Iran: "Herasat Bonyad Mostafazan va Janbaazan" in Tehran (1997 - July 2000)

No mention of an organization named "Herasat Bonyad Mostafazan va Janbaazan" could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, there are reports of an organization named "Bonyad Mostafazan va Janbazan Foundation" or the "Mostafazan va Janbazan Foundation." According to its Website, Bonyad Mostafazan & Janbazan Foundation is "the largest Iranian commercial, industrial and service center" with groups involved in civil development and housing, agriculture, transportation, commerce, tourism and recreation, as well as industries and mines (n.d.). Other sources report that it is also known as the Oppressed and War-Disabled Foundation (DPA 22 Sept. 1998; IRNA 13 Sept. 1998; Tehran Times 2 Sept. 1998). It is described as a semi-governmental organization (RFE/RL 21 Dec. 1998), a "powerful trade cartel" (DPA 22 Sept. 1998), a "huge state conglomerate" (The Iran Brief 9 Aug. 1999), "powerful" (Middle East Times 20 Sept. 1998), "Iran's top economic conglomerate" (ibid.), a "powerful religious charitable foundation" (Gulf Business July 1999), and "probably the largest of the charitable institutions which control much of Iran's nationalized industry" (RFE/RL 10 Feb. 1998).

There are a variety of references to its activities since the beginning of 1997. According to a 2 January 1997 Xinhua report, the Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation (MJF) hosted a delegation from the Chinese Association for Intercultural Understanding (CAIU), in order to "increase the exchanges between CAIU and MJF, promote the friendly relationship between the two countries and their peoples, and expand the areas of bilateral co-operation. For the remainder of this report this foundation will be referred to as the MJF.

The Foundation for Democracy in Iran, referring to an 18 April 1997 IRNA report, identified a "Center for Victims of Chemical Warfare" at the MJF and a claim by Dr. Farzad Panahi, deputy head of the MJF, that the government had spent "'tens of millions of dollars' to clean up toxic waste after Iraqi gas attacks and to send some 500 seriously-wounded victims to foreign countries for special treatment" (17 Apr. 1997).

A 10 February 1998 RFE/RL report states that the MJF was making a "huge investment" of $3 billion in helping to build a gas pipeline from the Persian Gulf to Pakistan. The project's consortium would also include Royal/Dutch Shell, British Gas and Petronas of Malaysia (ibid.).

Tehran Times reported on 2 September 1998 that "a group of group of peasants from Taybad, Mashhad Province, had gathered in front of the judiciary complex to protest against the Mostaz'afan and Janbazan Oppressed and War-disabled Foundation for confiscating their water wells."

On 22 September 1998 DPA reported the jailing of two Iranian journalists "after they were sued by an influential conservative official." The article states that Mohsen Rafiqdust, MJF "head," sued the journalists

in connection with a news item regarding an unsuccessful assassination attempt on September 13.

It was not clear what part of the news item, which was also carried by many Western news agencies, led to Rafiqdust's complaint, but according to IRNA, "the news of the abortive attempt was transmitted by the foundation head himself and according to his own words and wordings" (ibid.).

The Middle East Times referred to an IRNA report on this assassination attempt:

It said unknown gunmen opened fire on Mohsen Rafiqdoust from hills overlooking his office in north Tehran.

"He was not hurt at all and is in full health," the agency reported after interviewing Rafiqdoust, a former minister.

"I came to my office as usual this morning and, as I was working, the room came under fire through the window behind me," the agency quoted Rafiqdoust as saying.

"This terrorist act shows that anti-revolutionary elements had worked a long time on their evil plan. But, thanks to God, they were not successful," Rafiqdoust was quoted as saying.

State television showed footage of the office, with what appeared to be bullet holes in a window pane and a ceiling or wall panel.

The attempt on Rafiqdoust, a veteran political figure in the Islamic republic, followed the assassination last month of Iran's former prison director Assadollah Lajevardi (20 Sept. 1998).

In a 21 December 1998 RFE/RL Iran Report article on oil smuggling the publication states:

Iranian visitors to the West say officials in Iran's semi-governmental organizations, such as the Oppressed and Disabled Foundation (Bonyad-i Mostazafan va Janbazan), are among the direct beneficiaries of smuggling. The foundations have preferred access to subsidized gasoline supplies, whereas fuel is rationed for the general population. Furthermore, they are not subject to governmental oversight or any form of public scrutiny. Finally, according to the most recent "Economist" country report on Iran, the foundations receive preferential exchange rates. Mohsen Rafiqdust, head of the Oppressed and Disabled Foundation, was summoned to the Tehran judiciary complex to answer questions about currency matters, reported "Quds" on 12 December.

