| IRAN Islamic Republic of Iran Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 30 November 2012 |
3-The Rights of the People
Article 19
All people of Iran, whatever the ethnic group or tribe to which they belong, enjoy equal rights; and color, race, language, and the like, do
not bestow any privilege.
Article 20
All citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic, social,
and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria.
Article 21
The government must ensure the rights of women in all respects, in conformity with Islamic criteria, and accomplish the following goals:
1.create a favorable environment for the growth of woman's personality and the restoration of her rights, both the material and intellectual;
2.the protection of mothers, particularly during pregnancy and childbearing, and the protection of children without guardians;
3.establishing competent courts to protect and preserve the family;
4.the provision of special insurance for widows, and aged women and women without support;
5.the awarding of guardianship of children to worthy mothers, in order to protect the interests of the children, in the absence of a legal
guardian.
Article 22
The dignity, life, property, rights, residence, and occupation of the individual are inviolate, except in cases sanctioned by law.
Article 23
The investigation of individuals' beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.
Article 24
Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of
the public. The details of this exception will be specified by law.
Article 25
The inspection of letters and the failure to deliver them, the recording and disclosure of telephone conversations, the disclosure of
telegraphic and telex communications, censorship, or the willful failure to transmit them, eavesdropping, and all forms of covert
investigation are forbidden, except as provided by law.
Article 26
The formation of parties, societies, political or professional associations, as well as religious societies, whether Islamic or pertaining to
one of the recognized religious minorities, is permitted provided they do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national
unity, the criteria of Islam, or the basis of the Islamic republic. No one may be prevented from participating in the aforementioned groups,
or be compelled to participate in them.
Article 27
Public gatherings and marches may be freely held, provided arms are not carried and that they are not detrimental to the fundamental
principles of Islam.
Article 28
Everyone has the right to choose any occupation he wishes, if it is not contrary to Islam and the public interests, and does not infringe the
rights of others. The government has the duty, with due consideration of the need of society for different kinds of work, to provide every
citizen with the opportunity to work, and to create equal conditions for obtaining it.
Article 29
To benefit from social security with respect to retirement, unemployment, old age, disability, absence of a guardian, and benefits relating
to being stranded, accidents, health services, and medical care and treatment, provided through Insurance or other means, is accepted as
a universal right. The government must provide the foregoing services and financial support for every individual citizen by drawing, in
accordance with the law, on the national revenues and funds obtained through public contributions.
Article 30
The government must provide all citizens with free-education up to secondary school, and must expand free higher education to the
extent required by the country for attaining self-sufficiency.
Article 31
It is the right of every Iranian individual and family to possess housing commensurate with his nods. The government must maker land
available for the implementation of this article, according priority to those whose need is greatest, in particular the rural population and the
workers.
Article 33
No one can be banished from his place of residence, prevented from residing in the place of his choice, or compelled to reside in a given
locality, except in cases provided by law.
Article 34
It is the indisputable right of every citizen to seek justice by recourse to competent courts. All citizens have right of access to such
courts, and no one can be barred from courts to which he has a legal right of recourse.
Article 35
Both parties to a lawsuit have the right in all courts of law to select an attorney, and if they are unable to do so, arrangements must be
made to provide them with legal counsel.
Article 36
The passing and execution of a sentence must be only by a competent court and in accordance with law.
Article 37
Innocence is to be presumed, and no one is to be held guilty of a charge unless his or her guilt has been established by a competent court.
Article 38
All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden. Compulsion of individuals to testify,
confess, or take an oath is not permissible; and any testimony, confession, or oath obtained under duress is devoid of value and credence.
Violation of this article is liable to punishment in accordance with the law.
Article 39
All affronts to the dignity and repute of persons arrested, detained, imprisoned, or banished in accordance with the law, whatever form
they may take, are forbidden and liable to punishment.
Article 40
No one is entitled to exercise his rights in a way injurious to others or detrimental to public interests.
Article 41
Iranian citizenship is the indisputable right of every Iranian, and the government cannot withdraw citizenship from any Iranian unless he
himself requests it or acquires the citizenship of another country.
Article 42
Foreign nationals may acquire Iranian citizenship within the framework of the laws. Citizenship may be withdrawn from such persons if
another State accepts them as its citizens or if they request it.
