How Will Protest Gatherings Be Held in Iran?
WANA (Jan 20) – Under a new bill proposed by Iran’s Parliament, individuals seeking to organise protest gatherings can hold peaceful demonstrations by notifying the governorate of the subject and timing of the protest, and by doing so at locations designated by the governorate, within a clearly defined legal framework.
Qassem Ravanbakhsh, a member of the praesidium of the Iranian Parliament’s Internal Affairs and Councils Commission, said the bill aims to implement Article 27 of Iran’s Constitution, which permits public assemblies and marches provided they do not disrupt Islamic principles or public security, but requires practical legislation to be enforced.
The proposed law consists of 29 articles and was finalised after several months of review within the parliamentary commission. Similar initiatives had been introduced in Iran’s previous parliament but were never approved.
Ravanbakhsh said recent events showed that violent actors exploited some protest gatherings, prompting lawmakers to prioritise the bill in order to separate peaceful protesters from rioters.
He added that the legislation would allow citizens to express their demands within a legal framework, while obligating authorities to address those demands. The government, he said, is expected to draft the executive bylaw shortly after the bill’s final approval.
Under the proposal, each city will designate specific open areas for protest gatherings, selected to avoid disrupting public movement. Organisers will choose their preferred location from those suggested by the governorate and announce the time of the event.
The bill also stipulates that gatherings must be peaceful, that carrying weapons is prohibited, and that police will not enter the protests but will be responsible for maintaining security around them.
Demonstrators participate in a protest against the insult to the Quran in Stockholm, outside the Swedish Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on July 21, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
