According to the Translation Bureau of Public Works and Government Services, Ottawa the English translation of the attached inscription is "duplicate" (17 June 1999).

In further information on the "shenas nameh" Australia's Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) states:

All Iranian nationals are in possession of an identification booklet (called a shenas nameh literally "identification paper") in which are recorded their personal details such as parentage, date and place of birth, marital status, etc. The booklet, which is issued to all Iranian citizens at birth, also contains a photograph. The issuing authority, which comes under the Ministry of the Interior, is the State Organisation for Registration of People, Documents and Property (sazman-e sabt-e-ahval, asnad-va-amlak-e-kashvar). When a child is born, parents (or grandparents) go to the nearest branch office of S.O.R.P.D.P. in their area with the parent's shenas nameh and a hospital birth certificate where the I.D. booklet will be issued. If parents fail to register a child, the child will run into serious problems when it reaches school age. When a person turns 18 he/she must return to the original S.O.R.P.D.P issuing office where the photo is added to the first page of the document. The photo is wet-sealed and stamped with the S.O.R.P.D.P seal. Details of marriage, spouse, spouse's I.D. number, name and location of notary public who registered the marriage, divorce, death of spouse, and children are listed on page 2; page 3 lists subsequent children; page 4 is for details of death or cancellation of shenas nameh; page 5 (now seldom used) was used for military status. As of 21 April 1992, anyone born after 1951 has to replace their old shenas nameh. Also those born after 1932 have been asked to replace their shenas nameh, but no deadline has been set for doing so. The shenas nameh is required as proof of identity for most dealings with officialdom, including internal air and most overland travel, employment and hotel registration. Iranians who misplace their shenas nameh need to apply for a replacement known as an "al mossanna." This process can be lengthy but there is no penalty imposed on the individual. Obtaining a passport requires presentation of one's shenas nameh, or where this has been lost, the replacement document, the "al mossanna" (Apr. 1999).

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.

Australia, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA). April 1999. "Country Overview: Iran."

Translation Bureau of Public Works and Government Services, Ottawa.17 June 1999. "Duplicate." (attached)