Iran: An Iranian organization called the Defence Organization of Human Rights and Freedoms; Dr. Manoucher (Manucher, Manuchehr) Ganji (Gandji)

On 10 July 1989 it was reported that Attaollah Bay-Ahmadi, a senior operative of the Iranian monarchist group the Flag of Freedom Organization (which later changed its name to the Organization for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms for Iran – see below), was assassinated in Dubai. (Middle East Defense News) The report stated that Bay-Ahmadi "was responsible for covert operations inside Iran," and that he had gone to Dubai in order to set up a relay station for the organization's radio station in Cairo (ibid.). The Flag of Freedom Organization had his body sent to Paris, where he was buried (ibid.).

On 9 November 1992 it was reported that the Flag of Freedom Organization, headed by Dr. Manoucher Ganji, had in October 1992 changed its name to the Organization for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms for Iran (Middle East Defense News). It was also reported in the same article that the Flag of Freedom Organization would continue to exist but would henceforth be considered an "affiliate member of the new umbrella organization," along with the League of Iranian Women, the Iranian Youth Solidarity Movement, the Protection of the Rights of Iranian Teachers, and the Iranian Student Association (ibid.). A 1 May 2000 article on US activity against the Islamic Republic in the Tehran publication Keyhan, describes Manoucher Ganji as a collaborator with the CIA who established "the anti-revolutionary radio Derafsh Kaviani," the name of which he changed in 1992 to "The Organization for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom for Iran." It appears that "Derafsh Kaviani" may be an alternate name for "Flag of Freedom." An Internet Website posted by the Flag of Freedom Organization of Iran provides the following explanation of the meaning of "Derafsh Kaviani":

Legend has it that a blacksmith named Kaveh attached his leather apron onto a pole and raised it as a rallying banner to lead a popular uprising against a tyrannical ruler. The Derafsh (flag) Kaviani, as it became known in the following periods, was used as the official standard to lead the Iranian people toward greatness and prosperity ... (14 Aug. 2000)

Information on the Derafsh Kaviani (Derafshe Kaviyani) can also be found in Response IRN7405 of 27 December 1990.

On 6 March 1995, Manoucher Ganji was described in the preamble to an interview as an Iranian opposition leader, the president of the "Organization for Human Rights," the "Secretary General of the Flag of Freedom Organization," and a former Iranian minister of education (The Iran Brief). In the interview Ganji stated his political vision for Iran as follows:

Democracy is the only option. We had a constitution in 1906, and this began a tradition Iranians respect. This is why Mossadeq was successful. And it was only Khomeini's pledge to democracy, which was totally false, that allowed him to seize power. For one hundred years Iranians have wanted democracy. Anything less will fail.

On 9 October 1995 it was reported that the Flag of Freedom Organization had closed down its CIA-funded radio station in Egypt, from which it had broadcast to Iran (The Iran Brief). According to a 4 March 1996 report, the Flag of Freedom Organization was based in Paris (ibid.). Manoucher Ganji was reported as acknowledging that the organization had received money from the CIA in the past, but stated that no Iranian opposition organization should accept such funding any longer, because US policy towards Iran was not sufficiently "comprehensive" or sympathetic to the aspirations of the Iranian people regarding democracy and human rights (ibid.).

Dr. Manoucher Ganji is described on the Internet Website of the Flag of Freedom Organization of Iran as both the secretary general of the Flag of Freedom Organization of Iran and the secretary general of the Organization for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms for Iran (14 Aug. 2000). Please find Dr. Ganji's resumé, as posted on the Flag of Freedom Organization of Iran's Website, attached electronically to this Response.

Additional research on Dr. Ganji can be found in Responses IRN7405 of 27 December 1990, IRN24237.E of 10 July 1996, IRN25495.E of 19 November 1996 and IRN25729.E of 5 December 1996, as well as in the Research Directorate's August 1993 Question and Answer Series paper entitled Iran: Political Opposition (Where his name is spelt "Gandji").

