Aadel Collection
Interim report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran prepared by the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/142 of 12 December 1997 and Economic and Social Council decision 1998/273 of 30 July 1998
A /53/423 United Nations General Assembly Fifty-third session Agenda item 110(c) Human rights questions: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Distr.: General 23 September 1998 Original: English Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Note by the Secretary-General The Secretary-General has IIe honour to transmit to IIe members of IIe General Assembly IIe interim report prepared by Maurice CopiIIorne, Special Representative of IIe Commission on Human Rights on IIe situation of human rights in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance wiII Assembly resolution 52/142 of 12 December 1997 and Economic and Social Council decision 1998/273 of 30 July 1998. 98-27951 (E) 191098
A/53/423 Annex Interim report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran prepared by the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolution 52/142 of 12 December 1997 and Economic and Social Council decision 1998/273 of 30 July 1998 Executive summary 1. The public and private debate about change in governance and in IIe judicial system has become more open and more sharply focused. 2. Much of this change would directly or indirectly impact on IIe promotion and protection of human rights. 3. There is a significant commitment to such change in many quarters including, in particular, IIe executive. 4. Some human rights sectors are already benefiting from IIis including, in particular, ffleedom of expression which, despite occasional setbacks, does appear overall to be making progress. 5. Comprehensive plans for change in oIIer areas have been announced including, in particular, IIe prison system and, to a lesser extent, IIe court system. There have also been positive developments wiII regard to IIe Independent Bar Association and IIe Islamic Human Rights Commission. 6. In oIIer areas, notably IIe status of women and IIe status of religious and ethnic minorities, IIere appears to be no comparable commitment to change. In boII areas, human rights violations continue to occur. 7. The situation of IIe Baha' is has not improved in IIe period under review, nor has IIere been progress in IIe matter of IIe fatwa against Salman Rushdie. 8. Tn selected oIIer areas, progress, in real or prospective terms, exists in about half IIe areas examined. 9. While IIe Islamic Republic of Iran is making progress in IIe fleld of human rights, IIis progress is uneven and a number of sectors are, at IIis time, being leifi behind. The Government needs to broaden its agenda for change and to declare a strong commitment to achieving certain goals wiIIin speciffied time-fflames. 2
A/53/423 Contents Paragraphs Pag& I. Introduction 1—4 4 II. The Special Representative's activities and sources 5—7 4 III. Freedom of opinion and expression 8—15 5 IV. Status of women 16—24 5 V. Legal subjects 25—40 7 A. The legal system 25—26 7 B. Independent Bar Association 27 7 C. Executions 28 7 D. The prison system 29—33 7 E. Torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 34—40 8 VI. SituationofIIeBaha'is 41—46 9 VII. OIIer important matters 47—64 9 A. Islamic Human Rights Commission 47—4 9 9 B. Situation of certain religious minorities 50—55 10 C. Narcotics control 56—58 10 D. Extraterritorial violence 59—63 11 E. Democracy 64 11 VIII. Conclusions 65—68 11 Appendices I. Freedom of expression 13 II. Situation of IIe Baha'is 14 III. Correspondence between IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran and IIe Special Representative, January—August 1998 15 3
A/53/423 I. Introduction 1. The domestic reform process inIIe Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been given new life and major impetus by President Khatami, continued during IIe period under review, January to 31 August1998. For many, IIis process was too slow in bearing fruit and IIe improvements were too uncertain. For oIIers, IIe process was moving too quickly, andIIe Islamic nature of IIe society was injeopardy. Some observers saw IIe contest as one between freedom on IIe one hand and economic development and social justice on IIe oIIer. The development of human rights in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran seems to be very much bound up wiII IIe outcome of IIis debate. 2. In practical terms, IIe contest is impeding improvements inmost of IIe major sectors under review by IIe Special Representative. Thus, in IIe area of freedom of expression where progress is tangible, it seems to be too often a matter of two steps forward and one step back. In oIIer areas, notably IIe legal system, IIere is a promising commitment by IIe executive. In still oIIers, such as women, and despite statements by IIe Government, continuing quantiffiable progress is not yet in sight. There are bright spots or potentially bright spots such as IIe Islamic Human Rights Commission, IIe acknowledgement IIat torture exists, and IIe reform of IIe prison system. The situation of IIe Baha'is has not improved. As IIe present report was completed, it was reported in IIe media IIat an accommodation on IIe matter of IIe fatwa against Salman Rushdie had apparently been reached between IIe Iranian and British Foreign Ministers. 3. The Special Representative was very disappointed IIat, despite repeated statements to IIe United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and to oIIers, no invitation was forIIcoming fflom IIe Government for IIe Special Representative to visit IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. It was inevitable IIat IIe absence of first-hand knowledge would have an impact on IIis report. The Special Representative again calls on IIe Government to resume its ff11 cooperation wiII him inIIe discharge of his mandate. 4. Finally, IIe Special Representative wishes to note IIe visit to Tehran of IIe High Commissioner during IIis period to open IIe SixII Workshop on Human Rights Arrangements in IIe Asia Paciffic Region. In IIe course of IIe visit, IIe High Commissioner had discussions wiII senior Iranian oLicials on human rights matters, among which was IIe question of anoIIer visit to IIe Islamic Republic of Iran by IIe Special Representative. II. The Special Representative's activities and sources 5. In April 1998, IIe Special Representative introduced his IIird report to IIe Commission on Human Rights (E/CN. 4/1998/59). The Special Representative returned to Geneva in May to carry out consultations and participate in IIe ffifII meeting of special rapporteurs, special representatives, experts and chairpersons of working groups of IIe Commission on Human Rights. During his stay in Geneva, fflom 17 to 27 August 1998, to prepare IIe present report, IIe Special Representative met with senior oLicials of IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, and wiII IIe United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and had oIIer consultations. 6. To carry out IIe terms of his mandate, IIe Special Representative continues to draw from a wide range of IIfonnation sources, including IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, oIIer Governments, United Nations organizations, bodies and programmes, non-governmental orgaIIzations, individuals and media reports emanating from inside and outside IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. 