Iran: Information on the Javidan (Eternal/Immortal) Imperial Guard and their activities in the 1980s, including its "Ranger" unit, whether the Javidan Guard was engaged in human rights abuses, and on the current treatment of its members
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN25109.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Information on the Javidan (Eternal/Immortal) Imperial Guard and their activities in the 1980s, including its "Ranger" unit, whether the Javidan Guard was engaged in human rights abuses, and on the current treatment of its members, 1 September 1996, IRN25109.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac3b4.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. |
According to a representative of Shahrvand, a Toronto-based Persian newspaper, the Javidan Guard was a military unit in charge of protecting the Shah prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution (25 Sept. 1996). The guard was disbanded by the Islamic authorities upon their ascension to power in 1979 (ibid.). Generally speaking, due to their loyalty to the Shah, the current government of Iran is not on good terms with former members of the Javidan Guard (ibid.). Those former members who remained loyal to the Shah until his overthrow have been subjected to ill-treatment while others, who collaborated with the current leaders prior to the Shah's overthrow, have been rewarded.
The representative has no information on the involvement of the Javidan Guard in human rights abuses prior to the 1979 revolution or its Ranger unit.
A professor of anthropology specializing in Iranian issues at Concordia University in Montreal provided the following information during a telephone interview on 25 September 1996.
Prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution the Javidan Guard was an approximately three-thousand strong military unit in charge of protecting the Shah and high-ranking military officers. As a military unit the Javidan Guard was not directly involved in human rights abuses. However, as the bodyguards of high-ranking military officers, it is possible that some of their members were indirectly involved in human rights abuses committed by high-ranking officers.
The Islamic regime disbanded the Javidan Guard upon its ascension to power in 1979. Due to their loyalty to the Shah, the current regime does not trust former Guard members. As a result, some former Guard members, especially high-ranking officers, have been executed, imprisoned or fired by the new regime while others have escaped from Iran for fear of ill-treatment. Former members of the Javidan Guard are more likely to endure ill-treatment by Iranian authorities than other Iranian citizens.
Response to Information Request IRN24030.E of 30 May 1996 provides additional information on the Javidan Guard.
Sources consulted by the DIRB do not provide information on the involvement of former Javidan Guard members in human rights abuses in the 1980s.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Professor of anthropology specializing in Iranian issues, Concordia University, Montreal. 25 September 1996. Telephone interview.
Shahrvand, Toronto. 25 September 1996. Telephone interview with representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International country file (Iran). 1980-90, 1993-96.
Amnesty International Report. 1980-90, 1994-96.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1980-90, 1993-95.
DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. 1993-96.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1993-96.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1993-96.
Iran: A Country Study. 1989.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1988-90, 1993-96.
The Middle East [London]. 1993-96.
Middle East International [London]. 1993-96.
News from Middle East Watch. 1996.
On-line search of news articles.
