When a planning application is more newsworthy than a hunger strike . .

This morning BBC Breakfast news ran an item about the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square getting planning permission for new premises. They showed a picture of the roof and the flag. They didn't mention that only feet from the steps of the Embassy 12 people were entering the 50th day of a hunger strike aimed at drawing attention to the Iraqi assault on Camp Ashraf.

It's hardly a secret - but someone made the judgement call that the planning application was more newsworthy than the hunger strike.

Some media outlets have covered the protest - the mainstream broadcasters and publications have ignored it.

Whatever the history or politics of the PMOI may have been, 12 men and women care enough about the safety of their friends, relatives and fellow countrymen in Iraq's Camp Ashraf to put their lives at risk.

Maybe as far as the UK and US is concerned Iraq is a case of 'job done' - but not for those trapped in Ashraf. The deaths, injuries and arrests that took place between 28-30 July are a legacy of coalition involvement. Are we so morally bankrupt that we would rather give airtime to a planning application than the fact that 12 people are prepared to starve to death for what they believe in?

See: PMOI The attack on Camp Ashraf

http://www.mojahedin.org/pagesEn/

http://www.mojahedin.org/pagesEn/detailsNews.aspx?newsid=5889

By Melanie Phillips

SPECTATOR UK.

8th September 2009 - I wrote here about the attack at the end of July by Iraqi forces against the Iranian Opposition group the People’s Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI) ...