The Research Directorate received information on autopsies in Iran from a professor of political science at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, in a 22 April 1998 telephone interview. The professor, who had discussed the subject with a lawyer in Iran, told the Research Directorate that autopsies are normally carried out in Iran when there is some question about the cause of death. Autopsies are normally performed by government doctors, and these doctors are required to produce reports of the autopsies they perform. If relatives of a deceased person wish to obtain copies of an autopsy report, they are legally entitled to present a request through a lawyer. If the deceased was a civilian, the family will normally be able to receive a copy of the autopsy report. However, if the deceased was an officer in the armed forces or a high-level opponent of the government, the autopsy report would likely be considered a document which could potentially compromise national security, and therefore the government would be less inclined to provide a copy of the autopsy report.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Professor of political science, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario. 22 April 1998. Telephone interview.