standards and the Islamic Republic’s foundation. 25 These vaguely worded limitations are open to interpretation and grant the Government with significant leeway to restrain civil society organizations (CSOs) and interfere with their work.26 27 The Labor Law states in its article 131 that founding members of CSO boards have “to pledge allegiance to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution.” The Iranian Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution passed two directives (in 1999 and 2001) which allow only the formation of Islamic associations at universities, in other words an association which follows ‘Islamic ideals’ as well as the principles of the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Government and the Constitution.28 Similarly, all members of an association’s founding board must believe in and pledge allegiance to Islam, the authority of the Supreme Leader, and the Constitution of Iran.29 Any association which fails to fulfill these conditions cannot acquire a license. In order to be able to establish an independent civil society organization (CSO) or association, the Government of Iran requires first an activity license from relevant authorities and then a registration with the General Directorate of Corporate Registrar and Non-Commercial Companies. To obtain an activity license, Iranian authorities require, among other conditions, that all founding members and executive board members are accredited by relevant government authorities. While bylaws and regulations stipulate that associations can be dissolved either voluntarily or forcibly based on the verdict of a competent court, certain government institutions, like the Investigative Board of Cultural Centers, can dissolve associations without a court verdict.30 Consequently, the Government can legally, and easily, prevent the establishment of CSOs and force their dissolution under the broad provisions found in the Constitution, therefore severely restricting civil society’s space. Reports suggest that the Iranian Government NGOs, notably by forcing closure under the broad legal provisions aforementioned.31 32 33 34 In July 2020, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet stated that she was alarmed by the Iranian Government’s increased 25 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/constitutionenglish-1368.pdf 26 Outright International, Rights of the Child in Iran, https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/CRC71_Iran_JointSubmission_FINAL2.pdf 27 A Synthesis Report of NGO Submissions to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for Consideration of the Third Periodic Report of The Islamic Republic of Iran During the 71st Pre-Sessional Working Group, https://justice4iran.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/07/Joint-CRC-Report-February-2015-Final.pdf 28 Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution’s Directive, 1999, http://eco.umz.ac.ir/uploads/‫آﺋﯿﻦ_ﻧﺎﻣﮫ_ﺗﺸﮑﻞ_ھﺎی_اﺳﻼﻣﯽ‬.pdf 29 Paragraph 1, Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution’s Directive, 1999, https://bit.ly/3dpbaff 30 See more: Volunteer Activists, Civil Society in Iran and its Future Prospects, https://volunteeractivists.nl/en/wpcontent/uploads/2018/10/Civil-Society-in-Iran-and-its-Future-Prospects-pdf.pdf 31 ISNA News, https://www.isna.ir/news ‫روﺳﯿﺎھﯽ‬-‫اﻗﺘﺼﺎد‬-‫ﺑﺎ‬-‫ﮐﺎر‬-‫ﮐﻮدک‬/96070301939/ 32 Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://www.iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Days-to-remember-low.pdf 33 OHCHR News, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16940&LangID=E 34 Human Rights Activists News Agency, The Association to Defend the Street and Working Children Sealed, https://www.enhrana.org/association-defend-street-working-children-sealed?hilite=%27street%27%2C%27children%27 4