’WPC‚ »ż› «wÕIÕJŅUÕ2›wzDœ“] ā“4o$·©ćø3&ž ,@Žf;®Ņõ>öęjÅķ±’nX[³7[ Y›,T3ĖfÜ5-!gą!\–› W"‹,JhómĪ.&ņĆl-si"įu59!Łw”ķ܀xĆ 4h“ƒĀ9­5žģJa sxĘšv4„Å&G"Zó"Ī 4 ž×gĒ*Z¹!„K\z`±Ŗ(¹ŠT£AåēĖå õŠ…90b»źŚ›ü_$ci^˜Œ”h8Ž ĀģÜžŖõNøWć,«æbJ!3ß`b^ŒĪ«:pŽV%Ūu\œśöˆU°M\õp3Ķŗi8©ŽšąPXœsīÕB<»ƒq'³¦čšo*Č U:Bn­| %)¢/EŃ—Ó 0·jg! 0·ˆ 0%? 0%d‰ 0œ™ B5#ÉR(NC^ EwQ4Ui mk<ž6X9`("Courier 12cpi«<ž6X9`("Courier 12cpiōĀdž6X@Ƀ8Ē;ō@ō' ŹENGF93\17546 2CCPR\/C/SR.1252 0es .14   Ż ƒL(ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŻ  ŻÓ! ++ŒP++7!Óą Œ ąą P ąCCPR/C/SR.1252Š Ų Šą Œ ąą P ąpage€Ś  Ś2Ś  ŚŠ ŸĒ Š(2L$ØØŻ ƒ ˆž!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŃŃŃ  ŃŃTRWŠ6Ā&Xą3Ų' Letter Ļ6Į&A4\ŃŌ€ōōōŌŌO€’3Ų'LetterTŃŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅŃŲ°ŃŃ„°ŃÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŃČŃŃČŃŻ  Ż ]Ż ƒ L'ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŻ  ŻÓ! ++ŒP++7!ÓCCPR/C/SR.1252Š Ų Špage€Ś  Ś2Ś  ŚŠ ŸĒ Š(2L$§§Ż ƒ ˆž!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŃŃŃ  ŃŃTRWŠ6Ā&Xą3Ų' Letter Ļ6Į&A4\ŃŌ€ōōōŌŌO€’3Ų'LetterTŃŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅŃŲ°ŃŃ„°ŃÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŃČŃŃČŃŻ  Ż(Ü!2™©$¤¤Ż ƒ ˆž!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŃŃŃ  ŃŃTRWŠ6Ā&Xą3Ų' Letter Ļ6Į&A4\ŃŌ€ōōōŌŌO€’3Ų'LetterTŃŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅŃŲ°ŃŃ„°ŃÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŃČŃŃČŃŻ  ŻÓ3333ÓŌ€8ŖXņō×ŌŅ°+ŅŅ°ÅŅ€€€€ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó/(Ü!2›É$„„Ż ƒ ˆž!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŃŃŃ  ŃŃTRWŠ6Ā&Xą3Ų' Letter Ļ6Į&A4\ŃŌ€ōōōŌŌO€’3Ų'LetterTŃŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅŃŲ°ŃŃ„°ŃÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŃČŃŃČŃŻ  ŻÓ3333ÓŌ€8ŖXņō×ŌŅ°+ŅŅ°ÅŅ€€€€ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó/#|d (tˆž$””ŌUKUS.,ŌŃŃŃ  ŃŃTRWŠ6Ā&Xą3Ų' Letter Ļ6Į&A4\ŃŌ€ōōōŌŌO€’3Ų'LetterTŃŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅŃŲ°ŃŃ„°ŃÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŃČŃŃČŃ d˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0!ó„z0— ‘vx0 éF’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒ ˆž!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŃŃŃ  ŃŃTRWŠ6Ā&Xą3Ų' Letter Ļ6Į&A4\ŃŌ€ōōōŌŌO€’3Ų'LetterTŃŌ€ō×ņņōŌŌ€ō×ņņō×ŌÓ  ÓÓ33ÓŅ+°ŅŅÅ°ŅŃŲ°ŃŃ„°ŃÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!°œXBÓŃČŃŃČŃŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŃ  ŃÓ! ++ŒP++7!ÓŃbŲŃщ„ŃŃ = Ńą Œ ąą P ąDistr.Š b Šą Œ ąą P ąGENERALŠ )Ē ŠĢą Œ ąą P ąCCPR/C/SR.1252Š · U Šą Œ ąą P ą27€June€1994Š ~  ŠĢą Œ ąą P ąENGLISHŠ  Ŗ Šą Œ ąą P ąOriginal:€€FRENCHŠ Ó q ŠĢĢĢĢĢÓE.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!++ŒÄEÓą@GG)“ąHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEˆŠ }  ŠĢą@««*“ąForty„eighth€sessionˆŠ  ©  ŠĢą@‹ ‹ "“ąSUMMARY€RECORD€OF€THE€1252nd€MEETINGˆŠ ™7  ŠĢą@õ õ !“ąHeld€at€the€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva,ˆŠ 'Å Šą@½ ½ #“ąon€Friday,€23€July€1993,€at€10€a.m.ˆŠ īŒ ŠĢĢą@««*“ąņņChairmanóó:€€€Mr.€ANDOˆŠ Cį ŠĢĢą@0“ąCONTENTSˆŠ ˜6 ŠĢConsideration€of€reports€submitted€by€States€parties€under€article40€of€theŠ &Ä ŠCovenant€(ņņcontinuedóó).Š ķ‹ ŠĢą b ąSecond€periodic€report€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€(ņņcontinuedóó)Š { ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢß?€'Ś%sdE+Ś%s?ßą b ąThis€record€is€subject€to€correction.Š z&( ŠĢą b ąCorrections€should€be€submitted€in€one€of€the€working€languages.€€TheyŠ (¦ * Šshould€be€set€forth€in€a€memorandum€and€also€incorporated€in€a€copy€of€theŠ Ļ(m!+ Šrecord.€€They€should€be€sent€ņņwithin€one€week€of€the€date€of€this€documentóó€toŠ –)4", Šthe€Official€Records€Editing€Section,€room€E.4108,€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva.Š ]*ū"- ŠĢą b ąAny€corrections€to€the€records€of€the€public€meetings€of€the€Committee€atŠ ė+‰$/ Šthis€session€will€be€consolidated€in€a€single€corrigendum,€to€be€issuedŠ ²,P%0 Šshortly€after€the€end€of€the€session.Š y-&1 ŠĢGE.93„17546€€(E)Š /„'3 ŠŠ  Ī/l(4= ŠŃŲbŃŃ}‰ŃÖ€’’ÖÖ€’’ÖÓB.++b™ Š >u¬ćQˆæö!++7BÓą@É É “ąņņThe€meeting€was€called€to€order€at€10.10€a.m.óóˆŠ Ō ŠĢCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE40€OF€THEŠ bŽ ŠCOVENANT€(agenda€item€4)€(ņņcontinuedóó)Š )U ŠĢņņSecond€periodic€report€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iranóó€(CCPR/C/28/Add.15)Š ·ć Š(ņņcontinuedóó)Š ~ Ŗ ŠĢ1.ą b ąņņAt€the€invitation€of€the€Chairman,€the€members€of€the€delegation€of€theŠ  8 ŠIslamic€Republic€of€Iran€took€seats€at€the€Committee€tableóó.Š Ó ’  ŠĢ2.ą b ąņņMr.€BRUNI€CELLIóó€drew€attention€to€two€positive€aspects€of€the€statementŠ a   Šby€the€Iranian€delegation,€namely,€that€the€Iranian€authorities€recognized€theŠ (T  Šrights€embodied€in€the€Covenant€and€that€the€process€of€amending€the€law€toŠ ļ  Šbring€it€into€line€with€the€Covenant€was€under€way.€€In€that€regard€theŠ ¶ā  Šcultural€idiosyncrasies€of€a€particular€country€must€in€no€way€detract€fromŠ }©  Šthe€universal€value€of€the€rights€set€out€in€the€Covenant.€€The€second€causeŠ Dp  Šfor€optimism€was€the€publication€of€the€Covenant,€and€it€was€to€be€hoped€thatŠ  7  Šthe€second€periodic€report€(CCPR/C/28/Add.15)€would€also€be€published,Š Ņž  Štogether€with€the€Committee's€comments€and€observations.€€The€IranianŠ ™Å Šdelegation€had€also€said€that€when€it€had€returned€home€following€the€meetingsŠ `Œ Šat€the€forty-seventh€session€of€the€Committee€at€which€the€same€periodicŠ 'S Šreport€had€been€considered,€it€had€prepared€a€report€which€had€been€publishedŠ ī Šwith€positive€results.€€What€were€those€positive€results€exactly?Š µį ŠĢ3.ą b ąHe€understood,€from€the€remarks€by€the€Iranian€delegation,€that€all€casesŠ Co Šof€capital€punishment€had€been€of€a€"judicial"€nature€in€that€they€hadŠ  6 Šcorresponded€to€a€court€decision.€€However,€the€universal€trend€was€towardsŠ Ńż Šabolition€of€the€death€penalty€and€he€was€very€concerned€that€that€sanctionŠ ˜Ä Šhad€been€maintained€in€Iran,€mostly€in€cases€which€did€not€meet€the€criteriaŠ _‹ Šset€out€in€the€Covenant.€€It€must€be€admitted€that€it€was€not€clear€whatŠ &R Šinformation€could€be€used€on€which€to€base€an€opinion€in€that€regard.€Š ķ ŠHowever,€it€would€seem€that€the€concurrent€case€was€that€of€an€individual€in€aŠ “ą  ŠState€prison,€tried€by€an€Islamic€revolutionary€court€without€the€assistanceŠ {§! Šof€a€lawyer,€sentenced€following€summary€proceedings€and€executed.