What We Believe

The Council for a Democratic Iran seeks to raise global awareness about the absence of democracy and human rights in Iran and to bridge the gap between the people of Iran and the international community.

We believe there is an alternative between military confrontation with the current regime and accommodation. There is another way which will lead to the development of the free and peaceful Iran sought by millions of Iranians inside and outside of the country, and that is by enabling the Iranian people to decide their own future.

Our vision for Iran is guided by a commitment to:

Human Rights and Equality of Opportunity

We believe every Iranian individual possesses inherent, inviolable and fundamental human rights and freedoms. There should be equality for all before the law, without discrimination irrespective of language, race, color, gender, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, sect or any such considerations.

Every Iranian individual has the right to enjoy life, security and liberty and should have the equal protection of the law in securing these rights. This includes all manner of dress and appearance for men and women without outside intrusion, in accordance with accepted international standards of decency.

Iranians should have the right to travel freely both within their own country and internationally.

Freedom of Speech and Media

Every Iranian is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and belief and should be allowed to express and disseminate individual opinions orally, in print, pictures, video, film, blogs or other media, individually or collectively, without fear of intimidation or persecution.

All press, online and traditional, in Iran should be free and uncensored. People should be at liberty to assemble peaceably without the interference of government.

Freedom of Religion

We believe in the separation of religion and state and that the Iranian government should be secular and not a theocracy. We support a constitution that guarantees the full freedom of religion and religious rights for all individuals. This includes the right to practice one’s beliefs openly and publicly. No group shall be allowed to impose their religious preferences on another or dictate a particular religious belief system.

A Democratic Government

We believe in the separation of powers between the judiciary, the legislative and the executive branches. We do not believe that any Iranian authority – religious or otherwise – should be above the law and the will of the people.

We believe that all legislative powers and functions should be exercised by a body or bodies determined by the people of Iran, directly elected by universal suffrage and in conformity with a free and fair legal system that administers the law.

The executive branch should be directly elected and should take the form chosen by the Iranian people.

All government institutions, such as the armed forces, the civil service and police authorities should be solely answerable to a government elected by the people. The Iranian armed forces shall defend Iran and shall not be used as an instrument of internal oppression nor interfere in Iran’s political affairs and shall have no role in the transfer of authority.

An Independent Judiciary

We believe the judicial power of Iran should be vested in one supreme court and in any other courts that the legislative body determined by the people of Iran institutes. All trials shall be by jury. Judges must be independent with no authority over them except that of the law. No authority shall have the right to interfere in the judiciary and the affairs of justice.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty and should be granted access to legal representation and every person has the right to be treated with justice in judicial and administrative proceedings. Minors shall be given full protection under the law.

A Free Market Economy

We believe that a prosperous Iran depends on a free market economy in which decisions are made by Iranians as consumers and producers, rather than by a state-controlled economy. We believe that the free and open competition is best for Iran and its citizens. We believe in the right of individual Iranians to participate freely in domestic trade and trade with other countries.

Peaceful International Relations

We believe in a peaceful Iran that observes the principles of being a good neighbor, adhering to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and establishing its external relations on the basis of mutual interests and reciprocity, fully respecting its international obligations and commitments.