The following information was obtained during 4 and 10 March 1999 telephone interviews with a lawyer from a Tehran law firm that maintains liaison offices in Paris and New York. He stated that the "sealing" of a business could relate to a number of factors, including not only non-adherence to government regulations on the part of the business, but also involvement in a civil suit by the business or its owner(s). When a business is sealed the police put a ribbon across the door which closes the business until the underlying issue is resolved. He emphasized that the business is "physically sealed" and that an unauthorized breaking of that seal is against the law. The person whose business is sealed has "the right to argue before the court" in a civil suit in order to challenge the sealing. Moreover, if he/she wins her case in a civil suit then they have a right to claim financial damages from the person who initiated the sealing.

When a business is sealed a document is served on the owner and/or the business itself and specifies the affected business and the reasons for the sealing. The lawyer stated that this document is the same throughout the country since the sealing occurs as a result of national legislation. The lawyer also indicated that the sealing of a business is often similar to cases of bankruptcy or non-payment of rent in North America, whereby once the business is sealed the reasons for that sealing are posted on the premises of the business. Furthermore, the lawyer stated that the document would not be difficult to forge but, at the same time, it would not be difficult to check its veracity with court records in Iran.

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.

Law Offices of Alexander Aghayan, New York. 4 and 10 March 1999. Telephone interviews with lawyer.