€€Such€aŠ Bn" Šsituation€was€completely€contrary€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€inŠ  5# Šparticular€articles6€and€14.€€It€was€not€sufficient€that€there€should€be€aŠ Š ü$ Šjudgement;€a€number€of€guarantees€must€also€be€met.€€He€would€like€to€know€inŠ —!Ć% Šparticular€whether,€in€the€case€of€persons€who€had€been€executed,€theŠ ^"Š& Šprinciple€of€the€presumption€of€innocence€had€been€respected,€whether€theŠ %#Q' Šaccused€had€had€sufficient€time€to€prepare€his€defence,€whether€he€had€beenŠ ģ#( Šable€to€have€the€assistance€of€counsel€of€his€own€choosing€and€whether€he€hadŠ ³$ß) Šbeen€able€to€produce€defence€witnesses.€€Generally€speaking,€most€of€the€veryŠ z%¦ * Šnumerous€executions€which€had€taken€place€in€Iran€had€manifestly€failed€toŠ A&m!+ Šmeet€the€minimum€criteria€which€would€enable€them€to€be€regarded€as€being€of€aŠ '4", Šjudicial€character,€in€the€true€sense€of€the€word,€i.e.€resulting€from€aŠ Ļ'ū"- Šjudicial€procedure€consistent€with€the€Covenant.€€Very€often,€trial€andŠ –(Ā#. Šexecution€had€taken€place€in€the€prison€itself,€the€family€had€not€been€givenŠ ])‰$/ Šadvance€notice€and€the€accused€had€had€no€opportunity€to€obtain€legalŠ $*P%0 Šassistance€or€to€appeal€against€the€court's€decision.€€The€Working€Party€onŠ ė*&1 ŠEnforced€or€Involuntary€Disappearances€had€transmitted€to€the€IranianŠ ²+Ž&2 ŠGovernment€information€concerning€500€cases€of€disappearance.€€As€was€wellŠ y,„'3 Šknown,€disappearance€was€the€phase€preceding€extrajudicial€execution.€€TheŠ @-l(4 ŠIranian€authorities€had€made€no€comment€on€that€information€and€he€would€beŠ Ō Šinterested€to€hear€what€the€Iranian€delegation€had€to€say€on€the€subject.Š ›Ē ŠĢ4.ą b ąWhere€the€Baha'i€community€was€concerned,€the€report€prepared€byŠ )U ŠMr.Galindo€Pohl,€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€on€theŠ š Šhuman€rights€situation€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€(E/CN.4/1993/41),Š ·ć Šreported€numerous€cases€of€torture€and€punishment€inflicted€on€members€of€thatŠ ~ Ŗ Šcommunity.€€In€addition,€200€Baha'is€had€allegedly€been€executed€and€a€numberŠ E q Šof€others€had€disappeared.€€He€would€welcome€information€on€the€subject.Š  8 ŠĢ5.ą b ąņņMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€said€that€he€too€had€noticed€two€positive€aspects€inŠ š Ę  Šthe€remarks€by€the€Iranian€delegation,€namely,€the€publication€of€the€CovenantŠ a   Šand€the€organization€of€human€rights€training€courses.€€He€welcomed€thoseŠ (T  Šmeasures,€which€constituted€the€best€means€of€informing€citizens€of€theirŠ ļ  Šrights.Š ¶ā  ŠĢ6.ą b ąHowever,€he€deplored€the€complete€lack€of€progress€in€Iran€in€theŠ Dp  Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant,€in€other€words,€the€promotion€and€effectiveŠ  7  Šexercise€of€the€rights€set€out€in€it.€€He€was€particularly€struck€by€theŠ Ņž  Šsituation€regarding€freedom€of€religion.€€He€himself€came€from€aŠ ™Å ŠLatinAmerican€country,€Ecuador,€most€of€whose€inhabitants€were€Catholics;€inŠ `Œ ŠEcuador,€however,€the€majority€religion€would€never€in€any€circumstances€beŠ 'S Šused€as€a€means€of€discrimination,€and€no€one€refused€the€minority€religionsŠ ī Šthe€exercise€of€their€legitimate€rights.€€The€report€(CCPR/C/28/Add.15)€statedŠ µį Šthat€Islam€was€the€official€religion€of€Iran.€€Going€back€to€the€example€ofŠ |Ø ŠLatinAmerica,€he€said€that€only€a€very€few€countries€in€that€continent€had€anŠ Co Šofficial€religion.€€However,€even€when€one€existed,€the€law€contained€veryŠ  6 Šclear€provisions€designed€to€prevent€any€discrimination€against€persons€whoŠ Ńż Šdid€not€profess€the€official€religion.€€Iranian€legislation€should€containŠ ˜Ä Šsimilar€provisions.€€As€things€stood,€what€rights€could€be€enjoyed€by€personsŠ _‹ Šwho€were€not€of€the€Islamic€faith?€€The€only€religious€minorities€which€wereŠ &R Šrecognized€were€Zoroastrian,€Jewish€and€Christian€Iranians.€€As€he€understoodŠ ķ Šit,€the€other€religious€minorities€had€no€rights,€which€would€appear€toŠ “ą  Šconstitute€a€flagrant€violation€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€HeŠ {§! Šrecalled€that€the€General€Comment€concerning€article18€of€the€CovenantŠ Bn" Šclearly€embodied€the€right€to€freedom€of€thought,€conscience€and€religion,Š  5# Šimplying€a€person's€freedom€to€have€his€own€beliefs.€€He€would€like€to€knowŠ Š ü$ Šthe€Iranian€authorities'€position€in€that€regard€and€again€strongly€stressedŠ —!Ć% Šthe€need€to€respect€the€rights€of€religious€minorities.Š ^"Š& ŠĢ7.ą b ąWith€regard€to€freedom€of€expression,€paragraph204€of€the€reportŠ ģ#( Š(CCPR/C/28/Add.15)€stated€that€the€press€enjoyed€freedom€of€expression,€exceptŠ ³$ß) Šwhen€it€was€detrimental€to€the€principles€of€Islam.€€That€was€a€very€importantŠ z%¦ * Šrestriction;€to€go€back€to€the€example€of€his€own€country,€he€observed€that€ifŠ A&m!+ Šfreedom€of€expression€were€to€be€restricted€in€Ecuador€in€the€name€of€CatholicŠ '4", Švalues,€everyone€would€consider€the€situation€intolerable.€€Since€Iran€was€aŠ Ļ'ū"- Šparty€to€the€Covenant,€article2€of€the€Covenant€imposed€on€it€the€obligationŠ –(Ā#. Što€adopt€such€legislative€or€other€measures€as€might€be€necessary€to€giveŠ ])‰$/ Šeffect€to€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant.€€The€restriction€he€had€justŠ $*P%0 Šmentioned,€which€was€embodied€in€the€Iranian€Constitution,€was€completelyŠ ė*&1 Šcontrary€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€In€view€of€that€fact,€what€wereŠ ²+Ž&2 Šthe€Iranian€authorities€going€to€do?€€Paragraph204€also€stated€that€theŠ y,„'3 Šfreedom€of€expression€and€dissemination€of€thoughts€in€the€media€must€beŠ @-l(4 Šguaranteed€in€keeping€with€Islamic€criteria€and€the€best€interests€of€theŠ Ō Šcountry.€€The€notion€of€the€"best€interests€of€the€country"€could€be€variouslyŠ ›Ē Šinterpreted€depending€on€regimes,€periods,€etc.,€and€could€therefore€be€aŠ bŽ Šsource€of€arbitrary€action€and€violations€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€Š )U ŠDid€a€citizen€who€considered€that€his€freedom€of€expression€had€beenŠ š Šrestricted€in€the€name€of€the€best€interests€of€the€country€have€any€remedy,Š ·ć Šand€if€so€what€was€it?Š ~ Ŗ ŠĢ8.ą b ąWith€reference€to€freedom€of€assembly,€the€Iranian€ConstitutionŠ  8 Šstipulated€that€parties€and€associations€were€recognized€provided€that€theyŠ Ó ’  Šdid€not€jeopardize€the€principle€of€national€unity€and€the€precepts€of€IslamŠ š Ę  Šin€particular.€€That€again€was€a€restriction€which€was€entirely€incompatibleŠ a   Šwith€the€Covenant.