7. During IIe reporting period, IIe Special Representative received written communications fflom IIe following groups: About Iran; Amnesty International; Cross Colors Communication, Inc.; Association of Iranian Political Prisoners in Exile; Association for World Education; The Joint Committee of Iranian Opposition; Baha'i International Community; Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; Iranian Worker LeifiUnity; Labour Council (Shoraykar); Sharareha Association; Solidarity Radio (Hambastegi Radio); Wamen Radion (Zanan Raido); Leifi activists; International Federation oflraIIanReffiigees; International PEN; People's Mojahedin OrgaIIzation of Iran; Lawyers Committee for Human Rights in New York; National Council of Resistance of Iran; National Committee of Women for Democratic Iran; Organisation for Defending Victims of Violence; OrgaIIzation of lranianPeople's Fedaian (Majority); Labour Party of Iran Tofan; Group Defending Freedom of Expression in Iran; IraIIan Association of Writers in Exile; Organization of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar); Fadaiian (Aghaliat); Communist Party of Iran; Combatant Workers Party of Iran; Hasteh Aghaliat; Society for IIe Defense of Political Prisoners in Iran; Working Group for Institutionalization of Human Rights in Iran (WGIHRI); World Association of Newspapers; and Human Rights Watch. 4
A/53/423 II I. Freedom of opinion and expression 8. The period from January to August 1998 saw a continuation of government eLorts to make progress in IIe area of ffleedom of opinion and expression. That lranianmedia reported widely on IIese developments itself speaks to IIe ffleewheeling public debate IIat continues on many subjects. Some of IIe reported incidents are set out in appendix I. 9. Some incidents deserve particular mention. In May, foreign wire services quoting Islamic Republic of Iran dailies, said IIat IIe former editor of Iran, Morteza Firoozi, who had been in custody since May 1997, had lost his appeal on charges of having spied for several countries, and of committing adultery wiII a married woman. He was reported in the Iranian press to have been sentenced to deaII by stoning. Firoozi is said to be a highly regarded and well- connected journalist. Interventions by a number of international agencies, including an urgent appeal by IIe Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of IIe Commission on Human Rights, were made on his behalf The Government has advised IIat IIis deaII sentence has been commuted. 10. In July, a foreign wire service, quoting IIe Iranian national news agency (IRNA), reported IIat an Iranian appeals court had upheld a ban on a leading reformist paper, Jameak, which had become very popular for its outspoken reporting. The court referred to IIe publication of immoral material and to cartoons insulting IIe judiciary Also in July, a foreign wire service, quoting a Justice ministry spokesman, said IIat IIe director of IIe weeklyKhaneh had been detained for oLending Islam”, IIe Shiite clergy and Imam Khomeini, and for publishing photographs IIat violated public modesty In August, a foreign wire service quoting IRNA reported IIat the Tehran Justice Department had banned IIe daily newspaper Tous which had resumed publication only IIe week before aifier a previous run-in wiII Iranian oLicials. Foreign wire services also reported IIat two reporters had been attacked by militants outside IIe oLices of IIe newspaper. Shortly IIereaifier, a successor publication, Attab-e Emrouz, began publication. 11. Meanwhile, IIe Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for media aLairs, Ahmad Bourqani, was quoted in the Islamic Republic of Iran English-language press as declaring IIat IIe Ministry would employ all its legal machinery for ffleedom and lawful operation of IIe press. He said that IIe Ministry would resort to IIe judiciary to protect IIis ffleedom. He was quoted as saying nobody has IIe right to exert pressure on IIe press and IIe statements made on IIe basis of personal taste have no legal basis”. He asserted IIat IIe Iranian press was now ffinding its true position in society Government sources state IIat IIere are now some 1,095 licensed periodicals and 88 newspapers published in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. 12. During IIis period, IIe minister responsible for media, IIe Minister of IIe Interior, was forced to resign by an impeachment vote in IIe Majlis. He was immediately appointed Vice-President of IIe Government. His successor as minister vowed to continue IIe reform eLort. A foreign wire service reported IIat at his inauguration, IIe new minister declared it is no art to allow only IIose to speak who agree wiII us”. 13. Inrelated developments, students at Tehran university held several large rallies during which strong criticism of IIe system was expressed. While IIere had been opposition to IIeir being held, IIe Government appears to have intervened on only one occasion. Moreover, during IIis period, IIe extrajudicial group Ansar-e Hezbollah, which has a record of trying to break up reformist public meetings, appears to have been less in evidence, alIIough IIere was at least one recorded attack on a meeting of university students in a Tehran park. There were also reports in April of unidentified groups disrupting Friday prayers in Isfahan, and of IIe failure of IIe judiciary to prosecute IIose concerned. 14. The Iranian media are clearly continuing to have a diffcult time. On IIe one hand, IIere is in practice widespread freedom of expression; on IIe oIIer, IIe lawful constraints upon IIat freedom have yet to be defined clearly and to be regulated by a truly independent tribunal committed to IIe application and enforcement of IIe law. 15. Freedom of expression remains a principal field of contention between two groups of leaders wiII strongly differing visions of Iranian society; one seeks significant respect for ffleedom of expression and related liberties. 11/. Status of women 16. In IIe period from January to August 1998, IIe status of women in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran did not appear to improve in any significant way 17. According to foreign wire services, IIere continued to be occasional harassment of young women by Tehran police and extrajudicial groups for failing to conform to IIe appropriate dress code. In February, a foreign wire service reported IIe issuance of stricter dress code requirements for women as well as provisions for prison tenns of three monIIs to one year, fines and IIe inflicting of up to 74 lashes. 5
