content on matters, among others, relating to atheism, against the national security, dignity of interests of the State, insulting Islam or offending religious officials.24 The revised version of the Islamic Penal Code,25 adopted in 2013, maintains numerous provisions which criminalize the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, in contravention of international human rights law and standards. For example, under the Penal Code, the establishment or leadership of a group that “aims to perturb the security of the country” is criminalized,26 as well as a variety of acts considered as propaganda27 or conspiracy against the state (which has been interpreted to include peaceful protests).28 Encouragement to “violate public morals”29 as well as satire are also penalized.30 Similar vaguely worded provisions punish acts such as swearing at31 or insulting32 “the Great Prophet of Islam” as well as “sowing corruption on earth”33 with the death penalty. These restrictions fail to meet international standards that require limitations to be necessary and proportionate, and in pursuit of one of a limited number of narrowly-drawn legitimate aims, per Article 19 of the ICCPR. The restrictions grant authorities’ significant discretion to impose overbroad and vague limitations on individuals’ rights, in violation of the country’s international human rights obligations. Iranian authorities frequently resort to these provisions to intimidate, arrest and prosecute individuals who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Further, the authorities have continued to respond to protests with excessive and unlawful force.41 42 24 See more: Article 19, https://www.article19.org/data/files/medialibrary/2921/12-01-30-FINAL-iran-WEB%5B4%5D.pdf The Islamic Penal Code available at: http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/print_version/845048 26 Article 498 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 27 Article 500 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 28 Article 610 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 29 Article 639 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 30 Article 700 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 31 Article 262 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/english-translation-of-books-i-ii-of-the-new-islamic-penal-code/ 32 Article 513 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 33 Article 286 Islamic Penal Code 2013, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/ 34 See more: Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, https://www.iranrights.org/projects/timeline 35 See more : ARTICLE 19, Small Media, Human Rights Activists in Iran, Impact Iran, Human Rights Committee, 129th session (Geneva) 29 June – 24 July 2020, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_ICS_IRN_42315_E.pdf 36 See more: Iran Human Rights, https://www.iranhr.net/en/reports/23/ 37 See more: Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, https://iranhrdc.org/controlled-and-pursued-labor-activism-incontemporary-iran/ 38 See more: Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, https://www.ecpm.org/wp-content/uploads/Rapport-iran-2020-gb-070420WEB.pdf 39 See more: United for Iran, database of Iran’s prisons and political prisoners available at https://ipa.united4iran.org/en/ 40 See more: EN-Human Rights Activists News Agency, https://www.en-hrana.org/?s=activists 41 “Iran: protect constitutional right to protest”, ARTICLE 19, 3 January 2018. https://tinyurl.com/ycodj649 42 Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/2891/2020/en/ 25 5