€€It€was€difficult€to€see€in€terms€of€what€principle€ofŠ (T  Šnational€unity€the€authorities€could€restrict€the€right€of€assembly€of€theirŠ ļ  Šcitizens.€€Had€that€provision€been€invoked€to€ban€the€formation€of€a€politicalŠ ¶ā  Šparty,€for€example?Š }©  ŠĢ9.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€Baha'is,€it€was€obvious€that€they€formed€aŠ  7  Šreligious€minority€which€was€apparently€not€recognized€in€Iran.€€In€addition,Š Ņž  Šthey€were€subjected€to€almost€constant€repression.€€He€would€like€to€know€whatŠ ™Å Šjustification€there€was€for€that€attitude€on€the€part€of€the€IranianŠ `Œ Šauthorities.€€Did€the€Baha'is€pose€a€problem€in€the€practice€of€theirŠ 'S Šreligion?€€Were€they€subversive€or€violent?Š ī ŠĢ10.ą b ąWhere€the€right€of€freedom€of€expression€was€concerned,€he€wished€toŠ |Ø Šassociate€himself€with€the€questions€of€other€Committee€members€concerning€theŠ Co Šcase€of€Mr.€SalmanRushdie.€€He€had€recently€read€an€official€statement€by€theŠ  6 ŠIranian€authorities€calling€on€Iranians€to€unite€to€kill€the€apostate€Rushdie.€Š Ńż ŠAn€incitement€of€that€nature€constituted€a€flagrant€violation€of€the€Covenant.€Š ˜Ä ŠMr.Rushdie€had€not€been€tried€by€an€independent,€competent€and€impartialŠ _‹ Šcourt,€and€he€had€not€had€the€right€to€a€fair€trial.€€In€those€circumstances,Š &R Šcould€the€authorities'€statement€really€be€considered€to€conform€to€theŠ ķ ŠCovenant?€€If€the€Iranian€delegation€agreed€that€that€was€not€the€case,€whatŠ “ą  Šdid€it€intend€to€do,€on€its€return€to€Iran,€to€advise€the€Government€on€thatŠ {§! Šissue?€€Would€the€persecution€to€which€Mr.Rushdie€was€being€subjected€cease?€Š Bn" ŠOn€5€April€1992,€an€attack€had€been€carried€out€on€the€headquarters€of€theŠ  5# ŠDemocratic€Party€of€Iranian€Kurdistan.€€That€aggression€also€constituted€aŠ Š ü$ Šflagrant€violation€of€the€Covenant.€€Had€an€investigation€been€initiated€andŠ —!Ć% Šwhat€had€been€the€result?€€He€also€referred€to€a€public€statement€by€theŠ ^"Š& ŠMinister€of€the€Interior€on€30August1992€to€the€effect€that€State€bodies€hadŠ %#Q' Šbeen€infiltrated€by€dissident€political€groups,€but€that€the€latter€had€beenŠ ģ#( Šput€out€of€action.€€How€could€such€a€measure€be€in€conformity€with€theŠ ³$ß) ŠCovenant,€and€in€those€circumstances€how€could€freedom€of€assembly€and€theŠ z%¦ * Šright€to€exercise€political€rights€be€ensured?Š A&m!+ ŠĢ11.ą b ąHe€understood€that€in€Iran€persons€who€had€been€sentenced€for€an€offenceŠ Ļ'ū"- Šcould€by€law€be€deprived€of€their€social€rights.€€He€would€like€to€know€whatŠ –(Ā#. Šrights€were€involved€and€for€how€long.€€Had€that€measure€been€applied€recentlyŠ ])‰$/ Šand€how€often?€€He€would€welcome€statistics€and€specific€information€on€theŠ $*P%0 Šsubject.Š ė*&1 ŠĢ12.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€situation€of€the€Baha'i€community,€he€had€notedŠ y,„'3 Šthat€in€paragraph5€of€the€final€comments€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€SocialŠ @-l(4 Šand€Cultural€Rights€concerning€Iran€(E/C.12/1993/7)€the€Iranian€authoritiesŠ Ō Šhad€not€satisfactorily€answered€a€number€of€questions€concerning€the€situationŠ ›Ē Šof€minority€groups,€particularly€the€Baha'is.€€They€were€subjected€to€flagrantŠ bŽ Šdiscrimination,€particularly€in€the€sphere€of€higher€education.Š )U ŠĢ13.ą b ąLastly,€the€situation€of€women€seemed€to€be€extremely€difficult€in€Iran;Š ·ć Šthey€were€victims€of€many€forms€of€discrimination€and,€in€particular,€were€notŠ ~ Ŗ Šallowed€to€study€a€large€number€of€subjects€at€university.€€He€would€like€toŠ E q Šhear€the€explanations€of€the€Iranian€delegation€on€all€those€aspects€of€aŠ  8 Šsituation€which€revealed€violations€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€aspectsŠ Ó ’  Što€which€other€UnitedNations€bodies€had€already€drawn€the€attention€of€theŠ š Ę  Šinternational€community.Š a   ŠĢ14.ą b ąņņMrs.€EVATTóó€pointed€out€that,€under€article18€of€the€Covenant,€everyŠ ļ  Šperson€had€the€right€to€adopt€a€belief€of€his€choice,€whether€or€not€othersŠ ¶ā  Šregarded€it€as€a€religion.€€The€Iranian€authorities€did€not€recognize€theŠ }©  ŠBaha'i€faith€as€a€religion,€but€that€did€not€absolve€them€from€granting€itsŠ Dp  Šfollowers€the€guarantees€and€protection€to€which€they€were€entitled.€€InŠ  7  Šaddition,€the€Iranian€authorities€had€admitted€that€the€Baha'i€community€hadŠ Ņž  Šfor€several€years€been€the€victim€of€acts€of€violence,€in€particular€theŠ ™Å Šdestruction€of€its€holy€places.€€Had€the€police€attempted€to€prevent€suchŠ `Œ Šacts,€and€had€proceedings€been€initiated€against€the€perpetrators€of€thoseŠ 'S Šacts,€which€were€generally€attributed€to€the€authorities€themselves?€€Had€theŠ ī Špolice€intervened€to€prevent€stone„throwing,€for€example?€€She€would€also€likeŠ µį Što€know€whether€it€was€contrary€to€Iranian€law€to€disinter€bodies€inŠ |Ø Šcemeteries.€€If€that€were€the€case,€had€the€authorities€tried€to€prevent€suchŠ Co Šacts€and€to€arrest€persons€who€had€disinterred€bodies€from€Baha'i€tombs€inŠ  6 Šsome€cemeteries?Š Ńż ŠĢ15.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€implementation€of€article19€of€the€Covenant,€sheŠ _‹ Šunderstood€that€the€law€took€precedence€over€ņņfatwahsóó€in€criminal€proceedings.€Š &R ŠShe€associated€herself€with€the€concern€expressed€by€Mr.PradoVallejo€aboutŠ ķ Šthe€provisions€of€the€Press€Law€and€the€Constitution€as€compared€with€those€ofŠ “ą  Šthe€Covenant.€€In€any€event,€the€Iranian€Constitution€provided€that€pressŠ {§! Šoffences€should€be€heard€in€a€public€trial.€€In€those€circumstances,€was€itŠ Bn" Šthe€case€that€the€Press€Law€took€precedence€over€the€ņņfatwahóó€under€whichŠ  5# ŠMr.Rushdie€had€been€declared€guilty€of€apostasy?€€Was€that€ņņfatwahóó€thereforeŠ Š ü$ Šcontrary€to€the€law?€€Should€it€also€be€understood€that€offences€relating€toŠ —!Ć% Špublications,€like€that€of€which€Mr.Rushdie€was€accused,€were€governed€by€theŠ ^"Š& Šlaw€in€force?€€In€the€light€of€all€those€points,€the€arbitrary€execution€ofŠ %#Q' ŠMr.Rushdie€would€constitute€a€flagrant€violation€of€several€articles€of€theŠ ģ#( ŠCovenant.Š ³$ß) ŠĢ16.ą b ąWith€reference€to€article21€of€the€Covenant,€did€the€Iranian€authoritiesŠ A&m!+ Šguarantee€the€right€of€peaceful€assembly,€and€in€particular€had€they€takenŠ '4", Šsteps€to€ensure€that€women€enjoyed€that€right?€€Women€were€subjected€toŠ Ļ'ū"- Švarious€forms€of€violence,€and€in€particular€harassment€regarding€their€dress.