Published on:
03/09/2017
Right to employment in constitution: the case of Baha’is
Section 7/Minorities
611
In the Name of God, the Sublime
No.: 78-910
Date: 1388/5/26 (August 17, 1999)
Your Excellency Hojjat’u’l Islam Mr. Khatami
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Greetings:
As you are aware, Article 28 of the constitution provides that:” Everyone has the right to pursue the vocation of his choice providing it is not in conflict with Islam, the public interests and the rights of others. It is the government’s duty, based on the needs of the society, to provide for everyone equal opportunity for employment.”
As it was brought to your attention, this article refers to three important points regarding employment:
1- The principle of freedom of choice of employment for all, notably all Iranian citizens, regardless of their racial, ethnic, linguistic and religious affiliations.
2- The duty of the government to create equal conditions of employment for all individuals regardless of their racial, ethnic, linguistic and religious affiliations.
3- The permission to restrict the freedom of career choice, in exceptional cases, where the intended job in question is in conflict with public interest or rights of others.
The Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Constitution is receiving grievances by certain individuals and groups, especially the unofficial (unrecognized) religious minorities, which suggest that Article 28 of the constitution has been violated. Two such cases which seem to indicate gross violations of the article of the constitution are, herewith, brought to your attention. The resolution, particularly of the first case as shown below, can be provided by your Excellency:
