A professor of political science specializing in Iranian affairs at the Royal Military College in Kingston stated that Tazirat-e-Hokoumati is part of the current Iranian judicial law specifying sentences for crimes according to Islamic law (9 Dec. 1996). The professor is not aware of any group or institution called Tazirat-e-Hokoumati (ibid.).

According to a representative of Shahrvand, a Persian newspaper published in Toronto, Tazirat-e-Hokoumati is not a group or a government institution (9 Dec. 1996). A few years ago the Iranian government introduced a law called Tazirat-e-Hokoumati, which specifies sentences for crimes according to Islamic law; the government used Tazirat-e-Hokoumati in its campaign against profiteering and foreign currency smuggling (ibid.). While not certain, the representative added that for sometime there was a government organization in charge of the implementation of Tazirat-e-Hokoumati.(ibid.).

According to a professor of political science specializing in Iranian affairs at the University of York in the UK, Tazirat-e-Hokoumati, which is based on Islamic principles, constitutes the basis of Iran's current judicial system; it is not a group or an institution (6 Dec. 1996). The professor added that over time different government institutions such as the Revolutionary Guards Corps and the Mobilization Unit (Basij) have undertaken the implementation of its principles, but its implementation is not the specific mandate of any one government group.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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 specializing in Iranian affairs at the Royal Military College, Kingston. 9 December 1996. Telephone interview.

Professor of political science specializing in Iranian affairs at the University of York, UK. 6 December 1996. Telephone interview.

Shahrvand, Toronto. 9 December 1996. Telephone interview with representative.