Civil and political rights
The interviewees consistently expressed the view that expanding civil and political rights in the country was a priority that must be addressed in any post-deal environment.
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Issues most consistently tagged by the interviewees were freedom of the press and freedom of expression, including the right to peaceful dissent, and the large numbers of political prisoners still sitting in Iranian prisons, many of them dating back to the peaceful protests that followed the disputed 2009 presidential election in Iran.
The continued house arrests of the opposition Green Movement leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard, were repeatedly mentioned as intolerable injustices that had already gone on far too long (over four years) and which must be addressed immediately.
After the topic of nuclear negotiations dims, [Rouhani] will have to focus on human rights and civil rights, which were parts of Mr. Rouhani’s initial programs. This should include his allowing Iranian journalists to re-open the Iranian Journalists Association…. Cultural and political issues must be addressed side by side with economic issues.
–Issa Saharkhiz, Journalist and Former Political Prisoner
Following the nuclear and economic issues, the Rouhani administration will have to tackle the issue of political freedom. Political parties, universities, and the media will be serious demands Mr. Rouhani will have to face, and he will have to take visible steps and present them to public opinion….[Priorities must include] issuing licenses for different political parties, issuing licenses for new publications…[and] the serious pursuit of citizenship rights.
–A Journalist in Iran
The peace created in the international arena will also affect our domestic policies and deliver the campaign slogans the moderate presidential candidate offered and [for which he] was able to receive public support through the people’s vote. These slogans included the promise for opening up the cultural and political atmosphere. Unfortunately, at this time the most problems are in these two areas.
–Fakhrossadat Mohtashamipour, Civil Activist, Wife of Political Prisoner
When the sanctions are lifted, economic freedom can lead to other types of freedom in the society….As a reformist, I expect the promises Hassan Rouhani made about the advancement of reforms in the Iranian society [to be] carried out. I would like to see Mr. Rouhani leaning towards the direction of what we call reformism for protecting public interests.
–Farideh Gheirat, Lawyer
The respondents often expressed the view that a deal would strengthen chances for improving civil and political liberties in the country. They felt these issues had been put on hold while the negotiations were underway, effectively stymying meaningful discussion of the state of rights and liberties in the country. The following quote was a typical remark in this regard.
[The human rights situation] is very important to our people…it is important for the nation’s sense of cooperation and unity….We must return to an atmosphere of social participation. We must return to an atmosphere where people feel like they have a bigger part in running the state. Elections will have to become more meaningful processes, so that it is not felt that the results have been decided before. In the area of books, journalism, and academics, there are still a lot of feelings of insecurity. There are a lot of things that have all been on a waiting list in the hope that first the nuclear issue would be settled.
–Ahmad Shirzad, Physics Professor and Former Member of the Parliament
There were divisions between those who felt the delay of such reforms in the name of the nuclear priority was real and those who felt it was just an excuse. Moreover, even among those who accepted the validity of the argument that resolution of the nuclear file must precede all other issues, there was a palpable sense of growing impatience, and a sense that the time to act had come.
Nevertheless, similar to arguments regarding economic benefits of a deal, the interviewees argued that achieving a negotiated settlement to the nuclear conflict was a necessary even if not sufficient requirement for any progress toward greater rights and liberties.
If sanctions are lifted, Iran’s relations with the world will expand, and in terms of human rights, Iran would remove the limitations imposed so far. As a defense lawyer for individuals who are pursued or imprisoned for political reasons, my work will be positively impacted….Solving the nuclear issue will impact Iran’s political and social issues and society will enjoy more freedom as a result….Unlike those who believe that a decrease in foreign pressure would increase pressure inside the country, I don’t believe this…if other issues are not created, solving the nuclear issue will impact Iran’s political and social issues and the society will enjoy more freedom as a result.
–Mohammad Saleh Nikbakht, Lawyer
Mr. Rouhani has put all his focus on his foreign policy. I think after the agreement, he will definitely shift his focus to domestic issues. People will be able to pursue their demands and can ask Mr. Rouhani to deliver on his campaign pledges, whether pertaining to social liberties, culture, arts, or civil organizations he was supposed to pursue.
–Pegah Ahangarani, Actress
If the sanctions are lifted….another impact… I believe would [be] a big opening in the human rights discourse, and we would no longer witness cases such as Jason Rezaian’s or Atena [Faraghdani]’s. This would see an end to the “espionage” cases…the human rights issue, God willing, will find more flexibility after this agreement….if the nuclear issue is resolved, all the side issues will be influenced….
–Massoud Shafiee, Lawyer
When unemployment, inflation, and recession, each of which have their own related social maladies, are resolved, the improvement in economic and financial affairs and the creation of the requisite conditions for employment and the strengthening of the Iranian currency can have their own social impact, which…will also result in a positive political impact.
— Hermidas Bavand (University Professor)
However, other respondents expressed grave doubts that there would be substantive improvement in the state of civil and political rights in Iran even if an agreement is reached.
Some argued this was due to Rouhani’s lack of authority and thus inability to move forward with political or cultural reforms and affect change in these areas, noting that the structure of the Iranian government gives the president no authority over the legislative or judicial branches, and that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei was the real power holder in any event.
