Six Prominent Iranian Dissidents Release the Iran Charter
Six Prominent Iranian Dissidents Release the Iran Charter
Blog Article
Six prominent Iranian dissidents—journalists, activists and Nobel Peace Prize winners—published the Iran Charter on March 10, 2022, as an effort to unify the country’s divided opposition to the Islamic Republic. The charter is a document that seeks to set out broad democratic and economic policies, but many activists have raised concerns that it does not address women’s rights and does not make clear how the government would change its current repressive practices.
The charter calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners, the end to the criminalization of political, union, civil and social activities, and public trials for those responsible for suppressing popular protests. It also includes a promise to end discrimination and to protect the freedoms of minorities. The Charter states that “we recognize that the past and present discrimination of women, ethnic minorities and other groups reflects the root causes of current tensions in society” and “that the Iranian people should embrace and celebrate diversity and variety in its cultural, religious and geographic expression.”
It also commits to respecting non-discriminatory laws enacted by the Majles (parliament) and to reform existing ones. It calls for respecting the human rights of all Iranians, including the right to education, freedom from violence, and the right to privacy. It demands a transparent and accountable government, and states that it will support the development of free-market economies that promote social equity and sustainable growth.
One of the most significant ایران چارتر changes the charter proposes is to abolish the Special Clerical Court, created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the revolution and charged with investigating alleged crimes committed by Shia clerics. It would replace the revolutionary courts with a regular judiciary system and a commission of fuqaha—clerics with expertise in the law. The charter stipulates that the head of this commission must be a member of the Assembly of Experts, but does not prohibit him from being a member of the Guardian Council or Expediency Council.
The Charter also calls for the establishment of a constitutional commission that will examine and amend the constitution, and a national referendum on the amendments. It calls for the end to state censorship and the prohibition of religious propaganda, the protection of freedom of conscience and belief, the elimination of all forms of coercion, and the recognition of civil marriages and same-sex partnerships. It also calls for the abolition of the death penalty and a ban on foreign military bases in Iran.
The charter has been hailed by many, but it has not yet been approved by the Majles. The authors have asked for support from the people of Iran and the international community to implement the proposals it makes. Monireh Baradaran, an activist and signatory to the Iran Charter, told IranWire that it is essential for Iranians to begin preparing for a transition to a new regime now, before another wave of popular protests. “We have to create a model for Iran that can avoid the violent cycle of 1979,” she said.
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