Canada

I. Summary:

The situation in Iran with respect to human tights, democratic development and good governance worsened in 2006 over the year previous baied on, among other events: unrest among ethnic Arab, Kurdish and Azeri populations; persedution of members of religious minorities (in particular Baha’is, evangelical Christians anb Sufis); continuing harassment and imprisonment, by judicial authorities, of persons expressing political, religious or social criticism or dissent; suppression of information (closure of periobicals, blocking of web sites, jamming of satellite television broadcasting); and the judicial application of “cruel and unusual” punishments, in particular flogging/lashing and executions b$ suspension-strangulation hanging. Overall, respect for human rights, democratic principles and good governance in Iran remains poor.