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.

References

Flag of Freedom Organization of Iran. (last modified 14 August 2000). [Accessed 20 Nov. 2000]

The Iran Brief. "Exiles Don't Want $20 Million." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 October 1995. "Opposition Radio Closes Down." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 March 1995. Christina Timmerman. "Manoucher Gandji: Tomorrow's Leaders Are in Prison Today." (NEXIS)

Keyhan [Tehran, in English]. 1 May 2000. "Authenticated Keyhan Report on Operations to Overthrow in Silence." (FBIS-NES-2000-0530 1May 2000/WNC)

Middle East Defense News. 9 November 1992. "Flag of Freedom Changes Name." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 July 1989. "Monarchist Intelligence Chief Assassinated." (NEXIS)

Electronic Attachment

DR. MANOUCHEHR GANJI

Secretary-General FFO

EDUCATION

1962

University of Cambridge, England - Diploma of

International Law.

1960

The Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva,

Switzerland - Doctorate in International Law.

1955 & 1956

University of Kentucky, USA - B.A. and M.A. in

Political Science and International Relations.

POSITIONS

1992 to present

Secretary-General Organization for Human Rights and

Fundamental Freedoms for Iran.

1986

to present - Secretary-General Flag of Freedom

Organization of Iran.

1980-1982

President of an lsmailite Foundation (Secure

Foundation), Dallas, Texas, USA.

1979-1980

Professor of International Law and Organization,

Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA.

1976-1979

Minister of Education, Tehran, Iran.

1966-1979

Professor of International Law and Organizations,

Tehran University, faculty of Law and Political Science.

1974-1976

Advisor to the Prime Minister, Tehran, Iran.

1969-1971

Dean, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Tehran

University

1966-1969

Founder and Director of Center for Graduate Studies,

Research and Training in International Affairs,Tehran

University.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

1977-1981

Member, Human Rights Committee of United Nations

(on personal capacity).

1975-1981

Member, United Nations Sub-Commission on

Prevention of Discriminations and Protection of

Minorities (on personnel capacity).

1966-1973

Special Rapporteur Human Rights Commission of the

United Nations for Preparation of a Study on Condition

of Economic. Social and Cultural Rights in Member

States of the United Nations; report published by U.N.

in 1974 in all U.N. official languages.

1971

Member, Seminar of International Law Experts to study

the Question of the Rights of Territorial Asylum, Bellagio,

Italy. 1968 - Secretary-General Iranian Delegation

United Nations Human Rights Conference. Tehran, Iran.

1967, 1968 &

1973 Sessions

Alternate Member, Iranian Delegation, Human Rights

Commission of the United Nations.

1967-1969

Founder & Secretary-General Iranian Human Rights

Committee.

1967 & 1968

Special Rapporteur, Human Rights Commission of the

United Nations on Apartheid and Racial Discrimination

in Southern Africa; summary of both reports published in

many languages by the U.N.

1963-1966

Official Secretariat of the United Nations, Human Rights

Division, New York.

1962-1963

Official Secretariat of the ILO, Division on the

Application of Conventions and Recommendations,

Geneva. Switzerland.

PUBLICATIONS

Etre Persan. in French, Michel Lafon Publications, Paris 1995.

Iran: Ten Years Record of the Islamic Republic, in Farsi, English and

French, Paris 1989.

United Nations: Theory and Practice, 3 volumes in Farsi, Franklin

Publications, Tehran 1974.

Public International Law, in Farsi, Tehran University Pressa 1968.

International Protection of Human Rights, Droz Publisher, Geneva

1962.

Studies on Apartheid and Racial Discrimination in Southern Africa.

Part one 1967, Part two 1968, United Nations, New York 1968 &

1969.

Study on the Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Problems, Policies, Progress, United Nations Publications no E.75 *

1V.2, New York 1975.