Basic information* Capital: Tehran
Population: 70.7 million (UN, 2005)
Area: 1.65 million sq km (636,313 sq miles)
Major religions: Islam
Major languages: Persian
Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 72 years (women) (UN)
Supreme leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
President: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Human Development Index: 99/177 |
From BBC online: 
“Persia, as it was, had been one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, and has long maintained a distinct cultural identity within the Islamic world by retaining its own language and adhering to the Shia interpretation of Islam. In 1979 the country became the centre of world attention when the monarchy was overthrown and a unique Islamic republic was declared, in which religious clerics - headed by Ayatollah Khomeini - wielded ultimate political control. There followed an unstable and bloody period, including an eight-year war with Iraq, in which the country's oil wealth plummeted from its previous high levels.
Two decades later, Iran appeared to be entering another era of political and social transformation with the victory of the liberals over the long-ruling conservative elite in parliamentary elections in 2000.
But the reformists, kept on the political defensive by powerful conservatives in the government and judiciary, failed to make good on their promises.”
BBC, September 2006
Refugees**
- Refugees and asylum seekers: 111,666
- Number of internally displaced persons: unknown
- Total: 111,666
- Number of asylum applications to the UK (June 05 - June 06): 2635
Current situation
From Human Rights Watch: “Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamene’i, should immediately order the unconditional release of Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini, a former member of parliament and critic of Iranian detention practices, Human Rights Watch said today (Sept 26, 2006).
The Iranian authorities have held Mousavi Khoini without charge for more than three months. Several days ago Mousavi Khoini charged that prison officials have subjected him to torture in order to pressure him to “repent” for his criticism of the Judiciary and intelligence services for human rights abuses and prison conditions.
Human Rights Watch expressed grave concern for Mousavi Khoini’s health and safety in light of his claims of torture. Since July 30, two prisoners held for their political beliefs have died under suspicious conditions inside Iran’s prisons. Respect for basic human rights in Iran, especially freedom of expression and opinion, deteriorated considerably in 2005. The government routinely uses torture and ill-treatment in detention, including prolonged solitary confinement, to punish dissidents.
The judiciary, which is accountable to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been at the center of many serious human rights violations. Abuses are perpetrated by what Iranians call “parallel institutions”: paramilitary groups and plainclothes intelligence agents violently attack peaceful protesters, and intelligence services run illegal secret prisons and interrogation centers. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected in June 2005, appointed a cabinet dominated by former members of the intelligence and security forces, some of whom are allegedly implicated in the most serious human rights violations since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established twenty-six years ago, such as the assassination of dissident intellectuals.”
Human Rights Watch, September 2006
From Amnesty International: “Amnesty International is greatly concerned by new arrests and detentions in Iran targeting human rights activists, minority community activists and others peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Those detained in recent days include Iranian Azerbaijanis advocating a schools boycott and at least 10 people who sought to demonstrate against the imminent execution of four women. Meanwhile, a prominent human rights defender who has been detained without charge or trial for over 100 days has disclosed that he is being subjected to continuous pressure to "repent" by the Iranian authorities.
Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities immediately to cease arrests and harassment of those peacefully exercising their rights, including human rights defenders, and to ensure that all persons in detention are protected from torture or other ill-treatment.
Iran has one of the highest number of recorded executions of any country in the world. Amnesty International is particularly concerned about the execution of children and individuals who were minors when their crimes were alleged to have taken place. In one case, an 18-year-old girl, Nazanin, was sentenced to be executed for having, at age 17, stabbed to death one of three men in a park who were attempting to rape her and her younger niece.”
Amnesty International, September 2006
* This information is taken from the BBC's country profiles
**These numbers were taken from UNHCR figures published June 2nd 2006 and Home Office figures June 2005 - June 2006
