11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Iranian government continues to prohibit and forcibly disperse peaceful demonstrations ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23025]

"The constitution permits assemblies and marches, "provided they do not violate the principles of Islam;" however, in practice the government restricted freedom of assembly and closely monitored gatherings to prevent antigovernment protests. Such gatherings included public entertainment and lectures, student meetings and protests, labor protests, women's gatherings and protests, funeral processions, and Friday prayer gatherings.

Paramilitary organizations such as the Ansar-e Hizballah, a group of vigilantes who seek to enforce their vision of appropriate revolutionary comportment upon society, harassed, beat, and intimidated those who demonstrated publicly for reform. They particularly targeted university students. […]

[…] On March 14, police forces disrupted a peaceful demonstration by teachers protesting outside the legislature for higher wages. Police reportedly arrested dozens of demonstrators. According to labor rights groups, many teachers received heavy suspended sentences for taking part in these protests.

On May 1, security forces arrested 11 workers attending a demonstration in Sanandaj protesting for labor rights. Each was sentenced to 91 days in prison and ten lashes. Two of the organizers of the rally, Sheys Amini and Sedigh Karimi, were sentenced to 30 months in prison by the Sanandaj criminal court. […]

[…] On September 25, police reportedly disrupted a peaceful demonstration by workers at a paper factory in Ahvaz who demanded payment of their wages. Police reportedly beat demonstrators, and some required hospitalization.

In late September and early October, police reportedly arrested a number of protesting workers in the western city of Shush, following three days of workers' protests over unpaid wages."

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Freedom of assembly in Iran (2007) ("World Report 2008") [ID 22513]

"The Ahmadinejad government shows no tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings. In March 2007 security forces arrested over 30 women peacefully demonstrating outside a courthouse in Tehran to protest the prosecution of three prominent women’s rights activists.

That same month security forces arrested hundreds of teachers peacefully protesting outside parliament in Tehran and in other cities for wage and benefits improvements. After releasing them the government prosecuted some of the protesters, leading mainly to suspended sentences. Some protesters were suspended from teaching or had their jobs transferred to other cities.

In July security forces arrested six Amir Kabir University students who were staging a peaceful sit-in in commemoration of the anniversary of the 1999 student protests that the government had violently suppressed. The government released the six on bail and their cases remain open at this writing."

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2007 - Source: Iran Focus

Court has jailed 9 teachers for 91 days on charges of disturbing public opinion by encouraging colleagues to stage illegal protests ("Iran jails 9 teachers over banned rally - report") [ID 22149]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Naqaba: Demonstrations by the Azeri minority after publication of an offensive cartoon; 4 Azeris killed and 43 injured by the police ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19339]

"The government responded forcibly to weeks of demonstrations by members of the ethnic Azeri minority, which protested a May 19 newspaper cartoon viewed as offensive to the Azeri population. The government initially denied any protesters were killed, but on May 28 a police official acknowledged that four were killed and 43 injured in the northwestern town of Naqaba."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Teheran: On 8 March 2006 police dispersed a rally commemorating the International Women's Day ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20747]

"On March 8, police dispersed a rally in Tehran commemorating International Women's Day. Participants were reportedly attacked and beaten by police (see section 5)."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Tehran: On 24 September 2006 police reportedly arrested 30 activists in front of the UN office protesting against the death sentence of a young woman ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20749]

"On September 24, police reportedly arrested 30 activists who gathered in front of the UN office in Tehran to protest the death sentence of Kobra Rahmanpour, who was convicted of the stabbing death of her mother-in-law in 2000. She pled self-defense but received a death sentence."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Mansour Osanloo, head of syndicate Sherkat-e-Vahed, arrested during a strike in December 2005; protests, calling for his release, were disrupted by the police; members of the syndicate, as well as their family members, were arrested ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20750]

"In December 2005 Sherkat-e-Vahed went on strike to protest nonpayment of wages, poor working conditions, and the arrests of 14 association leaders. Mansour Osanloo, the head of Sherkat-e-Vahed, was arrested at that time, and detained in Evin Prison.

