Information beyond what is available in sources such as Political Parties of the World, Political Handbook of the World 1999, the Leftist Parties of the World Website and the Socialist Party of Iran (SPI) Website is scarce. According to the Leftist Parties of the World Website, the SPI was founded in 2002 (12 Aug. 2003).

A 19 June 2003 Deutshche Presse Agentur (DPA) report states that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, described as the city of Hamburg's counter-subversion department, came to the conclusion that the SPI was responsible for the damages to the Iranian consulate-general in Hamburg to protest a crack down of the Iranian People's Mujahedin by the French authorities on 17 June 2003. According to the report,

the People's Mujahedin is an armed group dedicated to overthrowing the Islamist authorities in Iran and has been labeled "terrorist" by the United States and the European Union. Top figure Maryam Radjavi and 164 of her supporters were detained in France on Tuesday.

...

... the Socialist Party of Iran [is] a rival exile group dedicated to overthrowing the Islamist order (DPA 19 June 2003).

No additional information on the Socialist Party of Iran (SPI) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, for information on the treatment of members of exiled Iranian political groups, please refer to IRN40834.E of 17 April 2003.

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA). 19 June 2003. "Germany Steps Up Security at Iranian and Other Missions." (Dialog)

Leftist Parties of the World. 12 August 2003. "Iran." http:www.broadleft.org/ir.htm [Accessed 3 Sept. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

Country Reports 2002

European Country Information Network (ECOI-Net)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

World News Connection (WNC)