. (Event page: http://bit.ly/q6sbaO).

SOURCE Human Rights and Democracy International