On January 28, Sherkat-e-Vahed members demonstrated, calling for the release of Osanloo and attention to their grievances. Police used force to disrupt the protest and arrested several hundred members of the syndicate, as well as some of their family members, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Family members and some of the workers were released, but at year's end there was no information regarding other reportedly detained workers. On August 9, Osanloo was released on bail but re-arrested on November 19 (see section 6.b.)."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

No tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings: The example of striking bus drivers in January 2006 ("World Report 2007") [ID 18991]

"The Ahmadinejad government, in a pronounced shift from the policy under former president Mohammed Khatami, has shown no tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings. In January 2006 security forces attacked striking bus drivers in Tehran and detained hundreds. The government refused to recognize the drivers’ independent union or engage in collective bargaining with them."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

No tolerance for peaceful protests and gathering: The example of a Sufi gathering in Qum in February 2006 ("World Report 2007") [ID 18992]

"The Ahmadinejad government, in a pronounced shift from the policy under former president Mohammed Khatami, has shown no tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings. [...]

In February government forces attacked a peaceful gathering of Sufi devotees in front of their religious building in Qum to prevent its destruction by the authorities, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

No tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings: The example of woman's rights activists in Tehran in March and June 2006 ("World Report 2007") [ID 18993]

"The Ahmadinejad government, in a pronounced shift from the policy under former president Mohammed Khatami, has shown no tolerance for peaceful protests and gatherings. In January 2006 security forces attacked striking bus drivers in Tehran and detained hundreds. [...]

In March police and plainclothes agents charged a peaceful assembly of women’s rights activists in Tehran and beat hundreds of women and men who had gathered to commemorate International Women’s Day. In June as women’s rights defenders assembled again in Tehran, security forces beat them with batons, sprayed them with pepper gas, marked the demonstrators with sprayed dye, and took 70 people into custody."

Document(s): Open document

22.11.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Ceremony to mark the eighth anniversary of the death of opposition leader Dariush Foruhar banned ("Iran Bans Ceremony For Slain Opposition Leader") [ID 18016]

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

31 Arabs killed and hundreds injured during clashes with the police after demonstrations in April 2005; bomb attacks and waves of arrests followed throughout the year ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 18813]

"In April [2005], at least 31 Arabs were killed and hundreds injured during clashes with the police following demonstrations in Ahvaz and elsewhere in Khuzestan province. Hundreds of other people were detained. The demonstrators were protesting against a letter allegedly written by a presidential adviser, who denied its authenticity, which set out policies for the reduction of the Arab population of Khuzestan. Waves of arrests continued throughout the year, particularly following bomb explosions in Ahvaz in June and October and attacks on oil installations in September and October.

At least 81 people were arrested in November while attending an Arab cultural gathering called Mahabis. Those arrested included Zahra Nasser-Torfi, director of the Ahwaz al-Amjad cultural centre, who was reportedly tortured in detention, including with beatings and threats of execution, rape and other sexual abuse, before being released on bail to await trial."

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Tehran: Security forces used excessive force to disperse about 1,000 women gathering peacefully to commemorate International Women’s Day; scores of women reportedly beaten ("Iran: Amnesty International condemns violence against women demonstrators in Iran [MDE 13/024/2006]") [#46290], [ID 8739]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Province Kurdistan: 17 persons killed during demonstrations and strikes ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46058], [ID 18354]

"In July and August [2005], demonstrations and strikes in Kurdistan followed the killing of a Kurdish political activist by security forces. According to HRW, security forces killed at least 17 persons during this period."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

No legal action was taken after strikers were killed in 2004 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46058], [ID 18356]

"No action was taken in the 2004 cases in which security forces killed strikers (January) and suppressed post-election demonstrations (February)."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Mostafa Piran was reportedly beaten and held in solitary confinement because he had tried to organise a teachers' strike to mark the anniversary of the 1999 student demonstrations ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46058], [ID 18648]

"In April 2004 Peyman Piran, a student activist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for acting against national security, contacting foreigners, disturbing public opinion, and behaving insultingly(see section 1.d.). 

In July 2004 security forces forcibly evicted his father, retired teacher Mostafa Piran, and his family. Mostafa Piran had reportedly tried to organize a teachers' strike to mark the anniversary of the July 1999 student demonstrations, in defiance of a ban. He was reportedly beaten and held in solitary confinement. Mostafa was released on March 19, but Peyman remained in Evin prison."

