Welfare Organization's Efforts to Abolish the 'Marriage of Guardian and Adopted Child' Law

The newspaper Shargh reported on the "Parliament's plan to grant citizenship to non-Iranian combatants and veterans," quoting Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, stating: "In the session on Tuesday, the National Security Commission of Parliament reviewed the amendment of Article 980 of the Civil Code to facilitate the granting of citizenship to combatants, veterans, and non-Iranian elites, and it was decided that proposals would be examined in the next session for decision-making." The newspaper Etemad reported that a "report on the attack on Motahari has reached Rouhani," quoting this parliament member as saying: Some institutions that are members of the Security Council of Fars Province played a role in organizing this attack, and in addition, the "governor" and "executive officials" are also implicated, and the "police force is also definitely at fault." The newspaper Jahan San'at reported on the Welfare Organization's efforts "to abolish the law on the marriage of guardian and adopted child." The newspaper Aftab Yazd emphasized in a report that "behind some protests against the Lausanne statement is related to the upcoming parliamentary elections." The newspaper Javan reported that the "request for the resignation of the head of Hajj" and the "proposal to cancel Umrah" are part of the reactions from Parliament and some clerics in Qom to the "assault by two Jeddah airport officers" on two Iranian teenagers. Hassan Qashqavi told Etemad that: "Investigations are being pursued seriously because this incident is very important, but we are concerned that the media aspect of this incident may both violate the privacy of the victims' families and diminish the importance of the issue. We see that many unrealistic and exaggerated topics are being raised regarding this incident that may divert us from the path of investigations, but in any case, the Foreign Ministry is taking the necessary actions to ensure that the two offending officers face the maximum punishment." The newspaper Iran published a report describing what it called "Iran's diplomatic mission to resolve the Yemen crisis," stating: "Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, who traveled to Oman and Pakistan for consultations on Yemen issues, met on Wednesday in Muscat with Yusuf bin Alawi, his Omani counterpart, to discuss the latest status of bilateral relations and regional developments, especially the situation in Yemen." The plan by Parliament members to "facilitate granting Iranian citizenship to non-Iranian combatants and veterans" was reported by Shargh, quoting Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Ninth Parliament, who stated: "In the session on Tuesday, the National Security Commission of Parliament reviewed the amendment of Article 980 of the Civil Code to facilitate granting citizenship to combatants, veterans, and non-Iranian elites, and it was decided that proposals would be examined in the next session for decision-making." Hossein Naqavi Hosseini stated that he does not remember the names of the proposal's proponents, but noted that this proposal has recently been submitted to the Judicial and National Security Commission of Parliament, saying: "Countries strive to maintain their citizenship and do not easily grant citizenship to non-nationals, but for individuals with capacities and capabilities, we must think of a solution." Ameneh Shirafkan, a parliamentary reporter for Shargh, noted that "the National Security Commission of Parliament is seeking to amend an article of the Civil Code to create facilities for granting Iranian citizenship to combatants, veterans, and non-Iranian elites," writing: "The strange point is that the Judicial Commission has not yet been informed of this amendment." Mohammad Ali Esfahani, a legal member of the Judicial Commission of the Ninth Parliament, told Shargh that he is "not aware of this amendment," but emphasized that "the Judicial Commission will act as a secondary or main commission in this regard in later stages," while Hossein Naqavi Hosseini considers the Judicial Commission to be the main one and the National Security Commission to be secondary in examining this proposal. According to Shargh, "the overlooked point in this regard is the reasons and justifications for amending this legal article," and despite the fact that the Judicial Commission had previously emphasized the issue of citizenship for children resulting from marriages between Iranian women and foreign men, it has been rejected each time due to financial and security issues. The newspaper reported that now Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesman for the National Security Commission of Parliament, announces the amendment of Article 980 of the Civil Code "to facilitate granting citizenship to non-Iranian combatants and veterans," and in response to whether the issue of citizenship for the children of such marriages will also be considered, he stated: "This issue is not addressed in this proposal." Shargh