Human Rights Watch
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Wednesday 00:01 May 21, 1997

For Further Information :

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IRAN: Arbitrary Exclusion of Candidates, Obstacles to Free Expression and Assembly Mar Upcoming Presidential Election

The May 23 presidential elections in Iran will be neither free nor fair in a meaningful sense, according to Leaving Human Rights Behind: The Context of the Presidential Elections, released today by Human Rights Watch/Middle East. While there is a real contest over who will succeed President Rafsanjani, the choice is between different factions within the closed circle of the clerical leadership. All candidates representing opposition viewpoints have been arbitrarily disqualified by the Council of Guardians. The Council, whose members are appointed by the leader of the Islamic Republic, performs a supervisory role over the elections that includes broad powers to bar candidates and annul voting results. Its decisions are not subject to appeal.

Human Rights Watch charges that the election is taking place in a repressive atmosphere. In recent months, newspapers and magazines critical of government policies have been closed down. Some non-clerical parties have been prevented from addressing public gatherings. Vigilante groups, tolerated if not condoned by the government, break up opposition meetings and intimidate independent voices.

Human Rights Watch also criticizes Iranian laws that restrict internationally recognized human rights and that bar women and members of religious minorities from serving as president. The Human Rights Watch report specifies steps the government of Iran should take to enable its citizens to participate more equally and fully in the conduct of public affairs through free elections.

*** Copies of the report are available from the Publications Department, Human Rights Watch, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6104 for $3.60 (domestic shipping) and $4.50 (international shipping). Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Human Rights Watch/Middle East

Human Rights Watch is a nongovernmental organization established in 1978 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and among the signatories of the Helsinki accords. It is supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly. Kenneth Roth is the executive director and Robert L. Bernstein is the chair of the board. The Middle East division was established in 1989 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. Eric Goldstein is the acting executive director and Gary Sick is the chair of the advisory committee.