The Islamic Republic’s parliament (Majles) has drafted a double emergency motion to declare general amnesty and judicial immunity for diaspora Iranians.
Meanwhile, the motion has also called for restricting death penalty across the country.
The motion, signed by more than seventy MPs, has been delivered to the parliament’s board of directors, a member of Majles Judicial and Legal Commission, Mohammad Javad Fat’hee told E’timad Online pro-reform website on Wednesday, June 13.
“Since the legislators are authorized to define a crime, they have also the authority to demand amnesty for people convicted of particular crimes,” Fat’hee argued, adding, “Therefore, the new motion has proposed a general amnesty for all the people charged or convicted of political and security related crimes.”
However, according to Fat’hee, the new motion has excluded people charged and convicted of physical sabotage actions “deplored by all the nations across the world”, including espionage, setting fire to banks and damaging public properties.
“Crimes, such as espionage and setting fire to banks are so deplorable that people charged with such offenses are usually forced to commit suicide under mental and psychological pressures,” Fat’hee maintained.
However, avoiding any reference to Iranian dual nationals currently behind bars in the Islamic Republic, Fat’hee did not elaborate on the reasons and the timing for the new motion 39 years after the Islamic Revolution in the country.
Many western countries have warned their Iranian dual citizens to stay away from their homeland, lest they be arrested.
Currently, an unknown number of Iranians with dual citizenship are sentenced to long prison terms, charged with espionage for the so-called “enemies” of the state.
If the new motion does not extend the amnesty to alleged cases of espionage, dual citizens would be reluctant to return to Iran.
Following the United States withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran is under diplomatic and financial pressures, which could be the driving force behind the proposed amnesty. Such a move can both put Iran under a better light internationally and also might entice diaspora compatriots to make investments in the country.
As a matter of fact, Fat’hee has insisted that the new motion “Will hopefully reduce the international pressure on Tehran concerning the fate of Iranians with dual citizenship who are currently kept mainly in Tehran’s notorious prison, Evin.
As a legislator, Fat’hee insists, “We should give the green light to the six-seven million Iranians living overseas. Iranian diaspora enjoys having significant assets and expertise that people inside Iran have been so far deprived of.”
But Iran is among the countries with highest number of executions, which have included political opponents.
Internal and international civil rights activists say that human rights in Iran have been systematically violated during almost four decades of theocracy to the extent that the UN has assigned a special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the country.
Most of the political, ethnic rights activists detained in Iran are generally convicted of vaguely defined charges, including “action against national security” and “anti-system propaganda”.
In the new double emergency motion, according Fat’hee, political and ethnic rights activists will be pardoned.
The double emergency motion, if passed by the parliament, requires the Guardian Council’s (GC) ratification to become a law.
GC is totally dominated by ultra-conservative elements with its most influential members directly appointed by the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Fat’hee, the new double emergency motion is expected to be tabled next week in majlis (Islamic Consultative
Meanwhile, the motion has also called for restricting death penalty across the country.
The motion, signed by more than seventy MPs, has been delivered to the parliament’s board of directors, a member of Majles Judicial and Legal Commission, Mohammad Javad Fat’hee told E’timad Online pro-reform website on Wednesday, June 13.
“Since the legislators are authorized to define a crime, they have also the authority to demand amnesty for people convicted of particular crimes,” Fat’hee argued, adding, “Therefore, the new motion has proposed a general amnesty for all the people charged or convicted of political and security related crimes.”
However, according to Fat’hee, the new motion has excluded people charged and convicted of physical sabotage actions “deplored by all the nations across the world”, including espionage, setting fire to banks and damaging public properties.
“Crimes, such as espionage and setting fire to banks are so deplorable that people charged with such offenses are usually forced to commit suicide under mental and psychological pressures,” Fat’hee maintained.
However, avoiding any reference to Iranian dual nationals currently behind bars in the Islamic Republic, Fat’hee did not elaborate on the reasons and the timing for the new motion 39 years after the Islamic Revolution in the country.
Many western countries have warned their Iranian dual citizens to stay away from their homeland, lest they be arrested.
Currently, an unknown number of Iranians with dual citizenship are sentenced to long prison terms, charged with espionage for the so-called “enemies” of the state.
If the new motion does not extend the amnesty to alleged cases of espionage, dual citizens would be reluctant to return to Iran.
Following the United States withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran is under diplomatic and financial pressures, which could be the driving force behind the proposed amnesty. Such a move can both put Iran under a better light internationally and also might entice diaspora compatriots to make investments in the country.
As a matter of fact, Fat’hee has insisted that the new motion “Will hopefully reduce the international pressure on Tehran concerning the fate of Iranians with dual citizenship who are currently kept mainly in Tehran’s notorious prison, Evin.
As a legislator, Fat’hee insists, “We should give the green light to the six-seven million Iranians living overseas. Iranian diaspora enjoys having significant assets and expertise that people inside Iran have been so far deprived of.”
But Iran is among the countries with highest number of executions, which have included political opponents.
Internal and international civil rights activists say that human rights in Iran has been systematically violated during almost four decades of theocracy to the extent that the UN has assigned a special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the country.
Most of the political, ethnic rights activists detained in Iran are generally convicted of vaguely defined charges, including “action against national security” and “anti-system propaganda”.
In the new double emergency motion, according Fat’hee, political and ethnic rights activists will be pardoned.
The double emergency motion, if passed by the parliament, requires the Guardian Council’s (GC) ratification to become a law.
GC is totally dominated by ultra-conservative elements with its most influential members directly appointed by the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Fat’hee, the new double emergency motion is expected to be tabled next week in majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly).