Iran: Freedom Movement of Iran (Nehzat-e Azadi-e Iran), including its mandate, organization, activities and status in Iran and abroad

Nehzat-e Azadi-e Iran or the Freedom Movement of Iran (FMI), which is also referred to as the Liberation Movement of Iran, is a "liberal Islamic grouping established ... by Dr. Mehdi Bazargan" (Political Handbook of the World: 1999 1999, 459; World Socialist Web Site 20 Nov. 2001) in the early 1960s (ibid.; Political Handbook of the World: 1999 1999, 459; Political Parties of the World 2002, 252). In 2001, Agence France Presse (AFP) referred to the group as "an Islamist progressive opposition group close to reformists" (18 Mar. 2001).

The FMI "supports constitutional rule by political parties within an Islamic framework [but] does not agree with a role for clerics in government" (UK Oct. 2002). The group "has supported the reformist policies of President Khatami" (Political Parties of the World 2002, 252) and "remains highly popular in intellectual and university circles" (AFP 8 Apr. 2001). This was also stated in an article published in The Guardian (9 Apr. 2001).

In February 1979, Dr. Bazargan became the prime minister of Iran, but he "resigned in the wake of the US Embassy seizure the following November. Subsequently, he remained one of the most outspoken critics tolerated by the government" (Political Handbook of the World: 1999 1999, 459). He died in January 1995, and "his longtime assistant," Dr. Ibrahim Yazdi, became the FMI's new secretary general (ibid.).

In 1991, the FMI was "declared 'illegal' ... after applying for registration in 1989," and though it remains "illegal," it "has not been forced into exile" (UK Oct. 2002).

Prior to the 1996 legislative elections, Dr. Yazdi "called upon the government to permit [the FMI] to present candidates" Political Handbook of the World: 1999 1999, 459), but the

Council of Guardians ruled that Movement candidates per se would not be permitted, although four members could run as independents. Those potential candidates subsequently declined to participate in the campaign as a protest over the Council's decision (ibid.).

Although the FMI had already been banned as an organization in 1991, Iran's revolutionary courts banned "'all activities'" of the group in March 2001 (AFP 18 Mar. 2001). According to AFP, up to that point, "activities by [FMI's] members had been tolerated" (ibid.). Corroborating information was published by Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001, which added that the rationale for the ban provided by authorities was that the FMI were "'attempting to overthrow the Islamic regime'" (4 Mar. 2002, Sec. 1d), and World Markets Analysis, which added that the sudden "crackdown" after long period of tolerance followed reformist, President Khatemi's "overwhelming re-election in June 2001" (7 Jan. 2002). The FMI appealed the ban, but as of late February 2003, the appeal was still pending (Iran Daily 25 Feb. 2003).

In April 2001, agents of Iran's revolutionary court "arrested 40 people on charges of trying to overthrow the Islamic regime" during raids that "appeared to be aimed at leaders of Iran's main dissident group, the Freedom Movement. All of the organisation's offices in the country have been shut" (The Guardian 9 Apr. 2001).

Amnesty International similarly reported that in March and April 2001,

... the Revolutionary Court ordered the arrest of at least 60 academics, journalists and intellectuals associated with the Milli Mazhabi (national-religious trend), notably the Nehzat-e Azadi, Iran Freedom Movement. Some were released within days and many others between May and October. ... In November, trial proceedings against at least 12 members of the Nehzat-e Azadi were initiated with the reading of a 500-page indictment. The trials had not started by the end of 2001, but at least six other detainees ... remained in detention without charge at the end of the year (2002).

In December 2002, Dr. Yazdi "lodged a complaint with the parliamentary Commission 90 against the absence of the jury in the court hearings against FMI defendants" (IRNA 1 Dec. 2002). At the same time, Dr. Yazdi and his colleagues "lodged suits against the Revolution[ary] Court for announcing [FMI] outlawed and seizing their property" (BBC Monitoring 3 Mar. 2003). The Commission only started its examination of the complaints in early March 2003 (ibid.).

