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United Nations investigators on Thursday urged Iran to immediately withdraw draft legislation that could impose prison sentences of up to 30 years for communicating with foreign individuals or organizations, calling the measure a serious threat to basic freedoms.
The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said it was "appalled" by the bill now before the Iranian parliament, warning in a statement that it represented "a dangerous escalation in suppressing fundamental freedoms and isolating Iranians from the international community."
Although the text has not been finalized, the draft would prohibit "any activity or communication by natural or legal persons, whether Iranian or foreign, that undermines independence, national unity, Islamic standards, or national sovereignty."
Iranian authorities have framed the legislation as a measure to safeguard the country's "independence, sovereignty, national unity, and cultural identity."
The fact-finding mission said the bill's wording was so broad that any interaction with designated foreign states, media organizations, academic institutions, human rights defenders or civil society groups could be treated as a major security offense.
Because deliberations in parliament are ongoing, the exact length of potential sentences remains unclear, but investigators said journalists, academics and activists could face prison terms of up to three decades for contact with foreign entities.
The mission described the measure as a "broad and vaguely worded bill" that would compel Iranians to declare and register any activities involving foreign agents or foreign nationals.
Under the draft, failing to secure advance approval for activities such as publishing books and articles, running newspapers, sharing data or pursuing academic collaborations could expose individuals to criminal prosecution. The legislation would also extend to economic and financial dealings, including money transfers and the provision of goods and services, which would likewise require official authorization.
Mission chief Sara Hossain said the panel was troubled by the sweeping scope of the proposal. "We are appalled at the steps by the government of Iran to subject everyday Iranians to blanket criminalisation for any contact with the outside world," she said.
Abbas Golro, who leads the foreign affairs committee in Iran's parliament, pushed back against the criticism in comments to the semi-official Mehr news agency on Thursday, saying the bill is intended to "protect Iranian citizens against any foreign influence." He added that "there is no cause for concern regarding this bill, and in my view, the criticism levelled against it stems from an insufficient understanding of its provisions."
The fact-finding mission, which operates independently and does not speak on behalf of the United Nations as a whole, was established by the UN Human Rights Council in November 2022.
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