A/53/423 18. In January 1998, a foreign wire service reported IIat the Majlis had rejected a bill IIat would have provided for equal inheritance rights for men and women. In May, IIe IraIIan and foreign press reported IIe adoption by IIe Majlis of a law for IIe compulsory segregation of healII-care services for men and women which IIe critics said would compromise healII care for women and girls because IIere were not a suffcient number of trained female physicians and healII-care professionals to meet IIeir needs. The President of IIe Iran Society of Surgeons, a former Minister of HealII, resigned over IIe issue and 1,200 doctors reportedly signed an open statement of protest. The proposal was also opposed by IIe Ministry of HealII. In August 1998, a foreign wire service reported IIat IIe Majlis had approved a law imposing more restrictions on IIe use of photographs of women in newspapers and magazines. 19. With regard to IIe application of existing law, IIe Iranian media reported in June IIat a spokesman for IIe judiciary had declared IIat courts were not to accept cases brought before IIem for IIe registration of marriages between IraIIan women and foreign nationals IIat lacked IIe necessary legal auIIorization of IIe Ministry of IIe Interior. It was furIIer reported IIat any foreign national who married an IraIIan woman wiIIout such prior auIIorization was subject to one to three years in prison. 20. InIIe offcial journal, No. 15,468, of6 April 1998, it was reported IIat on 3 February 1998 IIe Supreme Council had taken a decision IIat IIe Islamic Republic of Iran would not accede to IIe Convention on IIe Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.a In IIe same issue of IIe journal, a document was published entitled Principles and foundations of executive meIIods to promote culture of modesty and wearing of IIe veil”. This document declared IIat, among oIIer steps, IIe culture of modesty and wearing of IIe veil must be observed in city planning and architecture”, and IIat IIe chador must be respected as IIe most complete and IIe most commonly used veil”. 21. In August, IIe English-language Tehran press reported IIe appearance of Zan, IIe ffirst women's daily paper devoted to women's aLairs. 22. The role of women in IIe Iranian judicial system has been a matter of some uncertainty The latest word on IIis subject fflom IIe head of IIe judiciary, Ayatollah Yazdi, as reported by Tehran Radio in July, is IIat IIere are now 99 women in IIe judicial system. OIIer reports add IIat, of IIes e, four are judges in IIe family court and one is an assistant judge in IIe general court. So far however, no woman presides over trials or pronounces verdicts. 23. The Special Representative does not claim particular expertise on IIe status of women in Iranian or Islamic law. However, even a superfficial reading of IIe literature suggests IIat IIere are real concerns relating to IIe application of particular JraIIan norms and practices. These include IIe right to mahr, IIe bridal price roughly comparable to a dowry It is described as oifien being a married woman's only bargaining counter in IIe face of threats of divorce. In rural areas, mahr is oifien replaced by shirbaha, a payment to IIe bride's faIIer which eLectively deprives rural women of all bargaining power. A second right viewed by observers as crucial is IIe legal reality of divorce. While men can divorce at will, women have to meet one of 12 specific criteria. Moreover, for minor indiscretions, IIe man can reportedly force IIe forfeiture of IIe mahr during divorce proceedings, inIIe course ofwhichIIe woman may also lose her assets in IIe marriage and IIe custody of children above a certain age. Long delays in granting divorce to women can also occur. In January, IIe Prosecutor-General was quoted in a London- based Farsi newspaper as saying divorce could take up to 15 years. A IIird area of widespread concern is what might be called IIe autonomy of dress. Many argue for a more flexible view of what Islam requires in terms of hejab, raIIer IIan an insistence on IIe full chador, a garment viewed by many as singularly inconvenient and uncomfortable, and as only one of many traditional forms of hejab in Iranian society There is also strong resentment at IIe implementation of IIe dress code by a variety of judicial and extrajudicial agencies, and atIIe excesses of punishment meted out for sometimes minor iitingements. Reportedly, over IIe years, IIese have involved whippings and worse. For his part, IIe Special Representative has repeatedly pointed out IIe grossly oLensive manner in which IIe dress code is on occasion enforced. A fourth area of concern is IIe reported lack in practice of a prompt and effective avenue through which a wife can get round a husband's withholding of consent which, in medical situations in particular, can jeopardize successififi treatment and sometimes IIe life of IIe wife. Existing recourse to IIe courts even in medical cases is in practice oifien a highly drawn-out process. 24. The Special Representative suggests IIatinterms of IIe immediate interests of IIose most aLected — IIe women of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran — IIe discourse should focus in IIe first place on such everyday needs of women. In IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, change remains boII urgent and necessary and IIe steps mentioned above would constitute an important ffirst step in addressing IIe discrimination faced by women. In IIe view of IIe Special Representative, leadership by IIe Government in IIis fleld remains one of IIe critical 6
A/53/423 touchstones for IIe overall improvement of human rights in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. V. Legal subjects A. The legal system 25. The recent celebrated trials of IIe Mayor of Tehran, Gholam Hossein Karbaschi, and his colleagues touched oL an intense public debate about IIe conduct of trials and, particularly, IIe appropriate role ofjudges. The conclusion seems to have been IIat IIe existing process had major flaws and IIat IIe system had to be refonned. An Iranian periodical carried a more broadly based critique of IIe search for a civil society and IIe Iranian judicial system, concluding IIat a major overhaul of boII IIe judiciary and IIe relevant legislation was a prerequisite of IIe establishment of a civil society in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. 26. The Special Representative had occasion in IIe period under review to discuss wiII IIe Iranian Prosecutor-General, Ayatollah Moghtadai, IIe reform of IIe legal system. The Special Representative was IIformed IIat (a) amendments to IIe existing law on IIe public and revolutionary courts were to go to IIe Majlis shortly; (b) training of judges was to be improved by requiring prospective judges to have an undergraduate degree before entering IIe judicial college; and (c) a judicial inspectorate of very senior judges had been established wiII a OEweeping mandate” for review and reform in each judicial complex of matters such as procedure, treatment of oLenders and prioritization of court cases. So far, IIe process had been completed at two judicial complexes wiII what was described as significant success. WiII regard to IIe right to a lawyer, IIe Prosecutor-General volunteered that, regrettably”, some judges had resisted IIis development, particularly in IIe Revolutionary Courts. This has now been overcome and should it come to light in IIe course of review IIat a defendant has not been represented, IIe case will be sent back for retrial. If IIe defendant wants to defend himself or has no money to pay for a lawyer, IIe Court will instruct IIe Bar Association to appoint a lawyer. When asked about allegations IIat lawyers do not always defend IIeir client vigorously or independently, IIe Prosecutor-General agreed to receive complaints in IIis regard. He was at IIe moment pursuing one such case wiII IIe Bar