€Š –(Ā#. ŠDid€the€Iranian€authorities€consider€such€harassment€to€be€a€violation€of€theŠ ])‰$/ Šright€of€freedom€of€movement€and€freedom€of€assembly€of€Iranian€women?€€DidŠ $*P%0 ŠIranian€women€have€the€right€to€choose€freely€how€they€dressed€as€long€as€theyŠ ė*&1 Šcomplied€with€the€law?Š ²+Ž&2 Šā āŠ y,„'3 Š17.ą b ąWith€regard€to€freedom€of€association€as€provided€for€in€article22€ofŠ Ō Šā āthe€Covenant,€she€associated€herself€with€the€points€and€questions€raised€byŠ ›Ē ŠMr.PradoVallejo.€€She€would€also€like€to€know€what€precise€criteriaŠ bŽ Šrestricted€freedom€of€association,€and€how€the€restrictive€measures€wereŠ )U Šimplemented.€€Specifically,€was€it€true€that€the€Baha'is€could€not€belong€toŠ š Štrade€unions€and€cooperatives?€€It€also€seemed€that€the€establishment€ofŠ ·ć ŠBaha'i€institutions€had€been€forbidden€under€the€law€on€associations.€€SheŠ ~ Ŗ Šwould€like€to€have€that€information€confirmed€and€stressed€that€such€a€measureŠ E q Šwould€yet€again€be€completely€contrary€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.Š  8 ŠĢ18.ą b ąLastly,€the€Iranian€authorities€had€said€that€under€the€law,€Baha'isŠ š Ę  Šcould€not€hold€government€posts.€€What€was€the€law€in€question€and€how€was€itŠ a   Šcompatible€with€the€Covenant?Š (T  ŠĢ19.ą b ąņņMr.€FODORóó€said€he€wished€to€stress€the€fundamental€point€that€ņņallŠ ¶ā  Šóóindividuals€had€the€right€to€enjoy€freedom€of€thought€and€conscience€in€anyŠ }©  Šcountry.€€As€to€Iran,€it€recognized€Islam,€the€official€religion,€and€certainŠ Dp  ŠIslamic€schools;€from€that€he€gained€the€impression€that€no€other€religion€wasŠ  7  Šrecognized.€€Furthermore,€the€Constitution€referred€to€the€rights€to€beŠ Ņž  Šenjoyed€by€members€of€religious€minorities€other€than€those€recognized,€butŠ ™Å Šthe€nature€of€those€rights€was€not€very€clear.€€They€apparently€did€notŠ `Œ Šinclude€the€right€to€freedom€of€religion€for€persons€who€were€not€followers€ofŠ 'S Šthe€official€religion€or€a€recognized€minority€religion.€€Was€thatŠ ī Šinterpretation€correct?€€That€said,€the€report€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€IranŠ µį Š(CCPR/C/28/Add.15)€contained€no€information€on€the€practical€implementation€ofŠ |Ø Šarticle18€of€the€Covenant.€€He€would€like€to€know€in€particular€whether€everyŠ Co Šindividual€was€free€to€adopt€the€religion€or€belief€of€his€choice,€and€whatŠ  6 Špossible€restrictions€on€that€freedom€were€provided€for€in€Iranian€law?€Š Ńż ŠLastly,€could€parents€freely€choose€the€religious€teaching€received€by€theirŠ ˜Ä Šchildren?Š _‹ ŠĢ20.ą b ąReferring€to€the€statement€in€the€report€about€freedom€of€the€press€and€€€Š ķ Štrials€concerning€political€and€press€offences,€namely€that€"the€manner€of€theŠ “ą  Šselection€of€the€jury,€its€powers,€and€the€definition€of€political€offence,Š {§! Šwill€be€determined€by€the€law€in€accordance€with€Islamic€criteria"Š Bn" Š(para.204),€he€asked€what€those€criteria€were€in€that€context.€€Were€theŠ  5# Šmembers€of€the€jury€required€to€profess€the€official€religion€of€Islam,€or€wasŠ Š ü$ Šsomething€else€involved?€€The€same€question€arose€concerning€freedom€ofŠ —!Ć% Šexpression€and€dissemination€of€ideas€on€radio€and€television,€which€must€beŠ ^"Š& Šguaranteed€in€keeping€with€Islamic€criteria€(para.204€of€the€report).€€WhoŠ %#Q' Šdecided€whether€those€criteria€had€been€respected€or€not,€and€what€level€ofŠ ģ#( Šknowledge€was€needed€for€that€purpose?€€Was€there€prior€censorship€of€radioŠ ³$ß) Šand€television€programmes?Š z%¦ * ŠĢ21.ą b ąParagraph205€of€the€report€dealt€with€the€Press€Law,€which€concerned,€inŠ '4", Šparticular,€the€issuing€of€a€publication€licence€and€press€offences.€€He€wouldŠ Ļ'ū"- Šlike€to€know€what€restrictions€were€imposed€on€freedom€of€the€press,€what€wereŠ –(Ā#. Šthe€various€stages€prior€to€the€issuing€of€a€licence,€and€what€were€pressŠ ])‰$/ Šoffences.€€Where€political€activity€was€concerned,€he€regretted€that€only€aŠ $*P%0 Šsmall€number€of€political€groups€were€permitted€to€take€part.€€He€would€likeŠ ė*&1 Što€know€why€those€groups€were€so€few€in€number€and€whether€that€was€compatibleŠ ²+Ž&2 Šwith€the€Covenant.Š y,„'3 ŠŠ @-l(4 Š22.ą b ąTurning€to€article27€of€the€Covenant€and€the€rights€of€minorities,€heŠ Ō Šobserved€that€there€were€not€only€religious€minorities€but€also€ethnic,Š ›Ē Šlinguistic€and€other€minorities;€the€report€did€not€mention€them,€however.€Š bŽ ŠSecondly,€the€existence€of€minorities€did€not€depend€on€whether€the€StateŠ )U Šparty€recognized€them€or€not;€minorities€existed,€whether€or€not€they€wereŠ š Šrecognized€as€such€by€the€State.€€According€to€the€report€and€the€IranianŠ ·ć Šdelegation,€all€individuals€had€equal€rights€in€Iran,€regardless€of€theŠ ~ Ŗ Šreligious€minority€to€which€they€belonged.€€Even€if€that€provision€constitutedŠ E q Ša€valid€response€in€respect€of€the€implementation€of€article26€of€theŠ  8 ŠCovenant,€where€article27€was€concerned€the€important€point€was€to€knowŠ Ó ’  Šwhether,€given€the€disadvantaged€status€of€certain€minority€groups,€the€StateŠ š Ę  Šparty€was€prepared€to€take€specific€measures€to€protect€the€rights€of€suchŠ a   Šgroups€as€recognized€in€article27.Š (T  ŠĢ23.ą b ąņņMrs.€HIGGINSóó€said€she€wished€to€comment€and€ask€questionsŠ ¶ā  Šonarticles18,19,€20€and25€of€the€Covenant.€€Referring€to€article18,€sheŠ }©  Šnoted€that€the€Iranian€Constitution€granted€privileges€to€the€three€so-calledŠ Dp  Šreligions€of€the€Book€(para.5€of€the€report)€and€observed€that,€from€theŠ  7  ŠCommittee's€point€of€view,€freedom€of€religion€was€not€a€privilege€but€aŠ Ņž  Šright,€inherent€in€every€individual,€to€hold€and€practise€a€belief€or€toŠ ™Å Šrefuse€to€do€so.€€It€was€not€incumbent€on€the€State€to€grant€that€right,€sinceŠ `Œ Šit€devolved€on€the€individual,€and€it€was€not€incumbent€on€the€State€to€decideŠ 'S Šwhat€religions€were€to€be€respected€or€which€were€the€true€religions.Š ī ŠĢ24.ą b ąHer€sources€of€information,€which€included€the€report€ofŠ |Ø ŠMr.GalindoPohl,€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€Human€RightsŠ Co Š(E/CN.4/1993/41),€all€led€her€to€the€same€conclusion:€€that€where€religiousŠ  6 Šfreedom€was€concerned,€the€Baha'is€were€targeted€in€particular€by€measuresŠ Ńż Štaken€against€them€in€the€name€of€the€Penal€Code,€as€if€the€fact€of€being€aŠ ˜Ä Šfollower€of€the€Baha'i€faith€was€a€criminal€act.€€The€Iranian€representativeŠ _‹ Šhad,€however,€stated€that€each€religion€could€comprise€its€own€beliefs€andŠ &R Šthat€no€one€would€be€prosecuted€except€for€acts€contrary€to€the€law.