In mid-December 2002, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the Revolutionary Court issued rulings for 52 FMI defendants while "stressing that none of the charges against the party members had been 'political'" (15 Dec. 2002). According to the news report, while 11 of the FMI defendants were acquitted, the others received prison terms up to 10 or 11 years and cash fines (IRNA 15 Dec. 2002).

In late February 2003, Dr. Yazdi wrote an open letter to President Khatami asking for the removal of "court-ordered seals on property belonging to the [FMI]" and another letter to the Tehran Justice Department "reiterat[ing] that a number of buildings locked and sealed by that department are not owned by FMI and in fact are private property" (Iran Daily 25 Feb. 2003).

In early 2003, the Interior Ministry undertook the task of deciding on the "competency" of the FMI to take part in upcoming city council elections (BBC Monitoring 1 Jan. 2003). According to a news report published at the end of February 2003, the relevant bodies did approve members of the FMI to be candidates in the "upcoming local elections" (Tehran Times 25 Feb. 2003). This development, the Iran Press Service (IPS) reported, is "thanks to the fact that, contrary to other elections, candidates for city councils are filtered by the Interior Ministry, and not the conservatives-controlled Council Guardians" (1 Mar. 2003). The elections, which the IPS said resulted in "a resounding victory of faithful and fundamentalist candidates in most parts of the country," were held on 28 February 2003 (ibid.), but the Research Directorate was unable to obtain the official results.

While "[t]he FMI has not been given permission to publish a newspaper as its official organ" (Political Parties of the World 2002, 252), Barzagan's speeches apparently can be published, although they are ignored by the major media (UK Oct. 2002).

For additional information on the FMI, please refer to the attached November 2001 article that was published on the World Socialist Web Site.

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 8 April 2001. "President Khatami Condemns Recent Arrests in Iran." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 March 2001. "Iran Judiciary Says 'All Activities' by Opposition Group Banned." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International (AI). 2002. "Iran." Amnesty International Report 2002. [Accessed 5 Mar. 2003]

BBC Monitoring. 3 March 2003. "Iran: Parliament Starts Examining Subversion Charges Against Dissident Group." (Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/ NEXIS)

_____. 1 January 2003. "Iran: Interior Ministry Said Supporting Political Parties' Legal Activities." (Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 10 Mar. 2003]

The Guardian. 9 April 2001. Brian Whitaker. "Court Arrests 40 Dissidents in Iran." (Global News Wire/NEXIS)

Iran Daily [Tehran, in English, Internet version]. 25 February 2003. "Iran Daily Carries 'What's Up' Feature 25 Feb." (FBIS-NES-2003-0225 25 Feb. 2003/WNC)

Iran Press Service (IPS). 1 March 2003. Safa Haeri. "First City Council Results Confirms the Defeat of Reformists." [Accessed 10 Mar. 2003]

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) [Tehran, in English]. 15 December 2002. "Iran: Court Issues Verdicts on Banned Freedom Movement Members." (FBIS-NES-2002-1215 15 Dec. 2002/WNC)

_____. 1 December 2002. "Iran: Freedom Movement Lodges Complaint With Parliament Body Against Judiciary." (FBIS-NES-2002-1201 1 Dec. 2002/WNC)

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. New York: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of the World. 2002. 5th Ed. Edited by Alan J. Day. London: John Harper Publishing.

Tehran Times. 25 February 2003. "Iranian Deputy Berates Majles Board for Accepting His Resignation From MCSBLCE." (FBIS-NES-2003-0225 25 Feb. 2003/WNC)

United Kingdom (UK). October 2002. Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office. "Annex B - Political Parties." Country Assessment - Iran. [Accessed 5 Mar. 2003]

World Markets Analysis. 7 January 2002. Simon Wardell. "Leading Liberal Politician to Face Trial." (NEXIS)

World Socialist Web Site. 20 November 2001. Justus Leicht. "Mass Trial of Opposition Group in Iran." [Accessed 5 Mar. 2003]

Attachment

World Socialist Web Site. 20 November 2001. Justus Leicht. "Mass Trial of Opposition Group in Iran." [Accessed 5 Mar. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including:

Human Rights Watch World Report 2003

The Iranian

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting

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