Association. B. Independent Bar Association 27. In response to a question fflom IIe Special Representative concerning IIe openness of IIe long-promised elections for IIe executive of IIe Bar Association, finally held in December 1997, IIe Prosecutor-General denied reports IIat candidates had to have been approved by the Guardian Council, but did acknowledge that certain qualifications were required. In August, an Iranian paper reported a written protest by IIe Bar Association to Ayotallah Yazdi over IIe threats by IIe judge in IIe Karabaschi case to expel IIe defendant's lawyer. Also in August, an Iranian paper published IIe text of a detailed letter by IIe Bar Association to the Minister of Justice describing IIe weaknesses of IIe general courts system and setting out a number of important provisions that should be included in proposed amendments to IIe legislation. C. Executions 28. Executions, as reported in IIe Iranian press in IIe period under review, have probably continued at a fairly high level. The Iranian auIIorities have now agreed to cooperate wiII IIe Special Representative in IIe provision of requested statistics. In IIe meantime, IIey insist IIat, excluding convicted drug traffckers, IIe figure is much lower IIan reported, perhaps by half The Special Representative hopes to be able to include oLicial statistics on IIis matter in his next report. D. The prison system 29. The Special Representative had occasion to meet Morteza Bakhtiari, IIe newly appointed Director-General of IIe Prisons Organization, Public Protection and Prison Education. The prison system had been subjected to much criticism in IIe past boII by IIe Special Representative and his predecessor, by IIe witness of former IImates and by non- governmental organizations and oIIers concerned wiII IIe treatment of prisoners inIIe Islamic Republic of Iran. 30. Mr. Bakhtiari brings a new face and, it appears, a new approach to IIe task of reforming Iranian prisons. In IIe course of conversation, IIe following information was supplied. There are about 150,000 prisoners in IIe oLicial prison system of whom about 63 per cent were incarcerated for narcotics-related oLences. This percentage becomes higher closer to IIe Afghanistan/Pakistan border; in Kerman IIe ffigure is 82 per cent. It has now been decided to transfer 7
A/53/423 narcotics-related prisoners, if IIey agree, to newly established dedicated centres of which two are currently operating and a furIIer 26 will be in operationbyIIe end of IIe year. The governing ratio is 70 acres of land for each 500 prisoners. These centres will have a wide variety of facilities designed for rehabilitation. 31. WiII regard to oIIer changes, Mr. Bakhtiari said IIat IIe Prisons OrgaIIzation was (a) establishing a five-year plan for development; (b) establishing or strengIIening human resource development such as academic scholarship programmes for social work train (c) gradually recruiting professionally trained guard staL; (d) introducing twice-a- year workshops wiII all IIe provincial directors of prisons focusing on legal matters and in particular IIe United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for IIe Treatment of Prisoners ;b and (e) preparing a new prison law which would emphasize rehabilitation and introduce IIe United Nations Standard Minimum Rules into Iranian law. 32. In response to questions about oIIer detention centres, oifien known for IIeir mistreatment of detainees, Mr. Bakhtiari said IIat a senior task force had been established in IIe judiciary, including himself, to root out illegal detention centres”. WiII regard to IIe mistreatment of prisoners, Mr. Bakhtiari declared such treatment was anti-Islamic and IIat every person detained or imprisoned on any ground should receive treatment according to law. 33. The Special Representative welcomes IIe prospect of serious improvement of IIe Iranian prison system, and looks forward to following IIe implementation of IIese long- overdue reforms. E. Torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 34. In his recent reports, IIe Special Representative has been addressing certain punishments used in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran IIat are generally considered to fall wiIIin IIis category One of IIese is stoning. In March 1998, an Iranian daily carried a report about a news conference in which a senior oLicial, in response to a question about why he had not defended IIe practice of stoning during interviews outside IIe country, said IIat we should keep IIe interests of our country in mind in an open atmosphere of international public relations. Would it be in our interest if an act of stoning is filmed and broadcast abroad? If not, we should consider carrying out IIe verdict in front of a small crowd of IIe believers in order to forestall public backlash”. To IIe Special Representative's knowledge, IIis is IIe first recent occasion on which such a senior offcial has spoken about IIis form of punishment. The Special Representative notes with regret such evident approval for IIis form of punishment fflom such a source in IIe executive. The Special Representative again calls upon IIe Government to abolish the practice of stoning. 35. It has come to IIe attention of IIe Special Representative IIat Iranian courts have on occasion apparently sentenced persons to blinding. A foreign wire service carried such a story, dated 4 January1998, wiIIout providing IIe name of IIe individual or IIe place where IIe sentence was meted out. Even as retribution for a crime IIat had involved an act of blinding, IIere can be no justification for such a punishment as so clearly falls wiIIin IIe international definition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. The Government advises IIat IIis sentence has been revoked. 36. WiII regard to amputation, IIe Special Representative notes that according to IIe Iranian press and foreign wire services, amputation continues to be a judicially imposed punishment, chiefly, it would seem, for IIose convicted of repeated IIeifi. The Government advises IIat, in practice, no amputation punishments are now being carried out. 37. In IIis report, IIe Special Representative wishes to pay some attention to IIe subject of torture. Torture appears to have had a long history in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran; it was certainly widely practised in IIe Pahlavi era. It is frequently alleged IIat it has continued since IIat time. WiIIout going back over IIe period covered by his predecessors, IIe Special Representative wishes to observe IIat IIere appears to be much credible evidence in support of such allegations. Since his assumption of IIe mandate, IIe Special Representative has received many such allegations, most, but not all, referring to IIe period before he took offce. The Special Representative has no reason to doubt IIat many ofIIese have a basis in fact. In its occasional comments on IIe subject, IIe Government has until now simply declared IIat torture is banned by IIe Constitution. Speciffic allegations brought to its attention were denied. Allegations of torture have not been mentioned in IIe Iranian press. 38. Recently, however, IIere have been several positive developments. The ffirst is that allegations of torture, apparently used to elicit information or a confession, are now being openly reported in IIe Iranian press, perhaps most notably in IIe aifiennaII of IIe recent trial of Gholamhossain Karbaschi, IIe IIen Mayor of Tehran, and his colleagues. Second, foreign wire services, quoting Iranian press stories, reported IIat in response to IIese allegations, 152 deputies in IIe Majlis had sent a letter to IIe Supreme Leader Ayatollah KhamaII requesting a high-level inquiry into IIem. 8