€€However,Š ķ Šif€the€very€fact€of€having€a€certain€belief€was€contrary€to€the€law,€orŠ “ą  Šreligious€law,€how€could€that€be€compatible€with€the€Covenant?€€A€circular€ofŠ {§! Šthe€Supreme€Council€of€the€Revolution€set€out€the€major€characteristics€of€theŠ Bn" Špolicy€implemented€by€the€Iranian€Administration€ņņvis„„visóó€the€Baha'is:€€theyŠ  5# Šwere€denied€the€right€to€practise€their€religion€and€were€prosecuted€onŠ Š ü$ Šaccount€of€their€beliefs;€they€were€refused€the€right€to€exercise€their€civilŠ —!Ć% Šand€political€rights;€they€could€enrol€their€children€in€school€only€if€theyŠ ^"Š& Šdid€not€declare€their€religion;€they€were€required€to€be€expelled€fromŠ %#Q' Šuniversity€if€discovered€and,€according€to€the€circular,€a€plan€was€to€beŠ ģ#( Šprepared€to€destroy€their€cultural€roots€outside€the€country.€€A€Baha'iŠ ³$ß) Šapplying€for€a€job€would€be€rejected€if€he€stated€his€religion.€€Obviously,Š z%¦ * Šall€that€was€contrary€to€the€Covenant.Š A&m!+ ŠĢ25.ą b ąOn€article19€of€the€Covenant€and€the€right€to€freedom€of€expression,€sheŠ Ļ'ū"- Šagain€referred€to€the€case€of€SalmanRushdie,€which€had€been€raised€at€theŠ –(Ā#. Šprevious€session€in€the€context€of€the€right€to€life.€€It€was€true€thatŠ ])‰$/ Šarticle19,€paragraph3,€provided€that€the€right€to€freedom€of€expression€wasŠ $*P%0 Šliable€to€certain€restrictions,€but€only€such€as€were€expressly€provided€forŠ ė*&1 Šby€law€and€were€necessary€for€respect€for€the€rights€or€reputation€of€others.€Š ²+Ž&2 ŠSuch€restrictions,€however,€were€authorized€and€not€mandatory€restrictions.€Š y,„'3 ŠThe€only€obligations€concerning€restriction€of€freedom€of€expression€were€setŠ @-l(4 Šout€in€article20.€€Moreover,€it€was€incumbent€on€each€country,€individually,Š Ō Što€decide€whether€to€apply€the€restrictions€authorized€by€article19.€€If€IranŠ ›Ē Šconsidered€that€Mr.Rushdie's€book€should€be€banned,€and€that€it€should€beŠ bŽ Šbanned€in€the€context€of€the€restrictions€provided€for€in€article18€underŠ )U Šfreedom€of€religion,€it€should€undertake€legal€proceedings€to€secure€such€aŠ š Šban.€€To€have€ordered€the€death€of€the€author€of€the€book€was€unacceptable.Š ·ć ŠĢ26.ą b ąThose€considerations€prompted€her€to€speak€about€the€links€between€theŠ E q Šņņfatwahóó€and€what€could€be€called€the€normal€legal€order€in€Iran.€€The€IranianŠ  8 Šdelegation€itself€had€stressed€that€the€divine€decree€or€ņņfatwahóó€was€neither€aŠ Ó ’  Šjudicial€decision€nor€a€measure€intended€to€fill€a€gap€in€legislation,€butŠ š Ę  Šthat€the€whole€matter€had€occurred€in€the€religious€context,€which€was€a€wayŠ a   Šof€enabling€the€Iranian€authorities€to€distance€themselves€from€the€affair.€Š (T  ŠThe€question€which€then€arose€was€where€the€responsibility€of€the€State€layŠ ļ  Šand€ņņwho€would€answeróó€the€Committee's€questions€on€behalf€of€Iran€in€thatŠ ¶ā  Šaffair?€€Could€the€State€party€really€dissociate€itself€from€the€wholeŠ }©  Šquestion?Š Dp  ŠĢ27.ą b ąIt€was€true€that€the€Rushdie€affair€was€just€one€example€of€a€generalŠ Ņž  Šattitude€on€the€part€of€the€Iranian€authorities€ņņvis--visóó€freedom€of€opinionŠ ™Å Šand€expression,€and€that€one€should€not€lose€sight€of€the€difficultiesŠ `Œ Šexperienced€by€those€living€in€the€country,€where€fear€also€led€to€a€certainŠ 'S Šamount€of€censorship€and€where€a€terror€of€being€declared€an€apostateŠ ī Šcertainly€existed,€since€that€entailed€the€loss€of€all€rights.€€On€the€subjectŠ µį Šof€freedom€of€expression,€she€wondered€whether€it€was€necessary€to€declareŠ |Ø Štypewriters,€photocopiers,€fax€machines€and€radio€sets€to€the€authorities,Š Co Šand,€if€so,€whether€that€was€compatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant?€€Š  6 ŠĢ28.ą b ąShe€went€on€to€comment€on€the€subject€of€articles22€and€25,€referring€inŠ ˜Ä Šparticular€to€what€the€Iranian€representative€had€said€about€article16€of€theŠ _‹ Šact€relating€to€the€activities€of€political€parties.€€He€had€said€that€partiesŠ &R Šas€normally€understood€in€the€West€existed€in€Iran,€but€political€activity€wasŠ ķ Šonly€permitted€subject€to€certain€restrictions,€which€covered€contacts€withŠ “ą  Šforeign€ambassadors€and€defamatory€statements€against€the€State.€€In€herŠ {§! Šopinion,€those€two€restrictions€in€particular€were€not€justified€in€the€lightŠ Bn" Šof€the€Covenant.€Š  5# ŠĢ29.ą b ąņņMr.€WENNERGRENóó€associated€himself€with€the€remarks€made€by€the€otherŠ —!Ć% Šmembers€of€the€Committee€on€the€fate€of€the€Baha'is€in€Iran.€€He€wished€toŠ ^"Š& Šrefer€to€religious€freedom€in€connection€with€paragraph198€of€the€report,Š %#Q' Šwhich€stated€that€the€Government€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€and€MuslimsŠ ģ#( Šwere€duty-bound€to€treat€non„Muslims€in€conformity€with€ethical€norms€and€theŠ ³$ß) Šprinciples€of€Islamic€justice€and€equity,€and€to€respect€the€fundamental€humanŠ z%¦ * Šrights€of€all€those€who€refrained€from€engaging€in€conspiracy€or€activitiesŠ A&m!+ Šagainst€Islam€and€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran.€€He€noted€that€human€rightsŠ '4", Šwere€mentioned€after€the€principles€of€justice€and€equity.Š Ļ'ū"- ŠĢ30.ą b ąIn€the€same€context,€he€noted€in€paragraph200€that€prisoners€who€wereŠ ])‰$/ Šadherents€of€an€official€religion€had€the€rights€associated€with€freedom€ofŠ $*P%0 Šreligion€for€performing€their€religious€duties.€€Assuming€that€the€threeŠ ė*&1 Šso-called€religions€of€the€Book€recognized€in€Iran€received€the€same€treatmentŠ ²+Ž&2 Šas€the€official€religions,€he€concluded€that€a€Hindu€prisoner,€for€example,Š y,„'3 Šwould€not€be€permitted€to€perform€his€religious€duties€while€imprisoned€in€hisŠ @-l(4 Šcell.€€Article18,€paragraph3,€of€the€Covenant€admittedly€authorizedŠ Ō Šlimitations€of€the€freedom€to€express€one's€religion€when€they€were€necessaryŠ ›Ē Što€protect€public€safety,€order€and€health,€or€the€morals€or€fundamentalŠ bŽ Šrights€and€freedoms€of€others.€€Could€a€prisoner€really€be€a€threat€to€publicŠ )U Šhealth,€security€or€morals€when€he€was€performing€his€religious€duties€in€hisŠ š Šcell?€€What€reasons€lay€behind€the€restrictions€on€that€right?Š ·ć ŠĢ31.ą b ąHe€would€like€additional€information€on€the€subject€of€the€restrictionsŠ E q Šimposed€on€certain€Christians€and€on€Zoroastrians€in€1992.€€What€reasons€hadŠ  8 Šgiven€rise€to€the€prohibition€of€an€Iranian€Bible€Society€and€how€was€thatŠ Ó ’  Šprohibition€compatible€with€article18€of€the€Covenant?Š š Ę  ŠĢ32.