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Demonstrations & Vigilante organisations ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41317], [ID 8740]

"[...]The 1979 constitution prohibits public demonstrations that “violate the principles of Islam,” a vague provision used to justify the heavy-handed dispersal of assemblies and marches. Hard-line vigilante organizations unofficially sanctioned by the conservative establishment, most notably the Basij and Ansar-i Hezbollah, play a major role in dispersing public demonstrations. In sharp contrast to recent years, hardly any public demonstrations took place in 2004 following the hardliners’ electoral victory in February. Because of the public’s deepening political apathy and fear of reprisals by vigilantes, even the fifth anniversary of the regime’s harsh July 1999 crackdown on students passed quietly.
Iranian law does not allow independent labor unions to exist, though workers’ councils are represented in the government-sanctioned Workers’ House, the country’s only legal labor federation. While strikes and work stoppages are not uncommon, the authorities often ban or disperse demonstrations that criticize national economic policies. In January, security forces in the village of Khatunabad in southeastern Kerman province attacked striking copper factory workers, killing at least four people and injuring many others. In May, at least 40 workers were arrested by security forces during a Labor Day march in the city of Saqez.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Political parties ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41317], [ID 8741]

"[...]The constitution permits the establishment of political parties, professional syndicates, and other civic organizations, provided they do not violate the principles of “freedom, sovereignty and national unity” or question the Islamic basis of the republic. In 2002, the 44-year-old Iran Freedom Movement was banned on such grounds and 33 of its leading members imprisoned. In 2004, at least four prominent human rights activists were prevented by the authorities from traveling abroad.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

25.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Freedom of expression and association ("Annual Report 2005") [#32306], [ID 8742]

"[...]Freedoms of expression and association came under attack throughout the year as a result of flagrant flaws in the administration of justice, coupled with a deeply politicized judiciary. Journalists faced politically motivated and arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, unfair trials and imprisonment. The laws used to arrest and imprison journalists, relating to defamation, national security and disturbing public opinion, were vaguely worded and at variance with international standards. 2004 saw an increase in the harassment or intimidation of the relatives of detainees or people under investigation.
A report published in January by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression concluded that there was a “climate of fear induced by the systematic repression of people expressing critical views against the authorized political and religious doctrine...”
In October and November, scores of journalists, particularly Internet journalists, were arbitrarily detained in connection with their work and especially following publication of an appeal by around 350 signatories, calling for political reform. Those detained were expected to face trial in the following months. They included Javad Gholam Tamayomi, Shahram Rafihzadeh Rouzbeh and Mir Ebrahimi. In December many of those arrested reportedly confessed while in detention, but later told a government body that these confessions were extracted under duress.
Taqi Rahmani, Alireza Alijani and Hoda Saber, intellectuals and writers associated with the National Religious Alliance (Melli Mazhabi), remained arbitrarily detained without any prospect of release. For over a year, the court where they had lodged their appeal had refused to issue a verdict. This effectively prevented the families from taking any form of follow-up action. Despite an announcement in November that they would be released and the payment of substantial bail, the prison authorities prevented them from being released and they remained in detention at the end of the year.
The death sentence passed in 2002 on Professor Hashem Aghajari for statements he made that were construed to be blasphemous was overturned by the Supreme Court in June. However, new charges were brought against him of insulting religious precepts, and “spreading false information”. In July, Professor Hashem Aghajari was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended, and barred from practising his profession for five years. His appeal was still pending before a Tehran court at the end of the year. [...]"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29525], [ID 8743]

"[...]The Constitution permits assemblies and marches "provided they do not violate the principles of Islam"; however, in practice the Government restricted freedom of assembly and closely monitored gatherings to prevent anti-government protest. Such gatherings included public entertainment and lectures, student gatherings, labor protests, funeral processions, and Friday prayer gatherings. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Right of Association ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29525], [ID 8744]

"[...]The Labor Code provides workers the right to establish unions; however, the Government did not allow independent unions to exist. A national organization known as the Workers' House was the sole authorized national labor organization. It served primarily as a conduit for the Government to exert control over workers. The leadership of the Workers' House coordinated activities with Islamic labor councils, which were made up of representatives of the workers and a representative of management in industrial, agricultural, and service organizations of more than 35 employees. These councils also functioned as instruments of government control, although they frequently were able to block layoffs and dismissals.