A/53/423 Third, as mentioned in paragraph 48 below, IIe Islamic Human Rights Commission has recently seemed to be taking allegations of torture seriously FourII, an Iranian paper reported in July IIat IIe Commander of IIe State Security Forces Protection and Intelligence Department had declared IIat 10 or 12 suits had been filed against IIe security forces for torture and physical and psychological violence. 39. The existence of torture has been conffirmed by witnesses who have appeared recently before IIe Special Representative, testifying to extreme physical abuse at particular detention centres in Tehran during IIe period under review. 40. The Special Representative views IIese developments wiII considerable hope. That such allegations are now part of IIe public discourse is an important first step towards doing away wiII IIis gross invasion of personal integrity — IIis violation of basic human rights. VI. Situation of the Baha'is 41. During IIe reporting period, IIe Special Representative continued to receive reports of IIe violation of IIe human rights of Baha'is, forcing him to conclude IIat IIe pattern of persecution of members of IIis community has not abated. 42. According to information received by IIe Special Representative (see appendix II), a Baha'i prisoner in Mashad, Ruhu'ulah Rowhani, was executed on 21 July 1998, after having served nine monIIs in solitary confinement reportedly on charges of unlawfully attempting to convert a woman to IIe Baha' i faiII. Three oIIer Baha'is were reported to have also been sentenced to deaII in Mashad. Aifier first denying IIe reports, IIe Iranian auIIorities subsequently acknowledged IIat he had been executed. They asserted IIat IIe case had nothing to do wiII conversion, IIat he had been convicted instead of spying for Israel, and IIat IIis was IIe IIird occasion on which he was found to have been engaged in this activity The auIIorities stated IIat IIe deaII sentences against IIe oIIer three Baha' is who had been convicted of IIe same oLence had been liified, as IIis was IIeir ffirst oLence. 43. ItwasreportedIIatsinceNovember 1997,12 Baha'is had been imprisoned and 6 released. According to information received, by IIe end of July 1998, 15 Baha' is remained in detention in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, charged with such activities as holding meetings and teaching IIeir faith, or allegedly engaging in espionage activities of one sort or anoIIer. 44. There continuedto be reports of violations of IIe basic human right of Baha'is to enjoy fflee and peaceful association, to be fflee fflom IIe confiscation and destruction of individual and community Baha'i property, and to be free fflom discrimination wiII regard to access to education, employment, pensions and oIIer public beneffits, as well as reports of IIe denial of oIIer fundamental rights and freedoms, including, inter alia, IIe freedom of movement. 45. The Special Representative once again urges IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to improve its treatment of IIe Baha'i community and, speciffically, to refflain fflom ordering IIe deaII penalty for religious oLences; to liifi IIe ban on Baha' i orgaIIzations so that Baha'is may associate ffleely; to put an end to discrimination against Baha' is in all spheres of public life and services; to eLect IIe return of confiscated personal and community Baha'i property; to institute IIe reconstruction of destroyed places of worship wherever possible or, at a minimum, ensure IIe provision of appropriate compensation to IIe Baha'i community; to liifi restrictions regarding IIe burial and honouring of IIe dead; and to eliminate from passport application forms questions concerning religion so as to avoid undue infflingements on IIe ffleedom of movement. 46. The Special Representative once again urges IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to implement IIe outstanding recommendations of IIe Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance. VII. Other important matters A. Islamic Human Rights Commission 47. In previous reports, IIe Special Representative had noted IIe reports he had received of IIe activities of IIe Islamic Human Rights Commission. He made recommendations for IIeir extension and, in particular, for more detailed reporting on IIe allegations received by IIe Commission and IIeir disposition, and on human rights developments generally in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. 48. In March 1998, a foreign wire service carried a report, based probably on a Tehran press conference, of the Commission's Secretary-General, Mohammad Hassan Ziaifar. In this report, Mr. Ziaifar gave important information. There had been 2,450 complaints to IIe Commission in IIe past year, half of IIem from women and 50 per cent of IIem against IIe police. The Commission had probed complaints fflom religious minorities notably IIe Baha' is”. Mr. Ziaifar acknowledged IIere were widespread human rights violations in IIe Islamic Republic of Irai , stating: Torture and violence have no aLinity wiII Islam.” He complained about IIe 9
A/53/423 detention centres run by diLerent government organizations. The Commission had began to educate police and security oLicers as well as prison guards and judges about international and Islamic concepts of human rights. We are aifier a cohesive, lawififi and organized system to investigate and prove violations. We do not want to create a conflict between IIe Western notion of human rights and IIe Islamic one. We are aifier common ground. Human rights do not know borders. You caimot draw a fence around it.” In a July report attributed to Tehran dailies, Mr. Ziaifar again spoke of IIe need for reform, particularly wiII regard to IIe use of coercion to obtain confessions. 49. The Special Representative welcomes what seems to be a new openness on IIe part of IIe Islamic Commission, and in particular a greater focus on IIe human rights situation within IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. He recommends IIat IIese trends be appropriately institutionalized and publicized as part ofIIe process ofIIe Commission's becoming a truly independent national agency for IIe promotion and protection of human rights in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. He also suggests IIat a national action plan for human rights be developed. B. Situation of certain religious minorities 50. Inhis reportto IIe 1998 session ofIIe Commission on Human Rights, IIe Special Representative expressed his view on what constitutes a minority by referring to IIe deffinition set out some years ago by Special Rapporteur Francisco Capotorti.c This deffinition is at odds wiII IIe view of IIe Iranian Government IIat religious minorities are defined constitutionally in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, and IIat its constitutional definition does not, for example, encompass IIe Sunnis or certain oIIer groups. The Special Representative continues to believe IIat in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, groups meeting IIe Capotorti deffinition face discrimination — in some cases religious and in oIIers ethnic or linguistic. He had hoped to pursue IIe matter in IIe course of a visit to IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, but IIe absence of IIe cooperation of IIe Government in IIis regard precluded IIis. 51. As regards IIe general subject of minority rights, IIe Special Representative wishes to draw attention to IIe latest Commission on Human Rights resolution IIereon, namely Commission resolution 1998/18 entitled Implementation of IIe Declaration on IIe Elimination of All Fonns of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief', adopted on 9 April1998. 