ą b ąIt€seemed€that€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€was€causing€problemsŠ (T  Šfor€Iran,€which€very€frequently€invoked€the€argument€that€the€Covenant€was€inŠ ļ  Šconflict€with€the€precepts€of€Islam.€€It€would€be€interesting€to€know€whatŠ ¶ā  Šprecepts€of€Islamic€law€were€in€conflict€with€the€Covenant.€€Very€recently,€atŠ }©  Šthe€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€in€Vienna,€the€Organization€of€theŠ Dp  ŠIslamic€Conference€had€submitted€a€document€entitled€"Cairo€Declaration€onŠ  7  ŠHuman€Rights€in€Islam".€€That€Declaration€did€not€set€forth€freedom€ofŠ Ņž  Šreligion.€€Indeed,€according€to€its€article10,€it€was€forbidden€to€exerciseŠ ™Å Šany€constraint€on€the€individual€or€exploit€his€poverty€or€ignorance€in€orderŠ `Œ Što€convert€him€to€another€religion€or€to€atheism,€and€according€to€article22,Š 'S Ševery€individual€had€the€right€freely€to€express€his€opinions€in€a€mannerŠ ī Šwhich€was€not€at€variance€with€the€principles€of€the€shariah.€€That€articleŠ µį Šimposed€considerable€restriction€on€freedom€of€expression.€€According€toŠ |Ø Šarticle24,€all€the€rights€and€freedoms€set€out€in€the€Declaration€wereŠ Co Šsubject€to€the€Islamic€shariah.€€In€other€words,€shariah€was€the€supremeŠ  6 Šstandard,€and€took€precedence€over€all€international€treaties€or€instruments,Š Ńż Šand€even€over€the€Iranian€Constitution.Š ˜Ä ŠĢ33.ą b ąThe€predominance€of€the€shariah€must€cause€problems€for€a€State€party€€Š &R Šwhich€had€signed€and€ratified€the€Covenant€without€entering€any€reservation,Š ķ Šas€was€the€case€with€Iran.€€In€fact,€the€impression€given€by€the€IranianŠ “ą  Šdelegation€was€that€the€State€party€actually€had€mental€reservations€about€theŠ {§! Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant,€since€it€seemed€to€find€it€normal€to€imposeŠ Bn" Šrestrictions€or€to€fail€to€enforce€certain€rights€if€the€shariah€so€required.€Š  5# ŠHe€would€like€to€know€whether€Iran€supported€the€Cairo€Declaration€on€HumanŠ Š ü$ ŠRights€in€Islam,€which€imposed€considerable€restrictions€ņņvis„„visóó€theŠ —!Ć% ŠCovenant.€€In€any€case,€it€would€be€materially€impossible€for€a€State€partyŠ ^"Š& Šwhich€gave€priority€to€the€principles€set€out€in€the€Cairo€Declaration€toŠ %#Q' Šimplement€the€Covenant€to€the€full.Š ģ#( ŠĢ34.ą b ąņņMr.€FRANCISóó€said€he€wished€to€speak€about€the€rights€set€out€inŠ z%¦ * Šarticles18€and€19€of€the€Covenant,€with€particular€reference€to€the€fate€ofŠ A&m!+ Šthe€Baha'is.€€In€signing€and€ratifying€the€Covenant€without€reservation,€IranŠ '4", Šhad€bound€itself€to€comply€with€its€provisions.€€The€case€of€a€man€arrested€onŠ Ļ'ū"- Š17€March€1992€and€executed€in€prison€next€day€clearly€illustrated€the€absenceŠ –(Ā#. Šof€any€guarantee€of€a€fair€trial€for€the€Baha'is€in€Iran.€€The€fact€that€theyŠ ])‰$/ Šlost€their€jobs,€and€the€allegations€of€profanation€of€Baha'i€cemeteries,ifŠ $*P%0 Šthey€were€true,€showed€that€the€Iranian€State€and€the€Baha'i€communityŠ ė*&1 Šurgently€needed€to€find€means€of€coming€to€terms.€€For€his€part,€he€hopedŠ ²+Ž&2 Šthat,€when€they€returned€to€their€country,€the€members€of€the€IranianŠ y,„'3 Šdelegation€would€be€able€to€use€their€good€offices€in€order€to€persuade€the€Š @-l(4 ŠIranian€authorities€to€conform€to€the€principles€set€out€in€articles€18€and€19Š Ō Šof€the€Covenant,€in€the€interests€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€itself.Š ›Ē ŠĢ35.ą b ąņņMs.€CHANETóó€thanked€the€Iranian€delegation€for€replying€to€the€questionsŠ )U Šshe€had€asked€at€the€spring€session.€€She€associated€herself€with€theŠ š Šquestions€asked€by€other€members€of€the€Committee€as€to€whether€the€treatmentŠ ·ć Šof€Salman€Rushdie€was€compatible€with€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€and€whetherŠ ~ Ŗ Šthe€way€the€Baha'is€were€treated€was€also€compatible€with€that€article.€€SheŠ E q Šhad€a€final€question€which€also€concerned€freedom€of€religion€and€expression.€Š  8 ŠAccording€to€reports€from€humanitarian€organizations€in€the€field,€IranianŠ Ó ’  ŠKurdish€villages€situated€in€the€zone€near€the€Iraqi€frontier€had€allegedlyŠ š Ę  Šbeen€bombed€and€seven€people€killed.€€Could€the€Iranian€delegation€give€someŠ a   Šinformation€on€those€events,€which€had€received€wide€press„agency€coverage?Š (T  ŠĢ36.ą b ąņņMr.€SADIóó€stressed€that€dialogue€with€the€Islamic€Republic€of€IranŠ ¶ā  Šsometimes€gave€the€impression€that€it€was€Islam€itself€which€was€under€review.€Š }©  ŠThe€elaboration€of€the€Covenant€had€taken€place€with€the€direct€support€andŠ Dp  Šparticipation€of€the€Islamic€world.€€He€was€accordingly€among€those€whoŠ  7  Šcategorically€rejected€any€argument€that€there€was€an€inherent€contradictionŠ Ņž  Šbetween€Islam€and€the€Covenant.Š ™Å ŠĢ37.ą b ąThe€paragraphs€of€the€report€concerning€articles€18€to€20€of€the€CovenantŠ 'S Šconstantly€referred€to€"Islamic€criteria",€a€concept€which€was€open€to€allŠ ī Škinds€of€interpretations.€€One€of€the€essential€principles€of€Islam€was€theŠ µį Šneed€to€continue€to€interpret€its€precepts,€and€no€one€on€the€Committee€wasŠ |Ø Šsufficiently€enlightened€on€that€score€to€be€able€to€do€so.€€And€so€atŠ Co Šleastthe€Iranian€interpretation€of€those€criteria€needed€to€be€known.€Š  6 ŠParagraph204€of€the€report,€for€example,€stated€with€reference€to€the€trialŠ Ńż Šof€press€offences,€that€"the€manner€of€the€selection€of€the€jury,€itsŠ ˜Ä Špowers...€will€be€determined€by€law€in€accordance€with€Islamic€criteria",Š _‹ Šwithout€specifying€the€nature€and€content€of€the€law.Š &R ŠĢ38.ą b ąIn€conclusion,€he€stressed€once€again€that€Islam€was€a€tolerant,Š “ą  Šprogressive€and€enlightened€religion,€which€encouraged€true€democracy.Š {§! ŠĢ39.ą b ąņņMr.€MEHRPOURóó€(Islamic€Republic€of€Iran)€thanked€the€members€of€theŠ  5# ŠCommittee€for€the€attention€they€had€given€to€the€report€and€his€explanations.€Š Š ü$ ŠHe€would€group€the€questions,€which€all€more€or€less€concerned€the€sameŠ —!Ć% Šsubjects.€€First€of€all,€he€noted€with€regret€that€it€was€obviously€difficultŠ ^"Š& Što€convey€a€precise€message,€because€of€interpretation€or€perhaps€differencesŠ %#Q' Šin€ways€of€expressing€matters.€€When€he€had€heard€certain€questions€andŠ ģ#( Šcomments€and€the€examples€cited€to€illustrate€exceptions,€he€had€realized€thatŠ ³$ß) Šhe€actually€shared€the€viewpoint€of€the€members,€which€showed€that€he€had€notŠ z%¦ * Šbeen€successful€in€conveying€what€he€had€really€wanted€to€say.Š A&m!+ ŠĢ40.