Iran :Country focus : country of origin information report : June 2024

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgements 4
• Contents 5
• Disclaimer 9
• Glossary and abbreviations 10
• Introduction 12
• Methodology 12
• Defining the terms of reference 12
• Collecting information 12
• Quality control 12
• Sources 13
• Structure and use of the report 13
• Map 14
• 1. General overview 15
• 1.1. System of government and political situation in the country 15
• 1.1.1. System of government 15
• 1.1.2. Assembly of Experts 16
• 1.1.3. Parliament 17
• 1.1.4. President 17
• 1.1.5. Guardian Council 18
• 1.1.6. Expediency Council 18
• 1.1.7. Political situation 19
• 1.2. Iranian armed forces 20
• 1.2.1. Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) 21
• 1.2.2. Quds force 22
• 1.2.3. Basij 22
• 1.2.4. Police force 23
• 1.2.5. Morality police 24
• 1.2.6. Iran’s intelligence agencies 24
• 1.2.7. Military service and recruitment 26
• 2. Security situation 28
• 2.1. Baluch groups 29
• 2.2. Kurdish groups 30
• 2.3. Arab groups 31
• 2.4. Regional security issues 31
• 3. Legal system and the judiciary 32
• 3.1. Overview of the judicial system 32
• 3.2. Punishments under the law 34
• 3.2.1. Hadd punishments 35
• 3.2.2. Qesas punishments 37
• 3.2.3. Diyeh punishments 39
• 3.2.4. Ta’zir punishments 39
• 3.3. Punishments related to violence against women 40
• 3.4. Criminal Courts 41
• 3.4.1. Criminal Courts One 42
• 3.4.2. Criminal Courts Two 42
• 3.4.3. Revolutionary Courts 43
• 3.4.4. Juvenile Courts 44
• 3.5. Appellate Courts 45
• 3.5.1. Courts of appeal 45
• 3.5.2. The Supreme Court 46
• 3.6. Special Clerical Courts 46
• 3.7. Due process 47
• 3.7.1. Access to legal representation 49
• 3.7.1. SANA system 51
• 3.8. Treatment in detention and prison conditions 51
• 3.9. Death penalty 54
• 3.9.1. Crimes punishable with the death penalty under the Penal Code 55
• 3.9.2. Implementation of the death penalty 56
• 3.9.3. Use of the death penalty against critics of the authorities 58
• 4. Treatment of certain profiles and groups of population 61
• 4.1. Political opposition and other dissenting groups 61
• 4.2. Protesters 64
• 4.3. Human rights defenders, activists, and lawyers 69
• 4.4. Journalists and media workers 71
• 4.5. Education personnel 73
• 4.6. Draft evaders and deserters 75
• 4.7. Ethnic minorities 76
• 4.7.1. Overview 76
• 4.7.2. Kurds 77
• 4.7.3. Yarsan Kurdish community 80
• 4.7.4. Faili Kurds 80
• 4.7.5. Baluches 81
• 4.8. Religious minorities 82
• 4.8.1. Freedom of religion and belief 82
• 4.8.2. Christians 82
• 4.8.3. Baha’is 84
• 4.8.4. Zoroastrians 85
• 4.9. Other ethnic and religious groups 85
• 4.10. Individuals transgressing religious and moral codes 86
• 4.10.1. Conversion 86
• 4.10.2. Apostasy 87
• 4.10.3. Atheism 87
• 4.10.4. Blasphemy 88
• 4.10.5. Behaviour perceived as transgressing religious and moral codes 88
• 4.11. Women and girls 89
• 4.11.1. Women’s rights 89
• 4.11.2. Dress-code 90
• 4.11.3. Marriage and restrictions related to divorce 93
• 4.11.4. Forced and child marriage 93
• 4.11.5. Widows 95
• 4.11.6. Violence against women and girls 95
• 4.11.7. Trafficking in women and girls 97
• 4.11.8. Domestic and honour-related violence 98
• 4.11.9. Access to justice 99
• 4.12. LGBTIQ persons and activists for LBGTIQ rights 100
• 5. Socio-economic situation in Tehran 102
• 5.1. Mobility and admittance 102
• 5.2. Socio-economic overview 103
• 5.2.1. Economy 103
• 5.2.2. Employment 104
• 5.2.3. Unemployment 105
• 5.2.4. Poverty 105
• 5.2.5. Food security 106
• 5.2.6. Housing 106
• 5.2.7. Healthcare 107
• 5.2.8. Education 108
• Annex 1: Bibliography 110
• Oral sources, including anonymous sources 110
• Public sources 110
• Annex 2: Terms of Reference 151