Article 26 of the Iranian constitution provides for civil society organizations (CSOs), stating that organizations are permitted if they “do not violate the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, the criteria of Islam, or the basis of the Islamic Republic.”  Subsequently, Iran’s 1982 “Law Concerning the Activities of Parties, Associations, Political Associations and Guild Associations, Islamic Associations or the Associations of Recognized Religious Minorities” outlines four types of allowable organizations.

By Elizabeth Spiro Clark

Millions of Iranians reacted with outrage to the June 12 election that has returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power. In the days that followed, massive numbers turned out in the streets to protest the election results that they believe were determined by fiat of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and not by Iranian voters. Some seven weeks later, protestors have not retreated, even in the face of brutal repression.

The Iran Bulletin is a biweekly publication covering domestic political and election issues in Iran.

International and domestic election monitoring organizations in Kyrgyzstan, working closely with NDI, fielded observers throughout the country during the July 23 election in which President Kurmanbek Bakiev was elected to a second five-year term. Two such groups released comprehensive election statements, included below.

NDI today deplored the actions by Moldovan authorities that led to the cancellation by the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) of a mission to observe the July 29 parliamentary elections.  ENEMO, a partner organization of NDI, called off its mission following a string of unwarranted arrests of ENEMO leaders and continued harassment of its observers.

The recent violent crackdown against Iranian activists intensified after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei stated that public protests against the disputed election must cease. Tehran’s prosecutor general publicly announced that more than 2,500 people were detained in Tehran alone, with over 500 still in detention. In addition, 242 people have been detained at their homes or places of work by unidentified agents and taken to undisclosed locations, including 25 journalists and 87 students. Tehran’s police chief admitted 20 fatalities, but other estimates have put the number at more than 30.

By Massih Alinejad

In the wake of June’s highly contested election, speculation in the streets of Iran was that a post-election fight was taking place within the regime between former president and chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council Hashemi Rafsanjani and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  The infighting discouraged many from becoming involved for fear of being demolished by the powerful forces. The dynamics, however, have changed. A new round of internal tensions within the Islamic regime may determine the fate of Iran’s old guard.

By Ramin Jahanbegloo

The Iran Election Bulletin is a biweekly publication covering domestic political and election issues in Iran.