Human rights organization criticizes systematic prevention of gatherings in Iran
In a report, the human rights organization Article 19 criticized the "compulsory" requirement to obtain permits for peaceful gatherings in Iran, as well as the suppression of gatherings that the government considers "illegal."
The report by Article 19 was published on Tuesday, May 26, titled "Deception, Denial, and Delay: The Iranian Government's Policies to Keep the People in the Dark."
The report states that the Islamic Republic “has not provided a practical path for individuals to request and receive permits” and “systematically refuses to grant permits to gatherings that are not in line with the government’s policies and ideology.”
The organization also stated that Iranian government officials are keeping the Iranian people in the dark by refusing to "publish information about the rallies and protests and illegally and arbitrarily claiming that such information is classified."
According to Salwa Ghazwani, Middle East and North Africa director at Article 19, “the increasing level of state violence against protesters leaves no doubt about the Iranian authorities’ intolerance and tolerance of protests that challenge them.”
Salwa Ghazwani adds that this violence includes "the government's use of illegal force against those who take to the streets to protest."
He added: "Human rights violations do not end with the Iranian authorities simply refusing to grant permission for gatherings. Rather, these cases continue with gross violations of the right to life and the right to freedom from torture against those who dare to take to the streets to protest, to the detriment of the right to truth of the victims and the entire society."
Article 19 calls on Iranian authorities to “put an end to these human rights violations once and for all by fully and fundamentally reviewing the country’s legal framework and bringing it into line with international law.”
In recent years, as economic pressure on the Iranian people has increased, various trade union groups have repeatedly taken to the streets to press for their demands.
The government's response to these gatherings has been to ignore the demands, attribute the protesters to connections with supposed "enemies," and arrest and violently deal with the protesters.
Not only is the right to hold assemblies subject to vague conditions in Iran's constitution, but other laws also impose further restrictions on this right.
The Law on the Activities of Political Parties and Groups requires a permit to hold gatherings, but only allows registered political parties to apply for a permit.
Source: Radio Farda
