Iran: Information on the treatment by the Iranian authorities of relatives of Mojahedin supporters who left Iran to claim refugee status abroad (update to IRN6544 of 24 July 1990)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN28971.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Information on the treatment by the Iranian authorities of relatives of Mojahedin supporters who left Iran to claim refugee status abroad (update to IRN6544 of 24 July 1990), 1 March 1998, IRN28971.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abc070.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided to the Research Directorate in a 6 March 1998 telephone interview with a specialist on Iran at the Department of Sociology at York University who follows the Iranian news media on a regular basis. The specialist is not aware of any cases in which a person has been arrested or harassed by the Iranian authorities merely on the basis of a family relationship to a person who supported the Mojahedin and sought refugee status outside Iran. The specialist stated that relatives of people who occupy high-level positions in the Mojahedin organization might be in some danger of arrest or other unfavourable attention from the Iranian authorities, but this impression is not based on knowledge of any specific cases. Moreover, the specialist stated that it is important to take into account the element of arbitrariness in the Iranian legal system, which means that the outcome of any given case depends to a great extent on the individuals involved.
The following information was provided to the Research Directorate in a 10 March 1998 telephone interview with a representative of the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies in London, an independent research institute which specializes on Iran and its relations with Arab countries. The representative stated that it is unlikely that a person would be arrested or harassed by the Iranian authorities simply because that person is related to a Mojahedin supporter who sought refugee status outside of Iran. The representative added, moreover, that there are people in Iran who are known to be close relatives of high-level officials in the Mojahedin organization, and who are nevertheless able to live normal and peaceful lives, apparently without receiving any special attention from the Iranian authorities. He gave as examples the father and the son of Mas(ud Rajavi, the head of the Mojahedin; Dr. Naser Minachi, whose son is a prominent member of the Mojahedin; and the father and brother of Mehdi Abrishamchi, the second in command of the Mojahedin.
However, the representative also stated that there have been cases in which relatives of people who have actively participated in the Mojahedin's military operations have been arrested. He is personally familiar with one such case, in which the brother of a former Mojahedin member was imprisoned for several months in 1996.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies (CAIS), London, 10 March 1998. Telephone interview with a representative.
Professor of sociology specializing on Iran, York University, Toronto. 6 March 1998. Telephone interview.