WANA (Jan 19) – Members of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Parliament approved Article 1 of the bill on supporting the holding of public gatherings and marches, which is dedicated to defining key terms used in the legislation.

 

According to Article 1, the terms used in this law are defined as follows:

 

Gathering or Assembly: Any voluntary and temporary assembly of individuals in open public spaces such as sidewalks, squares, and parks, held in a stationary manner for the purpose of expressing views, demands, or protests on issues including professional, cultural, social, economic, and political matters.

 

March: Any voluntary and temporary assembly of individuals in public spaces such as streets and public thoroughfares, held while moving along a route for the purpose of expressing views, demands, or protests on issues including professional, cultural, social, economic, and political matters.

 

Organizer: One or more natural or legal persons who are responsible for planning and holding a gathering or march.

 

Public Place: Any location which, regardless of public or private ownership, is accessible to the general public at the appropriate time by virtue of an explicit or implicit right or permission, or through payment.

 

Open Place: Any location, all or part of which is visible to the general public.

 

The bill was approved after months of debate, coming shortly after peaceful protests in Iran over economic hardships were, according to Iranian officials, hijacked by foreign agents, in which they committed terrorist actions such as setting fire to religious sites, destroying public properties and killing people and police officers.

 

In recent years, due to the escalation of protests into unrest, such as the events of 2022 and the Mahsa Amini case, this law was passed after lengthy deliberations.

 

For years, people have questioned how they can express dissent or protest government decisions without being portrayed as causing chaos or unrest. Analysts believe that this law aims to clarify the rules and protect peaceful demonstrations.

Cars burn in a street during the protests erupt over the collapse of the currency’s value in Tehran, Iran, January 8, 2026. Stringer/WANA (West Asia News Agency)