noted that "it is anticipated that the proposed plan will also face challenges in the path of approval due to similar reasons, ranging from security to economic issues," writing: "Allahyār Malekshahi, head of the Judicial Commission of the Ninth Parliament, is among those advocating for the determination of the citizenship status of children resulting from marriages between Iranian women and foreign men, especially Afghans, but so far no significant action has taken place in Parliament in this regard." According to Article 980 of the Civil Code, "Individuals who have rendered significant public service to Iran or those who have an Iranian spouse and children or hold high scientific positions and specialize in public welfare and request to enter the citizenship of the Islamic Republic of Iran, if the government deems their entry into the citizenship of the Islamic Republic of Iran appropriate, may be accepted into Iranian citizenship without the residency requirement, subject to the approval of the Cabinet." The newspaper reminded that if the proposal to amend Article 980 of the Civil Code to facilitate "granting citizenship to non-Iranian combatants and veterans" is approved in Parliament, "this proposal must later be approved by the government and the Cabinet." The newspaper noted that "according to Article 982 of the Civil Code, individuals who obtain Iranian citizenship enjoy all the rights established for Iranians, but they cannot attain certain positions such as the presidency, membership in the Guardian Council, presidency of the judiciary, ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, governorship and mayorship, membership in Parliament, membership in councils, employment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also hold any political position or mission," emphasizing that "judging, the highest command level in the army, the Revolutionary Guard, and the police force, and holding important intelligence and security positions are other jobs that are declared inaccessible to these individuals." The report on the attack on Motahari is in the hands of Rouhani. The newspaper Etemad reported that "the report on the attack on Motahari has reached Rouhani," and quoting this parliament member stated: Some institutions that are members of the Security Council of Fars Province played a role in organizing this attack, and in addition, the "governor" and "executive officials" are also implicated. The newspaper noted that the report on the attack on Ali Motahari in Shiraz "has currently been sent with the signature of the Minister of Interior to the President and the heads of the branches," stating: "This news was announced on Thursday by Hossein Zolfaqari, the security and police assistant to the Minister of Interior," while Ali Motahari also on Tuesday, before the report was sent to the heads of the branches, was informed about the follow-up of the issue in a meeting with the Minister of Interior. According to the newspaper Etemad, Hossein Zolfaqari, the Deputy Minister of Interior, stated that "a total of 10 individuals" from the assailants of Ali Motahari have been "summoned to court," and "one person who threw himself on the hood of the car was arrested three days ago." The security and police assistant to the Minister of Interior stated, however, that "the arrested individuals acted based on personal interpretation, and necessary actions will be taken by the judiciary in this regard." Ali Motahari, however, emphasized in an interview with Etemad that "the officials and executive authorities of Fars Province" are also "implicated" in this incident, and "with the completion of the report from the Ministry of Interior regarding the incident in Shiraz, the judicial process of this case has entered a new phase." The newspaper Etemad recalled that "although officials from the Ministry of Interior and the governor of Fars have reported the summoning, interrogation, and release on bail or guarantee of some of the accused in the case and the perpetrators of the attack, on the other hand, it was announced three days ago that the president and vice president of Shiraz University and the secretary of the association that invited Motahari have also been summoned to court and they too, like the main accused in the case, were released on bail." According to this newspaper, "the accusation against the officials of Shiraz University is that they did not comply with the letter from the Security Council of Fars Province regarding the cancellation of Motahari's speech." The newspaper Etemad also reported that, according to Ali Motahari's lawyer, "the taxi driver carrying Ali Motahari, whose vehicle was seriously damaged during the attack, has been summoned to the judicial authorities" and this taxi driver has also been "interrogated." Ali Motahari emphasized in an interview with Etemad that he considers the summoning of these individuals and their implication as "unjustified," and stated that "he will seriously pursue this case." This parliament member also stated: "In my opinion, the university has not been negligent or