Camp Ashraf, Former headquarters of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran located in Iraq
Camp Ashraf is a military facility in Diyala Governorate, approximately 96 kilometers north of Baghdad. It comprises various buildings, roads, schools, clinics, and workplaces that developed over decades into the form of a small city.
The camp was founded in 1986 by the People's Mujahedin of Iran and served as a base during the Iran-Iraq War. After the US invasion in 2003, residents were placed under ceasefire and international protection, then came under Iraqi government control in 2009.
The camp is named after Ashraf Rabiei, an Iranian political prisoner and senior member of the group who was killed in 1982. Over time, residents built a small city with schools, clinics, and workplaces that reflected their community and shared purpose.
The site is normally not accessible to visitors as it remains an active military facility in a sensitive region. Information about the location and current control may change rapidly, so travelers should check current security advisories before any visit.
The camp was built from the ground up by its residents and grew into a functioning city with schools, clinics, and workplaces. Despite multiple air raids by Iran in the 1990s, the community repeatedly repaired and rebuilt its infrastructure.
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