COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT IRAN 27 OCTOBER 2006 RDS-IND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION SERVICE IRAN 27 OCTOBER 2006 Contents PREFACE Latest News EVENTS IN IRAN, FROM 1 OCTOBER TO 27 OCTOBER 2006 REPORTS ON IRAN PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 1 OCTOBER 2006 AND 27 OCTOBER 2006 Paragraphs Background Information GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................. 1.01 Map ................................................................................................ 1.03 ECONOMY ................................................................................................. 2.01 Sanctions……………………………………………………………….2.13 HISTORY ................................................................................................... 3.01 Pre 1979………………………………………………………………. .3.02 1979 to 1999……………………………………………………………3.04 2000 to date…………………………………………………………….3.14 Student unrest………………………………………………………...3.20 Parliamentary elections – February 2004…………………….......3.30 Presidential elections – June 2005………………………………...3.34 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ........................................................................... 4.01 CONSTITUTION .......................................................................................... 5.01 POLITICAL SYSTEM.................................................................................... 6.01 Political parties………………………………………………………..6.04 Human Rights INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 7.01 SECURITY SITUATION................................................................................. 8.01 SECURITY FORCES .................................................................................... 9.01 MILITARY SERVICE..................................................................................... 10.01 JUDICIARY ................................................................................................ 11.01 Organisation ................................................................................. 11.04 Independence ............................................................................... 11.05 Fair trial ......................................................................................... 11.13 Juveniles in the Justice System ................................................. 11.23 Court documentation ................................................................... 11.31 ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS.................................................. 12.01 PRISON CONDITIONS.................................................................................. 13.01 DEATH PENALTY........................................................................................ 14.01 Stoning .......................................................................................... 14.05 POLITICAL AFFILIATION.............................................................................. 15.01 Freedom of association and assembly ...................................... 15.01 Opposition groups and political activists.................................. 16.01 Political dissent ............................................................................ 16.01 Mojahedin-e khalq MEK/MKO or PMOI (Peoples Mojahedin of Iran).......................................... 16.08 Rastakhiz Party and Monarchists ............................................... 16.18 ii This Country of Origin Information Report contains the most up-to-date publicly available information as at 27 October 2006. Older source material has been included where it contains relevant information not available in more recent documents. IRAN 27 OCTOBER 2006 Savak ............................................................................................. 16.21 Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) ................................... 16.22 Komala .......................................................................................... 16.27 Pjak ................................................................................................ 16.29 FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MEDIA .............................................................. 17.01 Internet and satellite .................................................................... 17.35 CORRUPTION ............................................................................................ 18.01 FREEDOM OF RELIGION.............................................................................. 19.01 Legal framework........................................................................... 19.10 Sunni Muslims .............................................................................. 19.12 Christians...................................................................................... 19.15 Apostasy/conversions ................................................................. 19.19 Jews............................................................................................... 19.27 Zoroastrians.................................................................................. 19.31 Sabeans (Mandeans).................................................................... 19.35 Baha’is........................................................................................... 19.37 Ahl-e Haq (Yaresan) ..................................................................... 19.58 Sufis............................................................................................... 19.59 ETHNIC GROUPS........................................................................................ 20.01 Kurds ............................................................................................. 20.04 Arabs ............................................................................................. 20.12 Baluchis ........................................................................................ 20.25 Azeris............................................................................................. 20.31 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS............................. 21.01 DISABILITY ................................................................................................ 22.01 WOMEN .................................................................................................... 23.01 Violence against women.............................................................. 23.17 Honour killings ............................................................................. 23.18 The hijab........................................................................................ 23.29 Marriage ........................................................................................ 23.32 Mehriyeh........................................................................................ 23.35 Divorce .......................................................................................... 23.37 Abortion ........................................................................................ 23.45 CHILDREN ................................................................................................. 24.01 General information ..................................................................... 24.01 Education ...................................................................................... 24.04 Child care ...................................................................................... 24.09 TRAFFICKING ............................................................................................ 25.01 MEDICAL ISSUES ....................................................................................... 26.01 Drugs ............................................................................................. 26.03 Drug addiction .............................................................................. 26.04 Illegal drugs situation .................................................................. 26.05 HIV/AIDS – anti-retroviral treatment ........................................... 26.14 Mental health ................................................................................ 26.18 HUMANITARIAN ISSUES.............................................................................. 27.01 Adultery......................................................................................... 27.01 Exiles/Dissidents outside Iran .................................................... 27.08 FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT........................................................................... 28.01 FOREIGN REFUGEES .................................................................................. 29.01 CITIZENSHIP AND NATIONALITY .................................................................. 30.01 EXIT/ENTRY PROCEDURES ........................................................................ 31.01 EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS................................................................................ 32.01 This Country of Origin Information Report contains the most up-to-date publicly available information as at 27 October 2006. iii Older source material has been included where it contains relevant information not available in more recent documents. IRAN 27 OCTOBER 2006 Annexes Annex A: Chronology of major events Annex B: Political organisations Annex C: Prominent people: Past and Present Annex D: List of abbreviations Annex E: References to source material iv This Country of Origin Information Report contains the most up-to-date publicly available information as at 27 October