at fault, especially since there is a subtle point to note, and that is that if the Security Council opposes a program, what does that mean? At one point, someone wants to go to Shiraz for a program, and there may be clashes between supporters and opponents among the people, and the Security Council concludes that holding such a program is not advisable. This is a correct and principled position. But the Shiraz case was not like that; rather, some members of the Security Council, who themselves and their subordinates create such obstacles and insecurities, say that if someone they oppose comes here, insecurity will arise, and in fact, they say if such a person comes, our people will confront them, and therefore security is not established, and this program should not be held." Ali Motahari described the attack on himself on March 19 in Shiraz as "organized" and told Etemad: "It is very clear and evident where these individuals were organized from. Therefore, the position of some members of the Security Council in these cases is a fallacy and a logical circle. They say security is not established while their subordinates are disrupting security. Well, come and manage and prevent it, and fundamentally, the duty of the Security Council is to establish security, not to say that the university should cancel its program. With the current situation, only individuals accepted by a certain institution can go to speak at Shiraz University, while the selection of a speaker for a university has nothing to do with this institution." According to this newspaper, Ali Motahari also stated that "the executive apparatus of the province [Fars] has also been negligent. The police force is also definitely at fault, and those who were directly involved are also clearly identified as criminals." Ali Motahari expressed satisfaction with the judicial follow-up of this case, stating: "From now on, the matter pertains to the judiciary, which has acted well so far, and I hope they will deal with it decisively and without consideration," and "I told Mr. Rahmani Fazli that the important thing is that when the culprits and criminals are identified, there should be no consideration. That is, due to unrealistic considerations, this issue should not have an ambiguous fate, and follow-ups should not remain incomplete. We must reach a clear conclusion, and the designers, perpetrators, and culprits should be introduced to the people and punished so that such incidents do not happen again in the future." The Welfare Organization's efforts to abolish the 'Marriage of Guardian and Adopted Child' law were reported by the newspaper Jahan San'at. According to this newspaper, Habibollah Masoudi Farid, the Deputy for Social Affairs of the Welfare Organization, announced on Wednesday the "efforts to abolish the law on the marriage of guardian and adopted child" and said: "We are trying to amend this clause from the law supporting orphaned and abandoned children." The Deputy for Social Affairs of the Welfare Organization stated that "with the experiences we have in the Welfare Organization, this issue is very rare, and when an issue is this rare, its presence in the law is not necessary," and instead, "the mention of this issue in the law has created concerns in society that cannot be denied, and therefore we are working to amend it." Habibollah Masoudi Farid also stated that the issue of marriage between guardians and adopted children "is permissible and unobjectionable from a religious and legal perspective, but from a social and customary viewpoint, it is very rare and in some cases impossible." The newspaper Jahan San'at noted that "the announcement of the effort to abolish the law on the marriage of guardian and adopted child comes at a time when last year's proposal of this law created a lot of controversy and protests among various segments of society," stating that according to Article 26 of the law supporting orphaned and abandoned children, "marriage, whether during custody or afterwards, between the guardian and the adopted child is prohibited; unless the competent court, after consulting with the organization, deems it to be in the best interest of the adopted child." According to this newspaper, Habibollah Masoudi Farid stated that "currently, 23,000 orphaned and abandoned children are under the support of the Welfare Organization," and reported the presence of "10,000 orphaned and abandoned children in 600 'quasi-family' centers of the Welfare Organization." The Deputy for Social Affairs of the Welfare Organization also stated that "80% of the children under the care of the Welfare Organization are abandoned, who are placed under the guardianship of the Welfare Organization by the ruling of the judiciary, thus only 20% of the children under the care of this organization are orphaned." Habibollah Masoudi Farid pointed out that "for several years, the inflow and outflow in the Welfare Organization in this area have been almost equal, so that about a thousand children are accepted for adoption each year, with the number of inflows being similar to this number."