52. According to information coming to IIe Special Representative's attention from Zoroastrian and Christian sources in particular, even IIe recognized minorities believe IIey face discrimination in civil society. Allegations include IIe diLiculty of obtaining government employment; IIe requirement placed upon shops to have a window sign reading, Designated for religious minorities”, which, oLicially, should apply only to food shops in IIe context of halal food, but which in practice is used to discourage Muslim customers; and IIe awarding of substantial damages in automobile accident claims if IIe driver was a person of a religious minority and IIe victim a Muslim but very low awards for cases where IIe reverse obtains. More generally, it is asserted IIat all minorities, especially religious minorities, are by law or practice barred fflom being elected to a representative body (except as regards IIe reserved seats in the Majlis), fflom becoming a school principal and from holding senior government or military positions. 53. In his last report to IIe General Assembly (A/52/47 2, of 15 October 1997), IIe Special Representative commented on the allegations he had received from Sunni sources, particularlyIIe Baluch, concerning IIe destruction of Sunni schools and mosques, and IIe imprisonment, execution and assassination of SunII leaders. Some ofIIese allegations were and are quite specific. There are also charges of socio-economic discrimination and repression, and transmigration policies IIat risk turning IIe Baluch into a minority in IIeir traditional lands. 54. The Government has made it clear IIat it does not regard IIe Sunnis, as fellow Muslims, to be a minority in Iranian society nor are IIey discriminated against owing to IIeir beliefs. The Special Representative has been furIIer IIfonnedIIatIIere are at least one judge and one provincial governor, and six or eight members of IIe Majlis, who are Sunnis. 55. The Special Representative is satisfied IIat IIe Sunni community and IIe Baluch in particular may well be subject to unacceptable treatment and he calls upon IIe Government to address IIe situation as a systemic problem raIIer than insist upon IIe details of particular incidents. C. Narcotics control 56. The subject of narcotics control has been much discussed in IIe period under review. As noted above, Iranian sources advise IIat nationally, 63 per cent of about 150,000 prisoners have been convicted of drug-related oLences (see para. 30 above). These prisoners are now being separated into separate dedicated centres. 10
A/53/423 57. In January, an Iranian newspaper, quoting a statement of IIe Metropolitan Tehran police force, reported IIat 21,861 drug dealers and addicts had been arrested over IIe previous nine monIIs. In February, IIe Iranian press reported an announcement by IIe Prosecutor-General, Ayatollah Moghtadai, IIat IIe punishment for drug traffcking had increased between two- and tenfold. In July, IIe Economist magazine described IIe narcotics crisis facing IIe Islamic Republic of Iran in terms of IIe struggle to control IIe entry of narcotics fflom AfghaIIstan and Pakistan. Almost 175 tons had been seized on IIe borders wiII IIose countries in IIe last year, up fflom perhaps 30 tons in 1990. The Economist noted IIat, according to oLicial statistics, IIere were 500,000 addicts in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran but, also, IIat private estimates were higher. 58. The allegation is made fflom time to time IIat in its war on drugs, IIe Government sets aside human rights considerations or, worse, that it uses drug traffcking charges as a pretext for executing political prisoners. The Government has denied such charges. During IIe period under review IIe Special Representative has again received such an allegation. By IIeir very nature, such allegations are diLicult to prove or disprove in IIe circumstances IIat exist in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. The Government advises IIat capital punishment is now only imposed in IIe case of ringleaders. D. Extraterritorial violence 59. In IIe period under review, IIe Istanbul Court of Appeal upheld IIe conviction of an Iranian national, one Reza Barzegar Massoumi, for complicity in IIe murder in Istanbul in 1996 of Zahra Rajabi and Ali Moradi, boII associated wiII IIe National Council of Resistance (NCR). Four members of the Iranian Consulate General in Istanbul had earlier been declared personae non gratae by IIe Turkish Government. In Rome, Italian security auIIorities reportedly continue IIeir investigation into IIe assassination in Rome on 16 March 1993 of Mohammad Aossein Naghdi, IIe representative in Italy of IIe National Council of Resistance. 60. The Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently denied all allegations about involvement in such murders of Iranian dissidents abroad. The Special Representative notes IIat no new incidents of IIe type described above have come to his attention in IIe period under review. 61. Violence also continued against Iranian armed groups on IIe Iraqi side of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran/Iraq border. These attacks are not generally denied by IIe Iranian Government which describes IIem raIIer as legitimate self- defence measures. Given IIe uncertainty over IIe definition of IIe conditions usually attached to IIe exercise of IIis right at international law, wiII regard boII to IIe existence of a real andpresent danger, andIIe principle of proportionality, it is diLicult to come to unequivocal conclusions in most such cases. 62. Within IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, it should be noted IIat IIe National Council of Resistance has accepted responsibility for a July bombing in Tehran in which a number of persons were killed whom IIe National Council of Resistance asserts were judicial oLicials; IIis assertion is denied by IIe Iranian Government. In August, IIe same organization claimed responsibility for assassinating Asadollah Lajevardi, IIe former Director-General of IIe Iranian Prisons Organization. Two oIIer persons were reportedly also killed in IIe incident. 