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ACCORD, Iran: Political Opposition Groups, Security Forces, Selected BEREICH | EVENTL. ABTEILUNG | WWW.ROTESKREUZ.AT ACCORD - Austrian Centre for Country of Origin & Asylum Research and Documentation Iran: Political Opposition Groups, Security Forces, Selected Human Rights Issues, Rule of Law COI Compilation July 2015 This report serves the specific purpose of collating legally relevant information on conditions in countries of origin pertinent to the assessment of claims for asylum. It is not intended to be a general report on human rights conditions. The report is prepared on the basis of publicly available information, studies and commentaries within a specified time frame. All sources are cited and fully referenced. This report is not, and does not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed, or conclusive as to the merits of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Every effort has been made to compile information from reliable sources; users should refer to the full text of documents cited and assess the credibility, relevance and timeliness of source material with reference to the specific research concerns arising from individual applications. © Austrian Red Cross/ACCORD An electronic version of this report is available on www.ecoi.net. Austrian Red Cross/ACCORD Wiedner Hauptstraße 32 A- 1040 Vienna, Austria Phone: +43 1 58 900 – 582 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.redcross.at/accord Commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Division of International Protection. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author. Table of contents List of abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ 4 1 Background Information ......................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Maps ..................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.1 Map of Iran ................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.2 Map of Tehran .............................................................................................................. 6 1.2 Brief overview of political institutions ................................................................................ 7 2 Main political developments ................................................................................................ 15 2.1 Aftermath of the presidential and municipal elections of June 2013 ............................. 15 2.2 Conservative opposition to the Government/Mahdawiyat ............................................. 17 3 Legal developments .............................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Amendments to the Penal Code ....................................................................................... 19 3.2 Amendments to the Family Law........................................................................................ 22 4 Political opposition groups ................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Green Movement ............................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation of Iran (MEK/MKO) ...................................................... 30 4.3 Jundallah ............................................................................................................................. 36 4.4 Kurdish activists .................................................................................................................. 39 4.5 Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI/KDPI) ......................................................... 41 4.6 Komala parties .................................................................................................................... 45 4.7 Worker-Communist Party of Iran (WPI)............................................................................ 48 4.8 Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK)................................................................................ 49 4.9 Azeri political groups.......................................................................................................... 54 4.10 Monarchists ................................................................................................................ 58 4.11 Conservative dissidents .............................................................................................. 61 4.12 Student activists ......................................................................................................... 62 5 Security and intelligence apparatus and other state organs .............................................. 68 5.1 Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (LEF) ....................................... 74 5.1.1 Intelligence Unit ......................................................................................................... 78 5.1.2 Social Corruption Unit ................................................................................................ 78 5.1.3 Amaken (Edare-ye Amaken Omumi) ......................................................................... 79 5.1.4 Cyber Police (FATA) .................................................................................................... 82 5.2 The Ministry of Intelligence (MOI) .................................................................................... 85 5.3 Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) ................................................. 90 5.3.1 IRGC Intelligence Organisation .................................................................................. 95 5.3.2 The Basij ...................................................................................................................... 98 5.3.3 Qods/Quds Force ...................................................................................................... 108 5.4 Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh) ........................................................................... 110 5.5 Ansar-e-Hezbollah ............................................................................................................ 113 5.6 Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Ershad) ........................................................ 116 6 Selected human rights issues ............................................................................................. 119 6.1 Freedom of expression, association, and assembly ....................................................... 119 6.1.1 Treatment of trade unionists and labour activists ................................................. 120 2 6.1.2 Treatment of political opposition groups and activists .......................................... 123 6.1.3 Treatment of minority / cultural movements and activists ................................... 124 6.1.4 Treatment of family members of political dissidents living abroad ...................... 127 6.1.5 Treatment of human rights, women’s rights and child rights activists ................. 128 6.1.6 Government restrictions on non-governmental organizations and civil society .. 132 6.1.7 Treatment of artists, musicians and artisans .......................................................... 134 6.1.8 Treatment of non-conforming academics .............................................................. 137 6.1.9 Treatment of former political prisoners .................................................................. 139 6.1.10 Treatment of whistleblowers and others who speak out about corruption and other malpractice ................................................................................................................ 140 6.2 Freedom of the media ..................................................................................................... 140 6.2.1 Treatment of journalists and bloggers .................................................................... 140 6.2.2 Internet controls, service providers and social media activism ............................. 146 6.3 Treatment of failed Iranian asylum-seekers upon return in Iran .................................. 156 6.4 Freedom of movement/illegal exit .................................................................................. 156 7 Rule of Law/Administration of Justice ............................................................................... 161 7.1 General overview of the Iranian judicial system ............................................................ 161 7.1.1 Court system ............................................................................................................. 163 7.1.2 Procedural law and practice .................................................................................... 170 7.1.3 Information on fair trial guarantees and safeguards against double jeopardy .... 173 7.1.4 Bail requirements ..................................................................................................... 177 7.2 Independence of the judiciary ........................................................................................ 180 7.3 Arbitrary arrest and detention ........................................................................................ 181 7.3.1 Detention rules and procedures
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