The Labor Code allows employers and employees to establish guilds. The guilds issued vocational licenses and helped members find jobs. Instances of late or partial pay for government workers reportedly were common. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Trade unions & strikes ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29525], [ID 8745]

"[...]Workers did not have the right to organize independently and negotiate collective bargaining agreements. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) noted that the Labor Code was amended in 2003 to permit workers to form and join "trade unions" without prior permission if registration regulations are observed. The Ministry of Labor must register the organization within 30 days. In January 2003, the Supreme Council of Labour, composed of representatives of Islamic labor councils, employers, and the government, exempted workshops of 10 employees or less from labor legislation. According to the ICFTU, this decision affected over 400,000 workshops of the total of 450,000 in the country.
The law prohibits public sector strikes, and the Government did not tolerate any strike deemed to be at odds with its economic and labor policies; however, strikes occurred. There are no mechanisms to protect workers rights in the public sector, such as mediation or arbitration. In addition to strikes, there were also work stoppages and protests by oil, textile, electrical manufacturing, and metal workers, as well as protests by the unemployed. There were strikes, such as that by copper factory workers (see Section 1.a.), and other labor stoppages in protest of issues such as nonpayment of salaries.
In December, textile workers in the city of Sanandaj struck to seek the re-hiring of laid off workers, a healthier work environment, cancellation of the practice of hiring temporary workers, and revising the regulations concerning factories' discipline committees.
In May, the ICFTU reportedly placed a formal complaint with the U.N. International Labor Office regarding the arrest of 40 workers during a Labor Day march in Saqez (see Section 2.b.).
In May 2003, textile workers in Behshar staged a hunger strike to protest nonpayment of overdue wages. Teachers staged demonstrations and sit-ins in several cities during the year for improved working conditions and wage benefits.
It is not known whether labor legislation and practice in the export processing zones (EPZs) differ from the law and practice in the rest of the country. According to the ICFTU, labor legislation did not apply in the EPZs. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

09.11.2004 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Authorities arresting NGO activists in order to cripple the country's growing network of independent NGOs; detainees were accused of propaganda against the regime, endangering national security, inciting public unrest, and insulting sacred belief ("Web Writers Purge Underway") [#26850], [ID 8746]

Document(s): Open document

16.10.2003 - Source: Prima News

Teheran police arrests tens of people celebrating the award of Nobel Peace Prize to Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi ("Iranian Nobel Laureate’s supporters arrested") [#16799], [ID 8747]

Document(s): Open document

11.09.2003 - Source: Prima News

At least 25 people arrested as a result of clashes with police in the small Iranian town of Serdesht, Western Azerbaijan province, near the border with Iraq ("Clashes in western Iran") [#16012], [ID 8748]

Document(s): Open document

18.08.2003 - Source: BBC News

Isfahan province: 8 people killed and about 150 injured in protests against the proposed new administrative zones ("Iran boundary riot 'kills eight'") [#15328], [ID 8749]

Document(s): Open document

18.08.2003 - Source: Guardian

8 people killed and dozens injured in riots which were allegedly caused by a dispute about a proposed new boundary which would put parts of the city of Semirom under the municipal control of a neighbouring city, Shahreza ("Eight die in Iranian city border riot") [#15122], [ID 8750]

Document(s): Open document

20.06.2003 - Source: Frankfurter Rundschau

Massives Polizeiaufgebot soll Proteste verhindern ("Massives Polizeiaufgebot soll Proteste verhindern") [#14066], [ID 8751]

16.06.2003 - Source: BBC News

Vigilantes, loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attacked anti-government demonstrators ("Iran protests at US 'interference'") [#13588], [ID 8752]

Document(s): Open document

12.06.2003 - Source: BBC News

Teheran: at least 10 people arrested during the demonstration which turned violent after vigilante groups clashed with protesters ("Ayatollah warns Iran protesters") [#13505], [ID 8753]

Document(s): Open document

11.06.2003 - Source: BBC News

Tehran: more than 1,000 people have clashed with riot police in the major protest against the Islamic regime ("Iranians protest against clerics") [#13483], [ID 8754]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Government restricted freedom of assembly and closely monitored gatherings to ensure that they did not constitute uncontrolled antigovernment protest ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11869], [ID 8755]

"The Constitution permits assemblies and marches "provided they do not violate the principles of Islam;" however, in practice the Government restricted freedom of assembly and closely monitored gatherings to ensure that they did not constitute uncontrolled antigovernment protest. Such gatherings included public entertainment and lectures, student gatherings, labor protests, funeral processions, and Friday prayer gatherings. A significant factor for groups in deciding whether to hold a public gathering is whether it would be opposed by the semiofficial Ansar-e Hezbollah, which used violence and intimidation to disperse such assemblies.
In January two teachers Mohammad-Ebrahim Ahmad-Nia and Akhtar Ghassem -Zadeh-Moin were hospitalized for injuries received at a demonstration. They were arrested during a demonstration against low wages and poor working conditions. Their families were not allowed to visit them. According to sources, the families were told to refrain from public comment on the cases if they wanted their loved-ones to live. By March, the families had heard nothing and believed that they might have died in custody. There was no further information available on these cases at the end of the year (see Section 1.a.).

