Iran: Update to IRN30180.E of 14 October 1998; additional information on the meaning of "purge" in the text, and whether any judges or staff members of the Military Prosecutor's Office were accused of espionage in 1997-1998
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN30664.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Update to IRN30180.E of 14 October 1998; additional information on the meaning of "purge" in the text, and whether any judges or staff members of the Military Prosecutor's Office were accused of espionage in 1997-1998, 1 November 1998, IRN30664.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad234f.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided during a 18 November 1998 telephone interview with a specialist on Iranian military and security issues in Iran who is a contributor to Jane's Intelligence Review, and who has published extensively on Iran.
The specialist stated that he understood the word "purge" as meaning massive dismissal of personnel such as the ones that took place in the early 1980s in Iran, not as individual dismissal. He was unaware of an individual "purge" in the Military Prosecutor's Office in 1997, but was aware of a small number of army officers who served in the Iran-Iraq War and who were forced to retire in 1996-1997. This information was reported in the London-based Iranian newspaper Nimrouz. Many of these officers were simply dismissed because of their age and the urgent need to bring younger officers into higher positions. It is part of the modernization plans of the army.
The specialist stated that an army officer who is accused of espionage would not be allowed to travel abroad. Depending on the gravity of the offence, the officer, although highly unlikely, might be allowed to travel abroad for very short trips with the authorities having the family remain in Iran to ensure that the officer would return. The authorities would also put the officer's house under surveillance and none of the family members would be able to travel abroad without being intercepted. The specialist doubted the ability of any members of a family, whose father or brother is an army officer accused and arrested for espionage, to travel abroad.
The issue of espionage is a very serious national security concern for any army in the world, including the Iranian military. The officer might be allowed to travel abroad after the authorities decide he no longer represents a threat to the national security of the country. He added that it was impossible to predict when and how an officer accused of espionage would be released.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Specialist on security issues in Iran and Iran military, England. 18 November 1998. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Former Director, Centre For Iranian Research and Analysis, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware.
Researcher, Centre For Iranian Studies, Columbia University, New York.
Specialist on Iran security forces, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario.
