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Supplementary Information on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran*
A/HRC/31/CRP.5 Advance Version Distr.: General 10 March 2016 English only Human Rights Council Thirty-first session Agenda item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Supplementary information on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran* Summary The present document contains supplementary information provided by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It should be read in conjunction with the report of the Special Rapporteur submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-first session (A/HRC/31/69). * Reproduced as received. A/HRC/31/CRP.5 I. Introduction 1. The following information reflects details conveyed during 128 interviews on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran submitted to the Special Rapporteur between October 2015 and 1 February 2016. While this information comprises credible claims about rights abuses in the country, the Special Rapporteur presents them without prejudice, and looks forward to additional engagement with Iranian officials to further assess the veracity of these allegations. II. Reprisals against activists 2. On 19 January 2016 unknown agents arrested Mr. Alireza Mansouri in his office in Tehran. Mr. Mansouri is the son of Mr. Mohammad Ali Mansouri who is currently serving a 17 year sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison for his alleged support of the opposition Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization. Security and intelligence agents reportedly also searched Mr. Alireza Mansouri’s home and confiscated some of his personal belongings. Mr. Alireza Mansouri did not contact his family for several days after the arrest. -
Reporters Without Borders Recounted-16-04-2012,41718.Html
Reporters Without Borders http://www.rsf.org/iran-press-freedom-violations- recounted-16-04-2012,41718.html Middle East/North Africa - Iran Press freedom violations recounted in real time (from 1st January 2012) 27 November 2012 27.11.2012 - Poor prison conditions put lives of detained journalists at risk Reporters Without Borders continues to be concerned about the conditions in which detained journalists and netizens are being held in Iran. On 19 November, the journalist Ahmad Zeydabadi, in prison since 14 June 2009, was admitted to a Tehran hospital. He is suffering from several lung complaints caused by conditions in prison. On the same day, the owners of two suspended newspapers, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karoubi, were taken to hospital under close guard from agents of the intelligence ministry and the Revolutionary Guard. Mousavi, owner of the newspaper Kalameh Saba, and Karoubi, who owns Etemad Melli, had both been under house arrest since 24 February 2011, After undergoing medical examinations they were again placed under surveillance. Their families have expressed concern in recent days about their state of health and the worsening conditions of their detention. Although they remain in their own homes, they are denied prisoners’ rights. On 24 November, Karoubi’s family said his health had not improved and he needed immediate hospital treatment. “Despite the authorities’ consent to the transfer of the two journalists to a hospital chosen by their families, nothing has been done,” said Karoubi’s son, Mohammad Taghi Karoubi. Reporters Without Borders said: “We urge Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, to take action to ensure there is no danger to the lives of the many journalists and netizens held in detention despite failing health. -
Cultural Policies in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Cultural Policies in the Islamic Republic of Iran Farideh Farhi* The following article was written by Farideh Farhi in connection with her participation in the conference entitled “Iran After 25 Years of Revolution: A Retrospective and a Look Ahead,” which was held at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars on November 16-17, 2004. The opinions expressed here are those of the author and in no way represent the views or opinions of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “We did not make the revolution for cheap melons; we made it for Islam.” These words, reportedly uttered by the leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, have been deemed as an announcement of the centrality of culture in post-revolutionary reorganization. Indeed there can be no doubt that the forceful post-revolutionary imposition of Islamic values and ways of living, as interpreted by the emerging Islamic mandarins, can be considered to be the most distinctive aspect of the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Through the attempted ideological fusion of culture and religion, the Islamic revolutionaries hoped, on the most manifest level, to make a statement about a new and unified set of values that was about to become important, explicitly rejecting what to them was also an integrated set of values revolving around the impact of westernization on Iranian life and cultural practices. They also aspired to claim cultural authenticity for their own practices and, on that basis, deny political participation to those whose everyday practices did not presumably match their own. As such, the cultural policies of the Islamic Republic from the beginning had both ideological and political components. -