The Iran Brief reported the appointment on 22 July 1999 of former Defense Minister Mohammad Forouzandeh as the head of the MJF, which it claimed "is controlled personally by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamene'i" (9 Aug. 1999). Forouzandeh replaced Mohsen Rafiqdoust, who had completed two five year terms (ibid.). The MJF Website identifies Mr. M. Froozandeh as its President. According to The Iran Brief source

No word yet on where Rafiq-Doust has gone. So far, at least, he has not followed his brother Morteza, who was jailed in connection with a $400 million fraud scheme involving the Bonyad and the Bank Saderat in 1995. Morteza Rafiq-Doust allegedly shifted large amounts of money into foreign bank accounts (ibid.)

A 29 October 1999 IRNA report identified Akbar Ghamkhar as the "managing director of the tourism organization of mostazafan and janbazan foundation" as well as his comments that President Khatami's visit to Paris was "a turning point in Tehran-Paris political, economic, cultural and tourism relations."

A 27 December 1999 Iran News report identifies Mohammad-Reza Javaheri as Director General of the Department of Museums of the MJF and reports his hope that the MJF would open an auto museum in the next year showcasing the 158 antique passenger cars owned by the MJF.

A 28 February 2000 IRNA article reports comments from a Tehran MP-elect that some Iranians believe that the MJF was "under the monopoly of the conservatives."

In the Miandroud region, villagers from six villages engaged in sit-ins to protest the confiscation of their property by the MJF (IPR 7 Mar. 2000; Tehran Times 28 Feb. 2000). According to the Tehran Times "the villagers have repeatedly organized sit-ins during the current year in protest to the issue. The protestors ended their sit-in on the request of the officials of the village" (ibid.).

A 12 June 2000 IRNA report mentioned the Iran Tour and Tourism Organization (ITTO) affiliated with MJF.

A 25 June 2000 IRNA report states that the MJF had been put in charge of implementing the Tehran-North Freeway.

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Bonyad Mostafazan & Janbazan Foundation. n.d. [Accessed 9 Aug. 2000]

Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA). 22 September 1998. "Two Iranian Journalists Jailed." (NEXIS)

Foundation for Democracy in Iran, Bethesda, MD. 17 April 1997. No. 43. "FDI's Weekly Newswire: CW Victims Demonstrate, IRI to Sue." [Accessed 9 Aug. 2000]

Gulf Business [Dubai, U.A.E.] July 1999. Vol. 4, Issue 3. "Make or Break for Iran." [Accessed 9 Aug. 2000]

IPR Strategic Business Information Database. 7 March 2000. "Predicaments with Privatization." (NEXIS)

The Iran Brief [Bethesda, MD]. 9 August 1999. "New Head of Bonyad Mostazafan." (NEXIS)

Iran News. 27 December 1999. "MJF Hopes to Open Auto Museum." (FBIS-NES-1999-1227 27 Dec. 1999/WNC)

IRNA [Tehran, in English]. 25 June 2000. "1^st Phase of Tehran-North Freeway to be Opened to Traffic by 2006." (FBIS-NES-2000-0625 25 June 2000/WNC)

_____. 12 June 2000. "Foundation Earns 8 Billion Rials From Tourism Activities." (FBIS-NES-2000-0612 12 June 2000/WNC)

_____. 28 February 2000. "Iran: MP-Elect Comments on Reform Program." (FBIS-NES-2000-0228 28 Feb. 2000/WNC)

_____. 29 October 1999. "France: 'Iran Night' Ceremony Held in Paris." (FBIS-NES-1999-1029 29 Oct. 1999/WNC)

_____. 13 September 1998. "Head of Foundation for the Oppressed Escapes Assassination Attempt." (BBC Summary 14 Sept. 1998/NEXIS)

Middle East Times [Cairo, Egypt]. 20 September 1998. Firouz Sedarat. "Official Survives Attempt on Life." [Accessed 9 Aug. 2000]

RFE/RL [Prague]. 10 February 1998. Michael Lelyveld. "Turkmenistan/Iran: Oil Powers Race for Pakistan Market." [Accessed 9 Aug. 2000]

RFE/RL Iran Report [Prague]. 21 December 1998. Vol. 1, No. 4. "Officials in Several Countries Benefit From Oil Smuggling." [Accessed 21 Dec. 1998]

Tehran Times [in English]. 28 February 2000. "Iran Paper: Villagers Say Land Confiscated by Foundation." (FBIS-NES-2000-0228 28 Feb. 2000/WNC)

_____. 2 September 1998. "Iran: Reporters Detained in Tehran Demonstrations." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 4 Sept. 1998/NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 2 January 1997. "China: CAIU Delegation to Visit Iran." (FBIS-CHI-97-002 2 Jan. 1997/WNC)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS-NEXIS

The Middle East and North Africa 2000. 1999.

People in Power. 3 July 2000.

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 1999.

REFWORLD

Worldwide Government Directory With International Organizations. 1998.

World News Connection (WNC)