Four specialists on Iran have never come across a group called The Supporters of Dr. Shariati or Qanoun-e Ershad (30 Mar. 1999; 19 Mar. 1999; 18 Mar. 1999; 12 Apr. 1999). Two of the specialists referred to a pro-Shariatist group call Forqan which committed several political assassinations in the beginning of the revolution (29 Mar. 1999; 19 Mar. 1999). The group no longer exist in Iran today (ibid.).

The specialists stated that Dr. Shariati's writtings were the political and philosophical background of the 1978 revolution in Iran because many of the Islamic leaders were influenced by his beliefs. In order to underline Dr. Shariati's importance for the revolution, the new régime named one of the most important avenues of Tehran after him.

Even today, members of the régime comment approvingly about Ali Shariati's contribution to the Islamic revolution. For example, during a January 1999 speech, the Secretary of the Expediency Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohsen Reza'i, paid tribute the late Dr. Ali Shariati by saying that he "was one of the founders of the cultural movement against the former [Shah] regime and a sympathizer of the late Imam Khomeyni's Islamic movement" (IRNA 21 Jan. 1999). As well, in a 9 February 1998 article, the Tehran newspaper Kar Va Kargar referred to Dr. Shariati as "the late ideologue of the Islamic revolution".

The specialists were unaware of any arrests or execution of supporters of Dr. Shariati. There are many people in Iran who can be called "supporters of Dr. Shariati", even among the Shiite clergy.

The specialists expressed their "surprise" as to the clandestine distribution of tracts or pamphlets about Dr. Shariati's political philosophy since all of his books and articles are publicly and legally sold in many of Tehran's librairies. For example, many bookstores sell his books on Shariati Street in Tehran.

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.

Director, Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies and the editor of Al-Moujez (Iran Briefing), London, England. 29 March 1999. Telephone interview.

Director, Foundation For Iranian Studies, Bethesda, Maryland. 29 March 1999. Telephone interview.

IRNA [Tehran, in English]. 21 January 1999. "Iran: Reza'ï Warns Against Violence, 'Fomenting' of Tension". (FBIS-NES-99-021/WNC) [Accessed 8 Apr. 1999]

Journalist, Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), London. 12 April 1999. Telephone interview.

Kar Va Kargar [Tehran, in Persian]. 9 February 1998. "Iran: Karbaschi on Coming Elections". (FBIS-NES-98-281/WNC) [Accessed 8 Apr. 1999]

Researcher, École des hautes études en sciences sociales (ÉHÉSS) de Paris. 19 Mars 1999. Telephone interview.

Electronic sources: Internet (Iranian Websites), WNC.