[We need] policies to support the youth, mothers, women heads of household. Improving the political atmosphere through issuing licenses for different political parties, issuing licenses for new publications….[However], because the administration is not in charge of judicial and security organizations, the only way to reduce the country’s security state would be to open up the political atmosphere.
–A Journalist in Tehran and Former Political Prisoner
Mr. Rouhani only said those things to appease [us], because [he] has no authority.… I have the same amount of power vis-à-vis the Judiciary as Mr. Rouhani does. I have the same authority vis-à-vis the Legislative Branch as Mr. Rouhani does. Mr. Rouhani cannot order the house arrest of Mr. Mousavi or political students or political prisoners to be lifted….There are things that are within Mr. Rouhani’s power, but he approaches them cautiously. For example, the Iranian Journalists Association is within the authority of the Labor Ministry. It would take nothing for Labor Minister Ali Rabiee to announce today that elections for the Journalists Association would be held. But re-opening the Association’s building is under the authority of the Judiciary, and as president, Mr. Rouhani is even afraid of walking by the Judiciary’s building.
–Nemat Ahmadi, Lawyer
Mr. Rouhani is not in control. He was elected to resolve the nuclear standstill. He has no authority of his own. Whatever he wants to implement, he would first have to seek permission from the Supreme Leader’s office. Therefore the expectations we have of Mr. Rouhani do not match his capabilities. For example, he promised to enable women’s presence in political and economic arenas…as well the presence of the youth in academic, political, economic, and social areas, all of which has [come to] an absolute dead end, unless it has pertained to members of the ruling faction.
–Mohammad Nourizad, Documentary Filmmaker and Former Political Prisoner
I have no expectations of Mr. Rouhani’s administration. His ability is what he has displayed so far. The Iranian system of governance does not offer much of a chance to the president. The power is concentrated in the hands of the Supreme Leader, and the three government branches must carry out their duties under the oversight of the Supreme Leader….Therefore the people’s expectations of the Rouhani Administration must be proportionate to the authorities and capabilities of this administration.
–Ghasem Sholeh Sadi, Lawyer, Former Member of Parliament and Former Political Prisoner
Others doubted Rouhani’s willingness. They argued Rouhani had no commitment to reform and no intention of moving forward, irrespective of his abilities or his authority within the structure of governance and power in the country. They noted Rouhani’s lack of initiatives and tepid efforts in this regard during his two years in office in realms that are directly under his authority, specifically citing such areas as his authority over the Ministry of Science, which controls university appointments, and his authority in areas affecting publishing.
If this agreement is reached, I do not believe that the government would step in to expand human rights; for example, that it would allow associations to be active…. [A] government that considers censorship its main power tool and sees it as a part of its ideology, will continue it in any way it can. Following an agreement, some harmless and safe associations may be able to find some relative freedom. Those who are dependent on the government may be given some relative freedom, but the cost society would pay would be a serious halt to all organizations, associations, hopes, and individuals who pursue the real human rights….
–Fariborz Raisdana, Economist and Former Political Prisoner
An agreement can have some impact on the economy, but I don’t believe it will make a big difference for the people….As a citizen, I would like to live in a free and safe environment….Would that expectation be met? I don’t think so….I have no such notion that reaching a nuclear agreement would lead to our achievement of individual and social freedoms and social-economic welfare….It is an excuse when [Rouhani] says “we are all tied up in the nuclear issue right now, and have postponed pursuit of human rights and individual and social rights to a later time.”
–Reza Khandan, Novelist, Member of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Writers’ Association
Mr. Rouhani’s view to political development is defined by the state. I don’t think he believes in NGOs. Despite his being a lawyer, he does not believe in individual liberties as much as he should.
–Nemat Ahmadi, Lawyer
I have no specific expectations of the Rouhani administration. I should add that the Rouhani government has been tested and [has failed because] it did not deliver on any of its promises. Therefore, we cannot have any specific demands of such a government….It is our human demand that he should deliver on his responsibilities within the framework of the existing minimum laws.
–Fariborz Raisdana, Economist and Former Political Prisoner
[Rouhani] is incapable of interfering in judicial affairs. He cannot interfere in those military organizations, either…and he doesn’t want to interfere in the Legislative branch. What is left for [him] to do? Therefore, our people must not act emotionally. They must know what the government can do, what boundaries its authorities have, and to adjust their expectations. [Rouhani] made promises to impress people. I was a university professor for eight years, and I was dismissed from my job during Mr. Rouhani’s tenure. This has nothing to do with Ahmadinejad, it has to do with Mr. Rouhani. And I should add that Mr. Rouhani is my friend.
–Ghasem Sholeh Sadi, Lawyer, Former Member of Parliament and Former Political Prisoner
A few of the respondents noted that the state of civil and political liberties might actually worsen after a nuclear agreement is reached. They argued that after a deal hardliners might push to re-assert their primacy in the domestic sphere.
Maybe after an agreement is made they might clamp down and make things stricter and harder. It may be possible that the atmosphere would become more restricted.
–Pegah Ahangarani, Actress
As you know, it is not easy to speak openly, but I have no extraordinary expectations. This is why I believe we will be witnessing certain events, but not to the degree people are hoping. Certainly in several areas, such as economic, social, and political issues, I logically expect some minimum movements. [Yet] it is also possible that the atmosphere may be even more restricted following a nuclear agreement.
–Kianoush Ayari, Filmmaker