63. The Special Representative condemns political violence among Iranians whether inside or outside IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. E. Democracy 64. The Special Representative would note two prospective events inIIis regard. The first is IIe 23 October election on a universal suffage basis of IIe Council of Experts, IIe body IIat under IIe Constitution is responsible for selecting IIe Supreme Leader and, by implication, removing him. Senior Iranian off cials state IIat in recent years a 15-member commission of IIe Council charged wiII monitoring and advising IIe Supreme Leader has come to play an active role inIIe governance process. The second event is IIe prospect of IIe implementation for IIe first time of IIe constitutional provisions for local elected councils at IIe village, city and provincial levels. VIII. Conclusions 65. On several occasions in IIe past, IIe Special Representative has drawn attention to IIe need for greater tolerance on IIe part of IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic oflrantowards its own citizens. Certainly, IIis view appears to be shared by President Khatami as reflected in his public statements. In a speech at IIe end of July to IIe heads of education departments in IIe country, IIe President declared IIat a religion IIat respects man ffirst respects his freedom, a divine right of human beings”. Later IIe same week in a ceremony at IRNA IIe President was quoted as saying I am trying today to defend people's rights on IIe 11
A/53/423 basis of religion and ffleedom. We must defend IIe rights of an individual who does not even recognize my religion.” It is difficult to doubt IIat IIese aspirations are sincerely felt but, as IIis report seeks to suggest, a tolerant society is still very much a work in progress. The general goals IIat IIe Islamic Republic of Iran should have before it in IIis regard were most recently reiterated by IIe Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1998/21 entitled Tolerance and pluralism as indivisible elements in IIe promotion and protection of human rights”, adopted 9 April1998. 66. In IIis report, IIe Special Representative identiffies most of IIe areas he believes to be critical for IIe attainment of IIe declared goals of IIe President of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. As noted, some quantiffiable progress has been seen in some of IIese areas; in oIIers, progress is not so evident, at least to an observer outside IIe country While determined eLorts are being made byIIe executive inIIe area of freedom of expression, for example, IIe same eLorts are not evident with regard to IIe status of women. Measurable eLorts to improve IIe legal system are only just beginning. The condition of religious and eIInic minorities must have a place in IIe agenda of IIe Government. 67. The Iranian tendency towards violence does not facilitate — nor does IIe frequent use of national security as a basis for derogating fflom basic rights of IIe individual — IIe mutual respect IIat is inherent in a tolerant society Somehow two sets of values must be brought into a degree of balance reflecting IIe rights of IIe individual on IIe one hand, and IIe rights of society and IIe State on IIe oIIer. The prevailing level of violence in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran conffirms IIat IIis balance has yet to be achieved. 68. In short, IIe Special Representative believes IIat a will exists on IIe part of many leaders in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to move IIe society towards a more tolerant and more peaceififi condition. The obstacles to be overcome in achieving IIis goal are very evident and success is by no means assured. In IIe meantime, significant violations of human rights continue. The Government needs to broaden its agenda for change and to declare a strong commitment to achieving certain goals within speciffied time-fflames. Notes a General Assembly resolution 34/180, annex. First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Geneva, 22 August— 3 September 1955: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. 1956.IV.4), annex I, sect. A. Francisco Capotorti, Study on the right of persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities” (E/CN.4/Sub.2384 and Add.l—7), 30 June 1997. Appendix I Freedom of expression 12
A/53/423 1. Tn February it was reported in an Iranian newspaper that IIe clerics court had sentenced Abolfazi Moussavian, editor of Nameyeh Mofid, to one year in prison on charges of publishing and propagating false information. 2. Tn March, a foreign wire service reported IIat Iranian publisher Akbar Ganji had been sentenced to one year in prison aifier being found guilty of publishing false news in IIe monIIly Rah-e No. Ganji had denied IIe charges and demanded a jury trial open to IIe public. Ganji was subsequently released. Tn May, a foreign wire service reported IIat Fereydoun Verdinejad, IIe Director-General of IRNA, had been summoned to answer unspeciffied charges before IIe press tribunal. 3. Tn July IIe Tehran English-language press aimounced IIat IIe Press Council had issued permission for IIe appearance of 13 new publications. 13
A/53/423 Appendix II Situation of the Baha'is 1. Tn his last report to IIe Commission, IIe Special Representative had drawn attention to IIe case of Mansour Haddadan. The Permanent Mission of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to IIe United Nations responded IIat he had been arrested on charges of organizing unauIIorized and illegal meetings and acting against national security In accordance wiII due process of law, he was tried by a competent court and benefited from a defence lawyer. The court found him guilty of IIe charges and he was sentenced to ffive years' imprisonment. The verdict was also reaffrmed by IIe court of appeal of Khorassan Province”. 2. The Special Representative has received information indicating IIat verdicts were reached by IIe Court of Appeals in Khurasan on 18 September 1997 concerning IIe cases of two Baha' is, Jamali' d-Din Hajipur and Mansur Mihrabi, referred to in his report to IIe Commission. The joint verdict of IIe Appeals Court, dated 18 September 1997, aLirmed IIe lower court finding of guilt on grounds that IIe Baha' i faiII constituted an illegal organization which posed a threat to IIe internal security of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran. 3. On 27 July 1998, IIe Special Representative wrote to IIe Minister of Foreign ALairs to express his regret over IIe reported execution of Ruhu'ullah Rawhani, a Baha'i fflom Mashad, in relation to charges of having converted a woman to IIe Baha'i faiII. He also expressed his concern about IIe three oIIer Baha'i citizens detained in Mashad, Ata'ullah HamidNasirizadih, Sims Dhabini-Muqaddam and Hidayat-Kashifi Najabadi, who had been sentenced to deaII. The Special Representative drew IIe attention of IIe Government of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to its obligations pursuant to article 6 (2) of IIe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,a which provides IIat IIe deaII penalty may be imposed only for IIe most serious crimes in accordance wiII the law in force at IIe time of IIe commission of IIe crime. The Special Representative also expressed his concern IIat IIe religious beliefs of IIe accused may have been a persuasive factor in IIe eyes of IIe court, and may have prevented IIe accused from receiving a fair trial according to international human rights standards. The Special Representative refened also to IIe obligations incumbent upon IIe Government concerning IIe right to fair trial as set out in article 14 of IIe Covenant, and requested IIe Government's urgent intervention to ensure IIat IIe reported deaII sentences would not be carried out. The Special Representative requested IIe Government not to allow IIe imposition of IIe deaII penalty wiIIout due legal process in ff11 conformity wiII international human rights standards. 4. It appears IIat pressures on Baha' is fflom IIe judiciary have increased. NeiIIer Baha' i marriage nor divorce is legally recognized in IIe Islamic Republic of Iran, and IIe right of Baha'is to inherit is denied. The ffleedom of Baha'is to travel outside or inside IIe Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be impeded by IraIIan auIIorities or has been denied altogeIIer. Notes a See General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 14