Turkish-Iranian Relations in a Changing Middle East
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and EDUCATION AND THE ARTS decisionmaking through research and analysis. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE This electronic document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service INFRASTRUCTURE AND of the RAND Corporation. TRANSPORTATION INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LAW AND BUSINESS Skip all front matter: Jump to Page 16 NATIONAL SECURITY POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY Support RAND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Purchase this document TERRORISM AND Browse Reports & Bookstore HOMELAND SECURITY Make a charitable contribution For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore the RAND National Defense Research Institute View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non- commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. This report is part of the RAND Corporation research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Turkish-Iranian Relations in a Changing Middle East F. Stephen Larrabee, Alireza Nader C O R P O R A T I O N NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Turkish-Iranian Relations in a Changing Middle East F. -
The Iranian Revolution at 30
Viewpoints Special Edition The Iranian Revolution at 30 The Middle East Institute Washington, DC Middle East Institute The mission of the Middle East Institute is to promote knowledge of the Middle East in Amer- ica and strengthen understanding of the United States by the people and governments of the region. For more than 60 years, MEI has dealt with the momentous events in the Middle East — from the birth of the state of Israel to the invasion of Iraq. Today, MEI is a foremost authority on contemporary Middle East issues. It pro- vides a vital forum for honest and open debate that attracts politicians, scholars, government officials, and policy experts from the US, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. MEI enjoys wide access to political and business leaders in countries throughout the region. Along with information exchanges, facilities for research, objective analysis, and thoughtful commentary, MEI’s programs and publications help counter simplistic notions about the Middle East and America. We are at the forefront of private sector public diplomacy. Viewpoints are another MEI service to audiences interested in learning more about the complexities of issues affecting the Middle East and US rela- tions with the region. To learn more about the Middle East Institute, visit our website at http://www.mideasti.org Cover photos, clockwise from the top left hand corner: Shahram Sharif photo; sajed.ir photo; sajed.ir photo; ? redo photo; sajed. ir photo; Maryam Ashoori photo; Zongo69 photo; UN photo; and [ john ] photo. 2 The Middle East Institute Viewpoints: The Iranian Revolution at 30 • www.mideasti.org Viewpoints Special Edition The Iranian Revolution at 30 The Middle East Institute Viewpoints: The Iranian Revolution at 30 • www.mideasti.org 3 Viewpoints: 1979 The year 1979 was among the most tumultuous, and important, in the history of the modern Middle East. -
INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL STATUS, and the PROVINCIAL DIVIDE in IRAN's ELECTORAL POLITICS a Dissertation
THE PARADOX OF PARTICIPATION: INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL STATUS, AND THE PROVINCIAL DIVIDE IN IRAN'S ELECTORAL POLITICS A dissertation submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Alireza Raisi December 2016 Dissertation written by Alireza Raisi M.A., Kent State University, USA, 2013 B.S., Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2000 Approved by _____Andrew Barnes________________________ , Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee _____Landon Hancock______________________ , Members, Doctoral Dissertation Committee _____Daniel Hawes______________________________ _____Mary Ann Heiss____________________________ _____David Kaplan______________ _______________ Accepted by _____Andrew Barnes__________________________ , Chair, Department of Political Science ______James Blank_____________________________ , Dean, College of Arts and Sciences ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………………iv LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………………...v ACKNOWLEDGMENT……………………………………………………………………...vi CHAPTER1 ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER2 ......................................................................................................................................... 19 The Rise of Clientelism in Parliamentary -
The Media, Human Rights and Iran
