Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
A/71/418 para 83
Full recommendation
The Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to strengthen aspects of the 1985 Press Law to
ensure that persons are protected from acts that impair the free communication of information
and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, which is essential to the protection
of other rights. He also urges the Government to reconsider aspects of policies that undermine
the rights of individuals to associate and assemble with like-minded persons for the purposes of
promoting peaceful activities.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
A. The Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to strengthen aspects of the 1985 Press
Law to ensure that persons are protected from acts that impair the free
communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between
citizens
The 1986 Press Law, amended in 2000, provides content-based restrictions on traditional and
online media. The law mentions that publications should “duly [observe] Islamic criteria and the
best interests of the community.” Reports may only be published in pursuit of at least one of the
five “legitimate objectives”, including “to campaign against manifestations of imperialistic
culture” or “to propagate and promote genuine Islamic culture and sound ethical principles.”
The law also provides twelve conditions under which the press might be censored, including
“publishing heretical articles,” “spreading fornication and forbidden practices,” and “propagating
and spreading overconsumption.”2 Additionally, the law prohibits publishing content on matters,
among others, relating to atheism, against the national security, dignity of interests of the State,
insulting Islam or offending religious officials and material deemed critical of key political
figures.3 Additionally, Article 9 of the law specifies vaguely worded requirements for those
applying for a newspaper or magazine licenses, including "Practical adherence to the
constitution". Such provisions effectively grant Iranian authorities with wide powers of
interpretation as to whom may be barred from exercising this right. In effect, the Press Law
limits critical reporting and the free communication of information and ideas about public and
political issues between citizens.
The authorities frequently refer to the Iranian legal framework to intimidate, arrest and
1
CCPR.19.1.S.1; CCPR.19.2.S.1; CCPR.19.2.S.2; CCPR.22.1.S.1
CCPR.19.2.P.1; CCPR.19.2.P.2; CCPR.19.2.P.3; CCPR.22.1.P.1; CCPR.22.1.P.2
CCPR.19.1.O.1; CCPR.19.2.O.1; CCPR.19.2.O.2; CCPR.19.2.O.5; CCPR.22.1.O.2
2
Iranian Press Law, Article 6.
3
See more: Article 19, https://www.article19.org/data/files/medialibrary/2921/12-01-30-FINAL-iran-WEB%5B4%5D.pdf
1