In November the Aghajari (see Section 2.a.) verdict sparked large and ongoing student protests at universities throughout the country. Students boycotted classes for almost 2 weeks and in the largest pro-reform demonstrations in 3 years, crowds of up to 5,000 students at college campuses called for freedom of speech and major political reforms, and denounced the Aghajari death sentence as "medieval." Four student leaders who were arrested in the wake of the demonstrations by "plainclothes" forces working for the Intelligence Ministry were released after being held for one day. In late December, two students were given jail terms for their protests against the Aghajari sentence. Hojatollah Rahimi was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 70 lashes for "insulting religious sanctities and issuing an insulting declaration." Co-defendant Parviz Torkashvand was sentenced to 4 months in jail and forty lashes.

A government clampdown through the use of Basiji and other forces led to a quiet period of two weeks that ended on December 7, when there was a large demonstration at the University of Tehran. It was attended by over 2,000 within the walls of the campus, with a larger crowd outside. The demonstrators demanded freedom for all political prisoners, a referendum, and the resignations of the President and the head of the judiciary. Press reports indicated that law enforcement officials and the "plainclothes" force broke up the demonstration using batons, whips, and belts, and arrested over 200 persons, many of whom were still being held at the end of the year. Demonstrations on December 9 and 10 were also broken up violently by Basiji forces.

In October 2001, riots and demonstrations broke out throughout the country after the national soccer team lost a match it had been heavily favored to win. The Government arrested hundreds of persons. There were anecdotal reports that some demonstrators were killed; however, the Government denied this (see Sections 1.a., 1.f., and 2.a.).

The UNSR reported that in December 2000, police forcibly disrupted a peaceful demonstration by Kurdish students at the University of Tehran, injuring and arresting a number of the demonstrators.

In July 1999, students at the University of Tehran who were protesting proposed legislation by the Majles that would limit press freedoms and protested the Government's closure of a prominent reform-oriented newspaper, were attacked by elements of the security forces and the Ansar-e Hezbollah. Police forces reportedly looked on and allowed repeated attacks against the students and their dormitory. HRW reported that, according to witnesses, at least 4 students were killed in the assault on the dormitory, 300 were injured, and 400 were detained. The demonstrations continued to grow in subsequent days to include many nonstudents. Looting, vandalism, and large-scale rioting began and spread to cities outside Tehran.

In September 1999, the head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Hojatoleslam Gholamhossein Rahbarpour, was quoted as saying that 1,500 students were arrested during the riots, 500 were released immediately after questioning, 800 were released later, and formal investigations were undertaken against the remaining 200. He also announced that four student leaders were sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court for their role in the demonstrations. The death sentences reportedly were commuted to prison terms in 2000. The UNSR's 2000 report stated that about two-thirds of the students who initially were arrested subsequently were released, but noted that there has been no formal accounting of all the persons arrested in connection with the July 1999 demonstrations.

The Government arrested the leaders of the Iran Nations Party in the aftermath of the July 1999 demonstrations. The party was a secular nationalist movement that predates the revolution and was viewed as a threat by certain elements of the Government. The party was accused of inciting rioters and of encouraging disparaging slogans against "sacred values." Agents of the intelligence service in late 1998 killed the former head of the Iran Nations Party, Darioush Forouhar, along with his wife (see Section 1.a.).

In the aftermath of these events, the Government took action against members of the security forces for their assault on the student dormitory, and against student leaders, demonstrators, and political activists, whom it blamed for inciting illegal behavior. In August 1999, the commander of the security forces, General Hedayat Lotfian, was summoned before the Parliament to explain the role of his officers in the dormitory raid. He reportedly announced that 98 officers were arrested for their actions.

In February 2000, 20 police officers and officials were tried on charges of misconduct in connection with the demonstrations. The court found that misconduct had occurred, and ordered compensation for 34 injured students. However, the court then released all but two of the accused officers.
The Government limited freedom of association. The Constitution provides for the establishment of political parties, professional associations, Islamic religious groups, and organizations for recognized religious minorities, provided that such groups do not violate the principles of "freedom, sovereignty, and national unity," or question Islam as the basis of the Islamic Republic. However, President Khatami repeatedly has declared as a major goal the rule of law and development of civil society.