ą b ąWhere€freedom€of€religion€was€concerned,€several€members€had€expressedŠ Ļ'ū"- Šsurprise€that€there€were€only€three€recognized€religions.€€Of€course,€theŠ –(Ā#. Špractice€of€a€religion€was€a€matter€of€free€choice€on€the€part€of€theŠ ])‰$/ Šindividual€and€no€person€could€force€another€person€to€accept€a€particularŠ $*P%0 Šfaith;€conversely,€no€one€could€be€punished€because€of€his€religion€orŠ ė*&1 Šsubjected€to€torture€for€that€reason.€€Those€principles€were€guaranteed€in€theŠ ²+Ž&2 ŠConstitution€and€applied€irrespective€of€the€religion€concerned.€€The€writingsŠ y,„'3 Šof€the€prophets€gave€guidance€and€advice,€but€they€could€not€be€imposed€onŠ @-l(4 Šanyone.€€Where€the€recognition€of€a€religion€was€concerned,€it€was€not€forŠ Ō ŠGovernments€to€decree€that€a€particular€religion€was€the€right€one€and€anotherŠ ›Ē Šwas€not.€€The€three€religions€recognized€in€Iran€(Zoroastrianism,€Judaism€andŠ bŽ ŠChristianity)€were€expressly€mentioned€in€the€Koran,€and€that€was€why€theyŠ )U Šwere€"recognized".€€The€Iranian€Government€was€not€required€to€recognizeŠ š Šothers.€€The€important€point€was€to€know€what€were€the€effects€of€theŠ ·ć Šrecognition€or€non„recognition€of€a€religion€for€its€followers.€€In€theŠ ~ Ŗ ŠIslamic€Republic€of€Iran€no€distinction€was€made€between€the€recognizedŠ E q Šreligions€and€others,€and€the€rights€of€all€individuals€to€pray€and€worshipŠ  8 Šwere€respected.€€The€consequences€of€recognition,€which€some€might€callŠ Ó ’  Š"concessions"€or€"privileges",€were€simply€that,€in€matters€of€personal€statusŠ š Ę  Šand€inheritance,€marriage€and€divorce,€the€social€rules€of€the€religionŠ a   Šprofessed€by€the€individual€were€applicable;€in€the€event€of€conflict,€IranianŠ (T  Šjudges€referred€to€the€relevant€codes€or€sought€the€opinion€of€the€leaders€ofŠ ļ  Šthe€religion€in€question.Š ¶ā  ŠĢ41.ą b ąSpecifically€with€regard€to€ceremonies,€the€State€made€no€distinctions,Š Dp  Šand€never€intervened.€€The€only€restriction,€which€was€perfectly€compatibleŠ  7  Šwith€article€18,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant,€concerned€the€risk€of€a€breachŠ Ņž  Šof€public€order€or€morals.€€His€delegation€had€been€surprised€to€hear€thatŠ ™Å ŠChristian€and€Zoroastrian€ceremonies€were€prohibited€in€the€Islamic€RepublicŠ `Œ Šof€Iran.€€Not€only€was€that€untrue,€but€religious€events€and€ceremonies€wereŠ 'S Štelevised.€€Freedom€with€regard€to€ceremonies€and€worship€had€been€amplyŠ ī Šdemonstrated€by€an€article€which€had€appeared€in€ņņLa€Suisseóó€on€11€July€1993,€inŠ µį Šwhich€the€author€reported€that€he€had€taken€part€in€Zoroastrian€festivities€inŠ |Ø Šthe€old€town€of€Yaz.€€The€ceremonies€of€the€Baha'is€were€perhaps€notŠ Co Štelevised,€but€in€their€own€communities€they€were€able€to€practise€their€ritesŠ  6 Šin€complete€freedom.€€The€situation€of€the€Baha'is€in€other€respects€wasŠ Ńż Šsomewhat€special€since€in€the€past€that€community€had€had€possessions€in€theŠ ˜Ä ŠIslamic€Republic€of€Iran.€€The€Baha'i€centre€was€now€in€Israel.€€The€onlyŠ _‹ Šproblems€encountered€related€to€public€order€since,€because€of€the€sensitivityŠ &R Šof€the€population,€there€could€be€some€difficulties,€provision€for€which€wasŠ ķ Šhowever€made€in€the€context€of€the€limitations€permitted€by€article€18,Š “ą  Šparagraph3,€of€the€Covenant.Š {§! ŠĢ42.ą b ąAll€members€of€all€religions€were€subject€to€the€law.€€Any€individual€whoŠ  5# Šcommitted€an€offence,€whether€he€was€a€Muslim,€a€Baha'i€or€of€any€other€faith,Š Š ü$ Šwas€liable€to€the€law€and€punishable€accordingly.Š —!Ć% ŠĢ43.ą b ąWhere€the€press€was€concerned,€one€member€of€the€Committee€had€consideredŠ %#Q' Šthat€the€Ministry€of€Islamic€Guidance€(see€para.€206€of€the€report)€hadŠ ģ#( Šimproperly€interfered€in€the€formation€of€the€jury€called€upon€to€hear€pressŠ ³$ß) Šoffences.€€Under€article€24€of€the€Constitution€and€article€3€of€the€PressŠ z%¦ * ŠLaw,€every€individual€was€free€to€make€his€opinions€known€in€writing.€€TheŠ A&m!+ Šauthorities€were€forbidden€to€impede€the€publication€of€any€written€text€orŠ '4", Šimpose€censorship.€€However,€fully€in€accordance€with€the€Covenant,€certainŠ Ļ'ū"- Šrestrictions€existed,€as€had€already€been€mentioned.€€The€group€responsibleŠ –(Ā#. Šfor€considering€applications€for€a€publication€permit€comprised€a€judge€of€theŠ ])‰$/ ŠSupreme€Court€who€must€have€held€office€for€more€than€30€years,€aŠ $*P%0 Šrepresentative€of€the€Ministry€of€Islamic€Guidance,€a€representative€of€Š  ė*&1 ŠParliament€selected€by€Parliament€itself,€a€university€professor€and€aŠ Ō Šnewspaper€editor€selected€by€his€peers.€€The€decisions€were€taken€by€absoluteŠ ›Ē Šmajority€and€the€fact€that€only€one€representative€of€the€Ministry€of€IslamicŠ bŽ ŠGuidance€was€present€proved€that€the€Government€did€not€interfere.€€The€juryŠ )U Šset€up€to€judge€press€offences€comprised€seven€members€and€seven€alternatesŠ š Šfrom€various€sectors€of€society.€€The€Ministry€of€Islamic€Guidance€restrictedŠ ·ć Šitself€to€inviting€eligible€jurors€to€a€meeting€in€which€the€president€of€theŠ ~ Ŗ Šcourt€of€each€province€took€part;€once€appointed,€the€jurors€took€part€in€allŠ E q Štrials€concerning€press€offences€and€determined€whether€or€not€the€Press€LawŠ  8 Šhad€been€infringed.Š Ó ’  ŠĢ44.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€conviction€of€a€cartoonist€who€had€depicted€theŠ a   ŠAyatollah€Khomeini€as€a€footballer,€it€should€be€understood€that€that€hadŠ (T  Šconstituted€an€outrage€which€had€caused€feelings€to€run€high€in€IranianŠ ļ  Šsociety.€€Caricaturing€a€political€personality€could€not€be€compared€withŠ ¶ā  Šinsulting€a€religious€dignitary;€for€Iranians,€the€outrage€had€beenŠ }©  Šintolerable.€€The€cartoonist€had€been€duly€tried€for€an€offence€under€theŠ Dp  ŠPress€Law€and€had€received€a€prison€sentence,€albeit€a€short€one.€€TheŠ  7  Šeditor-in-chief€of€the€newspaper€concerned€had€been€acquitted.€€Under€theŠ Ņž  ŠPress€Law,€an€offence€had€been€committed€and€the€law€had€been€applied€inŠ ™Å Šaccordance€with€the€principles€of€democracy€and€freedom.Š `Œ ŠĢ45.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€freedoms€of€opinion€and€expression,€it€should€beŠ ī Šstressed€that€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€conformed€strictly€to€theŠ µį Šprovisions€of€article€19,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant,€whereby€the€exerciseŠ |Ø Šof€those€freedoms€was€subject€to€certain€restrictions€necessary€"for€respectŠ Co Šof€the€rights€or€reputations€of€others"€and€"for€the€protection€of€nationalŠ  6 Šsecurity€or€of€public€order€(ņņordre€publicóó),€or€of€public€health€or€morals".