Iran Media-Monitoring Study 1 July–30 September 2007 By Victor Kattan* This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication is the sole responsibility of BIICL and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. * The author is a Research Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He would like to thank Amir Nakhjavani for his assistance in preparing the chapter on the Iranian media. 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 2. Summary of Findings........................................................................................................... 5 3. The Media Monitoring Study ............................................................................................... 6 3.1 Scope of Study................................................................................................................ 6 3.2. The Media in Iran ........................................................................................................... 6 3.3 Important Developments ................................................................................................. 7 4. The Media, Human Rights and Iran.................................................................................... 8 4.1 Right to Life/Enforced Disappearances .......................................................................... 8 4.2 Torture, -
Presidential Election Was Held And, As President Rouhani Will Leave Power
14/06 — 20/06 01 IRAN 1400 BRIEF 14/06 — 20/06 SUMMARY Last week, Iran’s presidential election was held and, as President Rouhani will leave power. It also raises a question widely expected, Ebrahim Raisi clearly won with about 18 in how far the U.S. returning to the JCPOA will empower million votes. More importantly, for the first time after the hardliners who can invest the deal’s economic benefits into 1979 revolution, voter turnout reached below 50%. Thus, their own agenda, including expansive Middle East policies a social media campaign toward boycotting the election and Iran’s missiles program. Moreover, two Iranian navy was successful. The reformist/moderate camp was the big ships believed to be heading to Venezuela carrying weapons loser of the election as its candidate obtained merely about for Caracas, changed their course to the Mediterranean 2.5 million votes, while the spoiled votes counted more Sea. U.S. officials claimed that it has been achieved due than 3.7 million. The result of the election has brought to diplomatic campaign of the West, while it may also be about a debate in the U.S. of whether Washington should because of Tehran’s unwillingness to provoke Washington hurry to rejoin the nuclear deal before mid-August when at a time when it needs vital relief from U.S. sanctions. 02 IRAN 1400 BRIEF 14/06 — 20/06 03 IRAN 1400 BRIEF 14/06 — 20/06 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Last week, the victory of Ebrahim Raisi concluded Iran’s As indicated previously, Raisi, the current chief justice of It had been expected that most Iranians would refuse to presidential election that experienced the lowest voter Iran, had the full support of the Islamic Republic’s centers of vote in the election, as in the last quarter of a century turnout since the establishment of the Islamic Republic over power and religious strata of society. -
Hashemi Rafsanjani: the Life, Times and Legacy of the Islamic
ashemi Rafsanjani: The Life, HTimes and Legacy of the Islamic Republic’s Machiavelli Introduction The Rafsanjani Ideology – Moderate, Conservative, or Both? Rafsanjani’s Power and Influence: Both Formal and Informal What Lies Ahead in Post-Rafsanjani Iran A Diffuse Inheritance Jumada I - Jumada II 1438 29 February - March 2017 2 © KFCRIS, 2017 ISSN: 1658-6972 Issue No. 29 - 02/02/2017 L.D. No: 1437/2868 Jumada I - Jumada II 1438 - February - March 2017 3 he Iranian political scene has been deeply affected by the sudden passing away of TAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the stalwart political figure at the centre of the Islamic Republic’s politics since early 1979. His death deprives the political elite of a figure who, while not universally revered, was instrumental in the stabilization and strengthening of the post-revolutionary state order and in solving frequent intra-elite crises. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of Rafsanjani’s career, his core beliefs and strategies. In addition, it provides a description of the potential trajectories which are currently available to the political elite in his absence. Jumada I - Jumada II 1438 - February - March 2017 4 Introduction The sudden death of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the storied and influential Iranian statesman, has left a gaping hole in the upper echelons of the Islamic Republic’s political establishment. His heart attack, or cardiac arrest, occurred on Sunday, 8 January. According to some sources, it occurred while he was engaged in a habitual swim in the Saadabad pool of North Tehran. It was so unexpected that his family have announced that it does not appear that the 82-year old had updated his last will and testament, which was produced in 2000 as he was undergoing cardiac surgery. -
Iran 2020 Human Rights Report
