National
0

Legal Community’s Coop. Key to Enforcing Rights Charter

Legal Community’s Coop. Key to Enforcing Rights Charter
Legal Community’s Coop. Key to Enforcing Rights Charter

President Hassan Rouhani noted the importance of expert legal advice and consultations that helped the government compile the Charter on Citizens’ Rights and called on the legal community to help enforce the document.

Rouhani unveiled the 120-article charter in December to fulfill one of his 2013 electoral promises to clearly delineate, promote and defend the rights of citizens. It is meant to raise public awareness on their rights and commits all government bodies to ensure their enforcement.

Rouhani appointed a special assistant tasked with supervising, coordinating and pursuing the appropriate implementation of the government’s obligations under the charter.

It requires bodies affiliated to the executive branch to prepare the plan for reforming and developing the legal system within six months from the date of the charter’s publication.

The president said the effective implementation of the charter’s provisions hinges on the cooperation of the legal community.

“Lawyers and legal experts can offer the biggest help,” he said in a speech at a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday to mark the 64th anniversary of the independence of Iran Bar Association, President.ir reported.

Rouhani stressed the need to inform people on their rights as Iranian citizens, citing instances where they are entitled to withhold information on their private life from the police or judiciary officials.

“The people should become aware where they have the right to refuse to answer questions of an investigator or a judge … about their personal life,” he said.

The charter says the citizens’ private domain and life, residence, vehicles and personal items are protected from arbitrary interference, search and review without legal permission and searching, collecting, processing, using and revealing citizens’ correspondence, whether electronic or non-electronic, and their personal information and data are banned, unless legally authorized.

It highlights the citizens’ right to freedom of thought and prohibits inquisition and prosecution of people for holding a particular opinion.

Add new comment

Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints

Financialtribune.com