The Government permanently banned the Iran Freedom Movement during they year. In March 2001 the Government provisionally closed the 50-year-old Iran Freedom Movement for "attempting to overthrow the Islamic regime." In response to the permanent dissolution of the movement in July, President Khatami warned against the banning of political groups, saying that suppression did not eliminate ideas; they are simply forced underground and continue to grow (see Section 1.e.)."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Freedom of assembly restricted by the government ("Country Assessment - October 2002") [#9556], [ID 8756]

"5.77. The Constitution permits assemblies and marches “provided they do not violate the principles of Islam”. In practice, the government restricts freedom of assembly. There have been reports that demonstrations and riots have been broken up by the armed security and anti-riot forces, resulting in deaths and arrests.

5.78. There is conflict between the announced government policy on freedom of expression and the activities of some of the judiciary and security services, as well as the extra-judicial groups such as Ansar-e-Hezbollah. However, since the 1997 election, the government has shown signs of addressing the unlawful measures resorted to by some groups to curtail freedom of expression. In October 1997 the Ministry of the Interior granted permission to the Union of Islamic University Students to hold a rally. Social issues, some of which were anti-Constitution in nature, were raised at the rally and the Government later defended its decision in the Majlis.

5.79. There are reports of low grade conflict surrounding the events staged in July 2000 by students to mark the anniversary of the 1999 student demonstrations. Contemporary reports conflict, but reformist events were countered by conservative student events, and confrontation between the two groups occurred. The riot police were usually on hand, sometimes dispersing demonstrators at the onset of violence, and in other instances standing by as the factions struggled and then broke away, intervening afterwards and arresting stragglers.

5.80. In August 2000, two leading reform intellectuals were prevented by semiofficial vigilantes armed with clubs and knives from addressing a student convention in Khorramabad. Subsequent clashes between students and vigilantes resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries. The authorities arrested 150.

5.81. In October 2001 riots and demonstrations broke out throughout the country after the national soccer team lost a match it had been heavily favoured to win. The main participants in the unrest were young persons, who appeared to use the situation to show their general displeasure with the restrictive lifestyle imposed on them by the Regime. The Government arrested hundreds, but all were quickly released.

5.82. In July 2002 several thousand people took to the streets of the Iranian capital, Tehran, to mark the anniversary of violent street protests in 1999. The protesters defied a government ban on any gathering to commemorate the riots, which were sparked by a police raid on a student dormitory. There were sporadic clashes and some demonstrators were arrested or beaten, but no serious injuries were reported."

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2002 - Source: US Department of State

US State Department: The Government restricts freedom of assembly and closely monitors gatherings ("Annual report 2001") [#5823], [ID 8757]

""The Constitution permits assemblies and marches "provided they do not violate the principles of Islam;" however, in practice the Government restricts freedom of assembly and closely monitors gatherings to ensure that they do not constitute uncontrolled antigovernment protest. Such gatherings include public entertainment and lectures, student gatherings, labor protests, funeral processions, and Friday prayer gatherings. A significant factor for groups in deciding whether to hold a public gathering is whether it would be opposed by the semiofficial Ansar-e Hezbollah, which uses violence and intimidation to disperse such assemblies.

In October riots and demonstrations broke out throughout the country after the national soccer team lost a match it had been heavily favored to win. The main participants in the unrest were young persons, who appeared to use the situation to show their general displeasure with the restrictive lifestyle imposed on them by the Government. The Government arrested hundreds of persons. There were anecdotal reports that some demonstrators were killed; however, the Government denied this.

The UNSR reported that in December 2000, police forcefully disrupted a peaceful demonstration by Kurdish students at the University of Tehran, injuring and arresting a number of the demonstrators.

In August 2000, two leading reform intellectuals, Mohsen Kadivar and Abdul Karim Soroush, were prevented by semiofficial vigilantes armed with clubs and knives from addressing a student convention in Khorramabad. Subsequent clashes between students and vigilantes resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries. The authorities arrested 150 persons.