IRAN 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Islamic Republic of Iran is an authoritarian theocratic republic with a Shia Islamic political system based on velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist). Shia clergy, most notably the rahbar (supreme leader), and political leaders vetted by the clergy dominate key power structures. The supreme leader is the head of state. The members of the Assembly of Experts are nominally directly elected in popular elections. The assembly selects and may dismiss the supreme leader. The candidates for the Assembly of Experts, however, are vetted by the Guardian Council (see below) and are therefore selected indirectly by the supreme leader himself. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has held the position since 1989. He has direct or indirect control over the legislative and executive branches of government through unelected councils under his authority. The supreme leader holds constitutional authority over the judiciary, government-run media, and other key institutions. While mechanisms for popular election exist for the president, who is head of government, and for the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament or majles), the unelected Guardian Council vets candidates, routinely disqualifying them based on political or other considerations, and controls the election process. The supreme leader appoints half of the 12-member Guardian Council, while the head of the judiciary (who is appointed by the supreme leader) appoints the other half. Presidential elections held in 2017 and parliamentary elections held during the year were not considered free and fair. The supreme leader holds ultimate authority over all security agencies. Several agencies share responsibility for law enforcement and maintaining order, including the Ministry of Intelligence and Security and law enforcement forces under the Interior Ministry, which report to the president, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which reports directly to the supreme leader. -
Iran's Reformists Following the Presidential Elections
More Soul Searching: Iran’s Reformists following the Presidential Elections Raz Zimmt | No. 1501 | July 26, 2021 The victory of Ebrahim Raisi in Iran’s presidential elections has reawakened the internal debate among Iranian reformists concerning the state and future of the reform movement. A number of leading reformists are blaming the movement's failure on mistaken strategy, and are calling for change, return to the movement's fundamental principles, and restoration of its base of public support. On the other hand, others are blaming the failure on circumstances beyond the reformists' control, and continue to support a strategy based on participation in elections and willingness to work with pragmatic conservatives. It is very doubtful, however, whether the reformists will be able to take advantage of the renewed takeover by the hardliners and chart a way out of the impasse that they have reached, given the ongoing political repression and the loss of public confidence in the two main political camps. The lack of an attractive alternative to conservative hegemony, combined with the continued failure of the authorities to provide solutions popular grievances, is liable to further erode public confidence in the political system, strengthen the radical movements advocating revolutionary change, and jeopardize the regime's long-term stability. The victory of Ebrahim Raisi in Iran’s presidential elections in June 2021 has reawakened the internal debate among reformists in the country about the state and the future of the reform movement, and the chances of making progress toward political, civil, and social reform, however limited. Although Raisi's victory was expected, the disqualification of most of the candidates, including former Majlis (Iranian parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani, and Eshaq Jahangiri, President Rouhani's first deputy, by the Guardian Council provided additional proof of the regime's determination to ensure hardline hegemony in all state institutions, and suppress any alternative political power base. -
Iranvotes: Political Discourse on Iranian Twitter During the 2016 Parliamentary Elections
#IranVotes: Political Discourse on Iranian Twitter during the 2016 Parliamentary Elections The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Marchant, James, Amin Sabeti, Kyle Bowen, John Kelly, and Rebekah Heacock Jones. 2016. #IranVotes: Political Discourse on Iranian Twitter during the 2016 Parliamentary Elections. Internet Monitor Special Report Series, June 2016. Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27377992 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA #IranVotes Political Discourse on Iranian Twitter During the 2016 Parliamentary Elections 1 #IranVotes Political Discourse on Iranian Twitter During the 2016 Parliamentary Elections James Marchant, Amin Sabeti, Kyle Bowen, John Kelly, Rebekah Heacock Jones JUNE 2016 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License 2 3 About Small Media About Internet Monitor Acknowledgements Small Media is a London-based action lab that Internet Monitor is a research project based at The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and provides digital research, training and advocacy Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet help of the many people who contributed to this solutions to support the work of civil society actors & Society. Internet Monitor's aim is to evaluate, research. Rob Faris, Jonathan Zittrain, and Urs Gasser globally. Small Media has previously published a describe, and summarize the means, mechanisms, offered invaluable guidance, support, and advice.