€Š Ńż ŠSimilarly,€the€provisions€of€the€Iranian€Constitution€conformed€fully€to€thoseŠ ˜Ä Šof€article€20€of€the€Covenant€with€reference€to€"any€advocacy€of€national,Š _‹ Šracial€or€religious€hatred€that€constitutes€incitement€to€discrimination,Š &R Šhostility€or€violence".€€The€Islamic€decrees€thus€imposed€restrictions€on€theŠ ķ Šexercise€of€those€freedoms€only€in€the€interests€of€maintaining€socialŠ “ą  Šcohesion.€€The€Salman€Rushdie€affair,€which€had€assumed€worldwide€proportions,Š {§! Šhad€been€mentioned€frequently€by€members€of€the€Committee,€and€the€IranianŠ Bn" Šdelegation€had€done€everything€in€its€power€to€give€the€necessaryŠ  5# Šclarification,€particularly€at€the€Committee's€forty„seventh€session.€€It€wasŠ Š ü$ Šnecessary€only€to€recall€once€again€that,€according€to€article€2,€paragraph2,Š —!Ć% Šof€the€Covenant,€each€State€party€undertook€to€take€the€necessary€steps,€"inŠ ^"Š& Šaccordance€with€its€constitutional€processes",€to€give€effect€to€the€rightsŠ %#Q' Šrecognized€in€the€Covenant,€while,€according€to€article€40€of€the€Covenant,Š ģ#( Šthe€Committee€was€required€to€study€the€reports€submitted€by€States€parties.€Š ³$ß) ŠIt€therefore€appeared€quite€clear€that€the€Committee€should€restrict€itself€toŠ z%¦ * Šconsidering€the€reports€of€State€parties€and€that€a€matter€like€theŠ A&m!+ ŠSalmanRushdie€affair€and€the€Islamic€decree€concerning€him€as€an€IranianŠ '4", Šnational€issued€by€the€Iranian€authorities€certainly€did€not€come€within€itsŠ Ļ'ū"- Šcompetence.€€It€should,€however,€be€made€clear€that€Salman€Rushdie€hadŠ –(Ā#. Šmanifestly€exceeded€the€bounds€of€freedom€of€expression€as€conceived€by€theŠ ])‰$/ ŠIslamic€order€and€Muslim€society.Š $*P%0 ŠŠ  ė*&1 Š46.ą b ąMr.€Bruni€Celli€had€asked€whether€the€Iranian€courts€had€really€fulfilledŠ Ō Štheir€responsibilities€in€terms€of€compliance€with€the€rule€of€law.€€HeŠ ›Ē Š(Mr.Mehrpour)€said€that€all€Iranian€judicial€bodies€endeavoured€to€ensureŠ bŽ Šthat€the€accused€enjoyed€all€guarantees€relating€to€the€rights€of€defence,Š )U Šnamely,€the€right€to€be€represented€by€counsel€and€the€right€to€appeal€againstŠ š Šan€unfavourable€judgement.€€It€was€nevertheless€possible€that,€as€in€any€otherŠ ·ć Šcountry,€there€had€been€a€few€irregularities,€but€it€would€be€unfair€to€drawŠ ~ Ŗ Šgeneral€conclusions€on€the€basis€of€a€few€isolated€cases€or€to€make€use€ofŠ E q Šinformation€which€was€not€necessarily€accurate.€€Very€precise€figures€existedŠ  8 Šon€the€administration€of€justice€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran;€over€theŠ Ó ’  Špast€two€years,€out€of€30,453€cases€of€appeal€to€the€Supreme€Court€in€Tehran,Š š Ę  Š10,470€judgements€had€been€rescinded.Š a   ŠĢ47.ą b ąWith€reference€to€freedom€of€association,€assembly€and€peacefulŠ ļ  Šdemonstration,€the€restrictions€imposed€by€the€Iranian€Constitution€andŠ ¶ā  Šlegislation€were€in€all€respects€similar€to€those€provided€for€in€article€21Š }©  Šof€the€Covenant.Š Dp  ŠĢ48.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€question€raised€by€Mrs.€Evatt€about€cemeteriesŠ Ņž  Šwhere€Baha'is€were€buried,€he€said€that€the€authorities€of€the€municipality€ofŠ ™Å ŠTehran€had€reported€that€the€purpose€of€the€measures€taken€had€been€not€toŠ `Œ Šdestroy€graves,€but€to€create€green€spaces€in€the€vicinity,€as€was€customaryŠ 'S Šin€all€cemeteries.Š ī ŠĢ49.ą b ąWomen€enjoyed€complete€freedom€of€association€and€participation€in€theŠ |Ø Šsocial€and€cultural€life€of€the€country.€€A€number€of€legal€instruments€hadŠ Co Šbeen€amended€so€as€to€improve€the€situation€of€Iranian€woman.€€In€particular,Š  6 Šthe€law€on€divorce€had€been€amended,€so€that€henceforth€divorce€was€notŠ Ńż Šgranted€simply€at€the€husband's€request,€but€as€the€result€of€a€court€decisionŠ ˜Ä Šfollowing€properly€conducted€proceedings.€€An€office€of€women's€affairs€hadŠ _‹ Šalso€been€set€up€to€advise€the€Office€of€the€President€on€questions€concerningŠ &R Šwomen,€and€research€and€studies€had€been€undertaken€with€a€view€to€theŠ ķ Šsubmission€to€Parliament€of€a€bill€providing€for€a€number€of€measures€toŠ “ą  Špromote€the€situation€of€women.Š {§! ŠĢ50.ą b ąWith€reference€to€the€question€of€minorities€raised€by€Mr.€Fodor,€itŠ  5# Šshould€be€stressed€that€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€the€notion€of€anŠ Š ü$ Šethnic,€religious€or€linguistic€minority€was€not€considered€in€the€same€lightŠ —!Ć% Šas€in€most€Western€countries.€€The€Iranian€Constitution€and€law€made€noŠ ^"Š& Šdistinction€on€the€basis€of€national€origin€or€religious€affiliation€among€theŠ %#Q' Špopulation€groups€which€made€up€the€Iranian€nation,€groups€which€in€fullŠ ģ#( Šequality€enjoyed€the€recognized€rights€of€all€individuals€living€on€theŠ ³$ß) Šnation's€territory.€€However,€members€of€"minorities",€such€as€the€Turks€orŠ z%¦ * Šthe€Kurds,€were€entirely€free€to€speak€their€own€language€and€to€publish€theirŠ A&m!+ Šown€newspapers,€for€example.€€In€practice,€a€large€number€of€senior€posts€wereŠ '4", Šoccupied€by€persons€of€Turkish€or€Kurdish€origin,€and€all€citizens,€regardlessŠ Ļ'ū"- Šof€their€origin,€had€the€same€rights€and€obligations.€€In€that€respect,€theŠ –(Ā#. Šviolence€which€certain€persons€of€Kurdish€origin€had€allegedly€suffered,€inŠ ])‰$/ Šthe€circumstances€alluded€to€by€Ms.€Chanet,€was€in€no€way€the€responsibilityŠ $*P%0 Šof€the€Iranian€Government,€but€was€probably€due€to€the€hostilities€pursued€byŠ ė*&1 ŠTurkey€or€Iraq.Š ²+Ž&2 Šā āŠ y,„'3 Š51.ą b ąMr.€Wennergren€had€asked€how€non„Muslim€prisoners€were€treated.€€PrisonŠ Ō Šā āregulations€provided€that€all€prisoners€were€free€to€practise€the€rites€of€theŠ ›Ē Šreligion€to€which€they€belonged,€either€individually€or€collectively.€€In€thatŠ bŽ Šrespect,€no€discrimination€on€grounds€of€religion€was€practised€againstŠ )U Šprisoners.€€Lastly,€in€accordance€with€the€national€Constitution€and€IslamicŠ š Šlaw,€magistrates€were€required€to€be€Iranian€citizens€and€were€appointed€inŠ ·ć Šthe€light€of€their€professional€competence,€their€integrity€and€their€fidelityŠ ~ Ŗ Što€the€precepts€of€Islam.Š E q ŠĢ52.ą b ąņņThe€CHAIRMANóó€thanked€the€Iranian€delegation€for€a€first€series€of€repliesŠ Ó ’  Što€most€of€the€questions€put€by€members€of€the€Committee.Š š Ę  ŠĢĢą@éé&“ąņņThe€meeting€rose€at€1.05€p.m.óóˆŠ ļ  ŠĢ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€