On July 8, 1999, students at University of Tehran who were protesting proposed legislation by the Majles that would limit press freedoms and the Government's closure of a prominent reform-oriented newspaper, were attacked by elements of the security forces and Ansar-e Hezbollah thugs. Police forces reportedly looked on and allowed repeated attacks against the students and their dormitory. HRW reported that, according to witnesses, at least 4 students were killed in the assault on the dormitory, 300 were injured, and 400 were detained. The demonstrations continued to grow in subsequent days to include many nonstudents. Looting, vandalism, and large-scale rioting began and spread to cities outside Tehran. Student groups attempted to distance their organizations from these later acts, which they blamed on government-sanctioned agitators. The Government intervened to stop the rioting and announced a July 14th counter-demonstration of regime loyalists and off-duty government workers, many of whom were bussed in from other cities for the demonstration.

In September 1999, the head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Hojatoleslam Gholamhossein Rahbarpour, was quoted as saying that 1,500 students were arrested during the riots, 500 were released immediately after questioning, 800 were released later, and formal investigations were undertaken against the remaining 200. He also announced that four student leaders were sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court for their role in the demonstrations. The death sentences reportedly were commuted to prison terms in 2000. The UNSR's 2000 report stated that about two-thirds of the students who initially were arrested subsequently were released, but noted that there has been no formal accounting of all the persons arrested in connection with the July 1999 demonstrations.

The Government arrested the leaders of the Iran Nations Party in the aftermath of the July 1999 demonstrations. The party is a secular nationalist movement that predates the revolution and is viewed as a threat by certain elements of the Government. The party was accused of inciting rioters and of encouraging disparaging slogans against "sacred values." Agents of the intelligence service in late 1998 killed the former head of the Iran Nations Party, Darioush Forouhar, along with his wife (see Section 1.a.).

In the aftermath of these events, the Government took action against members of the security forces for their violent assault on the student dormitory, and against student leaders, demonstrators, and political activists, whom it blamed for inciting illegal behavior. In August 1999, the commander of the security forces, General Hedayat Lotfian, was summoned before the Parliament to explain the role of his officers in the dormitory raid. He reportedly announced that 98 officers were arrested for their actions. In February 2000, 20 police officers and officials were tried on charges of misconduct in connection with the demonstrations. The court found that misconduct had occurred, and ordered compensation for 34 injured students. However, the court released all but two of the accused officers.

The Government limits freedom of association. The Constitution provides for the establishment of political parties, professional associations, Islamic religious groups, and organizations for recognized religious minorities, provided that such groups do not violate the principles of "freedom, sovereignty, and national unity," or question Islam as the basis of the Islamic Republic. President Khatami repeatedly has declared as a major goal the development of civil society. A newspaper reported in June 1999 that the Article Ten Commission, a government body responsible for reviewing applications for the establishment of political parties, guilds, societies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGO's), released figures indicating that as of April 1999, "85 political, 115 specialized, and 26 religious minority organizations and associations" were active in the country.

In March the Government closed the 50-year-old Iran Freedom Movement for "attempting to overthrow the Islamic regime" (see Section 1.d.).""

Document(s): Open document

11.2001 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

00.11.2001 – ACCORD: Restrictions on the right to association/ “acts against state security” ("7th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Berlin, 11 - 12 June 2001: Final Report - Iran") [#7661], [ID 8758]

"The Penal Code contains a number of vaguely worded articles relating to association and ”national security” which prohibit a range of activities, such as those connected with journalism or public discourse, which do not amount to recognizable criminal offences. These include Art. 498 and 499 which state that whoever forms or joins a group or association either inside or outside the country which seeks to ”disturb the security of the country” will be sentenced to between two and 10 years’ imprisonment. There is no definition of 'disturb' or 'security of the country' in the Code. Such restrictions need to be clearly set in national law and should be consistent with international standards.

Art. 500 and 610, addressing national security, are similarly vaguely worded. Art. 500 states that ”...anyone who undertakes any form of propaganda (har nahv-e tablighati) against the state...will be sentenced to between three months and one year in prison.” Art. 610 states that where two or more persons gather and collude to be the perpetrators of a crime against internal or external security of the nation, or to facilitate
it, where or not they are considered ‘mohareb’6, will be imprisoned for between two and five years. ‘Security’ and ‘propaganda’ are not defined in the Penal Code, and in practice these articles have been used to detain, try and convict journalists, intellectuals and social commentators, whether in connection with their writing or statements made in public, amounting to no more than the expression of their beliefs or opinions."

Document(s): cois2001-irn.pdf