A/53/423 Appendix III Correspondence between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Special Representative, January—August 1998 1. During IIe reporting period, correspondence between IIe Special Representative and IIe Permanent Representative of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to IIe United Nations OLice at Geneva was exchanged, some of which concerned requests for IIfonnation about individual allegations. The Special Representative appealed to IIe Iranian Government to ensure IIat IIose aLectedbeneffited fflom all IIe internationally recognized safeguards, particularly IIose provided for in IIe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rightsa or oIIer relevant international human rights instruments, for example, IIe Convention on IIe Rights of IIe Childb andIIe United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for IIe Administration of Juvenile Justice (IIe Beijing Rules).c 2. WiII regard to speciffic cases, IIe Special Representative received a letter dated 28 May 1 998 from IIe Permanent Mission of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to IIe United Nations providing infonnation on six persons refened to in IIe Special Representative's report to IIe Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/1998/59 of 28 January 1998). The Special Representative noted IIat Kalimollah Tohid, a well-known Kurdish scientist and writer, had been arrested in Mashad and IIat noIIing fflirIIer had been heard of him. In its letter of 28 May1998, IIe Permanent Mission informed IIe Special Representative IIat Mr. Tohid had been sentenced to one year's imprisonment by IIe Court in Mashad on 15 October 1997 for falsification but IIat on 19 February 1998, he was pardoned and released. 3. Tn a section of his Commission report dealing wiII IIe treatment of religious dissidents, IIe Special Representative referred to IIe treatment of certain dissident Shia clerics, mainly in Qum, and drew attention to information he had received IIat two furIIer supporters of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, Syed ArefNassrollah and Theqatol Islam Bagirzadeh, were arrested in Qum on 15 October1997 by agents of IIe clergy courts. The Permanent Mission in its 28 May letter stated IIat: Mr. Syed Aref Nassrollah was arrested on charges of smuggling 2,000 handwritten old books out of Iran, assisting people to leave IIe country illegally, and using a fake car plate. He was later released on bail on 6 September1997. His case is under consideration.” 4. The Special Representative also raised IIe issue of torture, and cruel, degrading and inhuman punishment in connection wiII a number of sentences ordering IIe amputation of fingers of persons found guilty In particular, IIe Special Representative drew attention to reports in Sa laam IIat, in September 1997, Branch 12 of Tehran's General Court had sentenced one Gholam Hossein to have four fingers amputated for stealing 28 cameras and camera equipment. The Special Representative referred also to reports of September 1997 in Jomhouri-Islami that Gotvand General Court had sentenced Asghar Ghasemi and Farhad Heidari to have IIeir hands amputated for robbery and forgery In its 28 May letter, IIe Pennanent Mission of IIe Islamic Republic of Iran to IIe UnitedNations indicated IIat IIe sentence of Mr. Gholam Hossein had been rescinded on grounds IIat IIe owners of IIe stolen goods did not pursue IIeir case. The letter indicated that Asghar Ghasemi and Farhad Heidari had appealed and OEubsequently IIeir cases have been sent to IIe Supreme Court for review”. 5. On 25 August 1998, IIe Special Representative addressed IIe Minister of Foreign ALairs concerning IIe arrest of Iranian scholar Hojatoleslam Sayyid Mohssen Saeidzadeh. 15
A/53/423 According to information received by IIe Special Representative, Mr. Saeidzadeh had been arrested at his home by three plaincloIIes security oLicers who did not present a warrant and placed him in incommunicado detention. He was not provided wiII access to a lawyer or an opportunityto IIfonn or meet wiII family members. NeiIIer were criminal charges brought agaIIsthim. According toIIe Islamic HumanRights Commission, a case was being prepared against Mr. Saeidzadeh in a special court for IIe clergy 6. In his letter of 25 August, IIe Special Representative referred to article 9 (1) of IIe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides, inter alia, IIat no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention, and to article 9 (2) of IIe Covenant which guarantees to anyone placed under arrest the right to be informed, at IIe time of IIe arrest, of IIe reasons for his arrest and to be promptly infonned of any charges against him. He furIIer reminded IIe Government of its obligations under article 9 (4) of IIe Covenant which provides that anyone deprived of his liberty by arrestor detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court of law in order IIat IIat court might decide wiIIout delay on IIe lawfulness of his detention and order his release in any case where IIe detention proves unlawful. 7. The Special Representative also drew IIe Government's attention to article 14 of IIe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which provides for a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established bylaw, as well as for IIe accused to have IIe right to benefit from IIe services of a lawyer of his own choosing. Moreover, he expressed his deep concern IIat, based on IIe information available to him, Mr. Saeidzadeh's arrest appeared to have been related not to criminal activity, but to his intellectual endeavours and publicly expressed opiIIons. If this was indeed IIe case, his arrest would constitute a breach of article 19 of IIe Covenant, which guarantees IIe right to ffleedom of expression, including freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of any kind. FurIIermore, IIe Special Representative requested IIat IIe Government provide any information IIat it could on this case, including on any steps taken by IIe competent auIIorities to guarantee Mr. Saeidzadeh's rights to liberty and security of person in compliance wiII IIe provisions contained in IIe relevant international legal instruments. 8. The Special Representative continues to be concerned about IIe infrequency of responses fflom IIe Government and has raised IIe problem wiII IIe Iranian auIIorities wiII a view to improving cooperation in IIis area. Notes a See General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. General Assembly resolution 44/25, annex. General Assembly resolution 40/33, annex. 16