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Iran's President Hassan Rouhani unveiled a landmark bill of rights on Monday, guaranteeing freedom of speech, protest, fair trials and privacy, saying the achievement was "one of my oldest dreams".
Although many of the rights are already enshrined in Iran's constitution written after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Rouhani said it offered the first clear list of principles that could be used to check the performance of state institutions.
"I'm very pleased that today one of my most important promises is being delivered and I am achieving one of my oldest dreams," Rouhani told officials in a televised ceremony.
However, many institutions, including the judiciary and the powerful Revolutionary Guards, are firmly in the grip of hardliners who do not answer to the president and say the priority is to protect the revolution against dissenters and outside interference.
Rouhani said the authorities should respect limits on their powers.
"No one is allowed to enter another person's house, shop or private workplace without the permission of the owner... in the name of discovering whether crimes or sins have been committed," he said, quoting the founder of the Islamic revolution, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Having promised a bill of rights for citizens during his 2013 election campaign, Rouhani's announcement may mark a belated effort to rally reformist supporters ahead of a re-election bid in May.
Rouhani said the bill was not yet a formal law, but "must be implemented by everyone".
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Comments (35) Closed
Dec 19, 2016 08:22pm
Will KSA ever do the same?
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Dec 19, 2016 08:27pm
what about in Syrian people? you are denying them these freedom for them, supporting brutal dictator on them.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:38pm
Mere window dressing. The mullahs and the guards have their own rules and enforce them ruthlessly.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:43pm
Iran is a moderate country like Turkey and the Saudis are need of reforms .
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Dec 19, 2016 08:46pm
Progress, in a region beset by suppression and autocratic rulers. That's an example that the Arab states should follow.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:48pm
@Momin
Syrian president is a moderate leader and has 88% votes and is no Sadam or Gadaffi and has not abandoned his country and will go down in history for defeating terrorist and western schemes.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:52pm
Iran is a major country and Pakistan need good relations with them as Russia and China are its major allies.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:51pm
The ancient and great Persian civilization is recovering its repose from the clutches of radicalism. Cheers !
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Dec 19, 2016 08:51pm
Iran progressing and reforming.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:59pm
ROUHANI has nothing to do with freedom, he is supposed to fix economy, rest is distraction. Corruption in his cabinet has not be heard since revolution
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Dec 19, 2016 08:59pm
@Momin All Gulf Arab regimes are far more oppressive and do not tolerate any criticism or dissent. Asaad may not be a Saint. But he is far less oppressive than other characters in the region.
Of all the Arab leaders, both King Abdullah of Jordan (US Univ, and UK'sSandhurst Military Academy trained) and Bashar Al Asad of Syria (UK trained Opthalmologist) are enlightened, moderate and educated. Rest of the Arab rulers are backward looking family run kingdoms where even ordinary citizen cannot say anything against the ruling families.
In essence, he is less of an evil than what most of the Middle East has produced for decades.
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Dec 19, 2016 08:59pm
@Ths Irans major ally is Israel and India, then USA, Russia and China.
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Dec 19, 2016 09:01pm
@Ths keep cheering at the same time keep crying as well
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Dec 19, 2016 09:03pm
@Ths - NS doesn't see it that way. That's why he's flying on a large 777 with a large entourage to visit a Super Power like Bosnia.
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Dec 19, 2016 09:13pm
What a joke! Just to please the west. They can never prosper unless they throw the ' mullas' out and have democracy in spirit.
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Dec 19, 2016 09:20pm
There has never been freedom of speech in Iran and never will be. Iran will remain the country of highest human rights violations in the world.
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Dec 19, 2016 09:19pm
rubbish, you can not be trusted.
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Dec 19, 2016 09:38pm
@Ths there are less than 10% alawaties in syria and iranies i think can not vote in Syria so how could basharulasad ger 88% votes???
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Dec 19, 2016 10:02pm
A highly welcomed initiative. Pray it becomes a valid and implemented law, soonest. That will make Iran a real positive player in the world affairs.
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Dec 19, 2016 10:40pm
a joke :) :) :) release all the imprisoned journalists then and unblock FB and Twitter.
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Dec 19, 2016 10:43pm
a joke :) :) Release the imprisoned journalists and remove the ban on their publications AND unblock FB and Twitter....
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Dec 20, 2016 12:03am
Highest numbers of executions in any country by any government.
As long as this regime is there, I dont have any hope.
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Dec 20, 2016 12:30am
@Ths ... The Syrian president will go down in history all right. No doubt about that.
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Dec 20, 2016 12:35am
you justify the killing of half million innocent Syrians.
We dont trust you and your goverment
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Dec 20, 2016 12:37am
@Momin Momin dear, you are ill informed.
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Dec 20, 2016 12:40am
@Ths Your comments are highly appreciated....
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Dec 20, 2016 01:16am
Making declarations are one thing and to truly implement them in Iran is another.
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Dec 20, 2016 01:34am
All the civilized countries practice and honor basic human rights
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Dec 20, 2016 04:17am
Talk is easy, action is hard. In free societies, members of the public would be quickly testing the government's promises with resolute but peaceful action in the workplace and on the street. One can believe the government's new policy when there are headlines showing its success.
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Dec 20, 2016 10:42am
@Haider, Go and see Iran once and then comment on their properity. They are truely a develped country when compared with countries of the Sub-continent.
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Dec 20, 2016 11:57am
Iran is independent and the government has relatively good support among the masses, especially in the smaller cities and rural areas.
The Saudi family only rules with American arms and support. The Saudi government's medieval laws are enacted with prior permission from the US.
Therefor positive change is possible in Iran but not in KSA.
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Dec 20, 2016 05:01pm
@Shazia Bangash Saudia is the most developed muslim country, providing all the facilities to the people. Medical, education, safety, tax free pay, equality, justice. Far better than many democracies
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Dec 20, 2016 05:44pm
@Khan Ksa is doing good already
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Dec 21, 2016 05:53am
@Sara :KSA has lots of oil. But now loyts of debt and competition,too.
It is trying to industrialize and get its lazy people to work for a living!
KSA can't rely on South and South East Asian 'slaves' to keep it running!
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Dec 21, 2016 07:32pm
The good thing is Saudi Arabia is developing the industries and also creating jobs for Saudies at the same time. There is a big problem with our people they want a complete package otherwise they will keep critisizing. Making Riyals paying no tax and at the same time want western style entertainment in Saudi Arabia. And also want to be unlawful breaking rules and get away like they do in indopak subcontinent. Saudia is one of the safest countries of the world. While millions of expatriates are working in Saudi Arabia and the numbers are still growing. If these expats are treated so badly why are they not going some place else? Saudi Arabia is most critisized by Iran and its supporters in Pakistan and Indian for reasons which they can t explain.
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