Article 19
All people of Iran, whatever the ethnic group or tribe to which they belong, enjoy equal rights; and color, race, language, and the like, do
not bestow any privilege.
Article 20
All citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic, social,
and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria.
Article 21
The government must ensure the rights of women in all respects, in conformity with Islamic criteria, and accomplish the following goals:
1.create a favorable environment for the growth of woman's personality and the restoration of her rights, both the material and intellectual;
2.the protection of mothers, particularly during pregnancy and childbearing, and the protection of children without guardians;
3.establishing competent courts to protect and preserve the family;
4.the provision of special insurance for widows, and aged women and women without support;
5.the awarding of guardianship of children to worthy mothers, in order to protect the interests of the children, in the absence of a legal
guardian.
Article 22
The dignity, life, property, rights, residence, and occupation of the individual are inviolate, except in cases sanctioned by law.
Article 23
The investigation of individuals' beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.
Article 24
Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of
the public. The details of this exception will be specified by law.
Article 25
The inspection of letters and the failure to deliver them, the recording and disclosure of telephone conversations, the disclosure of
telegraphic and telex communications, censorship, or the willful failure to transmit them, eavesdropping, and all forms of covert
investigation are forbidden, except as provided by law.
Article 26
The formation of parties, societies, political or professional associations, as well as religious societies, whether Islamic or pertaining to
one of the recognized religious minorities, is permitted provided they do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national
unity, the criteria of Islam, or the basis of the Islamic republic. No one may be prevented from participating in the aforementioned groups,
or be compelled to participate in them.
Article 27
Public gatherings and marches may be freely held, provided arms are not carried and that they are not detrimental to the fundamental
principles of Islam.
Article 28
Everyone has the right to choose any occupation he wishes, if it is not contrary to Islam and the public interests, and does not infringe the
rights of others. The government has the duty, with due consideration of the need of society for different kinds of work, to provide every
citizen with the opportunity to work, and to create equal conditions for obtaining it.
Article 29
To benefit from social security with respect to retirement, unemployment, old age, disability, absence of a guardian, and benefits relating
to being stranded, accidents, health services, and medical care and treatment, provided through Insurance or other means, is accepted as
a universal right. The government must provide the foregoing services and financial support for every individual citizen by drawing, in
accordance with the law, on the national revenues and funds obtained through public contributions.
Article 30
The government must provide all citizens with free-education up to secondary school, and must expand free higher education to the
extent required by the country for attaining self-sufficiency.
Article 31
It is the right of every Iranian individual and family to possess housing commensurate with his nods. The government must maker land
available for the implementation of this article, according priority to those whose need is greatest, in particular the rural population and the
workers.
Article 33
No one can be banished from his place of residence, prevented from residing in the place of his choice, or compelled to reside in a given
locality, except in cases provided by law.
Article 34
It is the indisputable right of every citizen to seek justice by recourse to competent courts. All citizens have right of access to such
courts, and no one can be barred from courts to which he has a legal right of recourse.
Article 35
Both parties to a lawsuit have the right in all courts of law to select an attorney, and if they are unable to do so, arrangements must be
made to provide them with legal counsel.
Article 36
The passing and execution of a sentence must be only by a competent court and in accordance with law.
Article 37
Innocence is to be presumed, and no one is to be held guilty of a charge unless his or her guilt has been established by a competent court.
Article 38
All forms of torture for the purpose of extracting confession or acquiring information are forbidden. Compulsion of individuals to testify,
confess, or take an oath is not permissible; and any testimony, confession, or oath obtained under duress is devoid of value and credence.
Violation of this article is liable to punishment in accordance with the law.
Article 39
All affronts to the dignity and repute of persons arrested, detained, imprisoned, or banished in accordance with the law, whatever form
they may take, are forbidden and liable to punishment.
Article 40
No one is entitled to exercise his rights in a way injurious to others or detrimental to public interests.
Article 41
Iranian citizenship is the indisputable right of every Iranian, and the government cannot withdraw citizenship from any Iranian unless he
himself requests it or acquires the citizenship of another country.
Article 42
Foreign nationals may acquire Iranian citizenship within the framework of the laws. Citizenship may be withdrawn from such persons if
another State accepts them as its citizens or if they request it.
Archeological evidence dates civilized existence on the Iranian Plateau for 800,000 years.
Human existences spans from 6.000 BCE. Aryan nomads settled the plains about 5,000
years ago and the arising of the first Persian Empire occurred around 3,200 BCE with the
Median and Achaemenian Empires and Parthian Empire. Zoroastrianism became the state
religion around 224 CE and Islam arrived at the end of the Sassanian Empire in 637. The
Umayyad Dynasty of Arab Muslims took root in 651. Over the next 400 years, the conversion
to Islam was almost 100% but with a distinctive emphasis on the local culture and language
called Persianization. Turks invaded in the 11th century and yielded to the Mongols in 1219.
Despite Turkic domination, Persian society flourished as the nation shifted from the tenets of
Sunni Islam to Shia. The birth of Modern Iran occurred in 1512 with the rise of the Shah
monarchial structure. European colonization began in the 17th century with Russia which
prompted a movement in opposition to the Shah known as the Constitutional Revolution of
Iran and the promulgation of the first constitution in 1906 which allowed the Shah to
maintain the throne. The discovery of oil in 1908 spawned renewed interest in Persia by the
United Kingdom who competed with Russia for dominance which continued through World
War II as both nations occupied Persia to protect oil interest. Pro-German sentiments of Reza
Shah Pahlavi forced his abdication to his pro-British son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
Following the war, Prime Minister Mossadeq proposed the nationalization of the British
controlled oil industry. A military coup with the support of the CIA and MI-6 led to the arrest
and trial of Mossadeq, whose supporters were branded as pro-communism and anti-Islam.
Stability returned when Pahlavi signed an agreement to keep the oil in international hands.
The Shah's accommodation of Western interests fulminated an Islamic based movement
which led to him being deposed in 1979 by the Islamic Revolution led by the Ayatollah
Khomeini and the taking of American embassy hostages in a 444 day crisis that led to war
with Iraq and a straining of diplomatic ties with much of the west, particularly the United
States. On 29 and 30 March 1979, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was
promulgated. Human rights are enumerated beginning with Part Three (The Rights of the
People) and conform with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Iran is a
signatory. For a full English translation of the Iran's Constitution, click here.
Human existences spans from 6.000 BCE. Aryan nomads settled the plains about 5,000
years ago and the arising of the first Persian Empire occurred around 3,200 BCE with the
Median and Achaemenian Empires and Parthian Empire. Zoroastrianism became the state
religion around 224 CE and Islam arrived at the end of the Sassanian Empire in 637. The
Umayyad Dynasty of Arab Muslims took root in 651. Over the next 400 years, the conversion
to Islam was almost 100% but with a distinctive emphasis on the local culture and language
called Persianization. Turks invaded in the 11th century and yielded to the Mongols in 1219.
Despite Turkic domination, Persian society flourished as the nation shifted from the tenets of
Sunni Islam to Shia. The birth of Modern Iran occurred in 1512 with the rise of the Shah
monarchial structure. European colonization began in the 17th century with Russia which
prompted a movement in opposition to the Shah known as the Constitutional Revolution of
Iran and the promulgation of the first constitution in 1906 which allowed the Shah to
maintain the throne. The discovery of oil in 1908 spawned renewed interest in Persia by the
United Kingdom who competed with Russia for dominance which continued through World
War II as both nations occupied Persia to protect oil interest. Pro-German sentiments of Reza
Shah Pahlavi forced his abdication to his pro-British son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
Following the war, Prime Minister Mossadeq proposed the nationalization of the British
controlled oil industry. A military coup with the support of the CIA and MI-6 led to the arrest
and trial of Mossadeq, whose supporters were branded as pro-communism and anti-Islam.
Stability returned when Pahlavi signed an agreement to keep the oil in international hands.
The Shah's accommodation of Western interests fulminated an Islamic based movement
which led to him being deposed in 1979 by the Islamic Revolution led by the Ayatollah
Khomeini and the taking of American embassy hostages in a 444 day crisis that led to war
with Iraq and a straining of diplomatic ties with much of the west, particularly the United
States. On 29 and 30 March 1979, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was
promulgated. Human rights are enumerated beginning with Part Three (The Rights of the
People) and conform with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Iran is a
signatory. For a full English translation of the Iran's Constitution, click here.