By Kayhan Life Staff
As part of its continued crackdown on Iranians living abroad, the office of Iran’s Attorney General, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, has issued an order banning Iranians living outside the country from granting of power of attorney to relatives for the transfer of assets that they own in Iran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been instructed to halt the issuance of powers of attorney related to the transfer of assets belonging to Iranians living abroad through the Integrated Management System for Consular Services (MIKHAK) — an online platform designed to handle consular requests, including powers of attorney, for Iranians living outside the country — until further notice.
Islamic Republic Has Gone Back to Seizing Assets of Iranians Living Abroad
According to the Attorney General’s directive, Iranians residing abroad will no longer be able to grant powers of attorney to relatives for the transfer of assets unless they personally travel to Iran and either complete the transfer themselves or do so by granting a power of attorney at an official notary’s office within the country.
Movahedi-Azad stated that this measure aims to restrict the ability of Iranians who oppose the Islamic Republic while living abroad to benefit from powers of attorney. He further emphasized that, under the “Law on the Intensification of Punishments for Espionage,” the assets of those individuals within Iran will also be subject to seizure and confiscation.
Verdicts Against ‘Enemy Agents’ Should Be Expedited, Iran Judiciary Chief Says
The new directive from the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office came just days after domestic media outlets reported that assets of more than 400 Iranians living abroad had been confiscated due to their support for Israel and the United States during the recent conflict.
The names of several individuals were published in these reports, including a significant number of journalists working for satellite TV channels such as Iran International and Manoto, as well as various artists and athletes residing abroad.
Soccer-Iran Women Players Thank Australian Government For Protection
Former Iranian Water Polo Player Soleimani Distraught Over Wrestler’s Execution
On April 4, the Mizan news agency, the media arm of the Iranian judiciary, reported that, following an order from Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi, instructions were issued to identify, seize assets, and freeze the bank accounts of over 100 Iranian citizens living abroad.
The Mizan news agency explained that this repressive action was being taken to “intensify punishments for espionage, cooperation with the Israeli government, and countries opposed to the Islamic Republic, which are active against Iran’s security and national interests, as well as to counter the actions of foreign media agents collaborating with countries involved in the war.”
It is important to note that the new directive applies to all Iranians living abroad, not just those who have engaged in activities against the Islamic Republic.
As a result, Iranian students studying abroad, as well as other residents of foreign countries, will no longer be able to grant powers of attorney for financial matters within Iran.
The Dadban Legal Counseling and Training Center for Activists noted, in response to this move: “The ban on transferring assets of Iranians living abroad and on granting powers of attorney for the management or transfer of their property clearly contravenes fundamental principles of property rights and lacks a valid legal basis.”
“Property rights are fundamental rights for every citizen, and no administrative or judicial authority has the power to deprive individuals of their ability to manage their legitimate property without a clear legal order and a valid judicial process,” Dadban said.
Dadban added: “There should be no distinction between Iranians living inside and outside the country in the enjoyment of their civic and legal rights, and the place of residence should not diminish or revoke those rights.”
“The imposition of such restrictions effectively amounts to discrimination against a segment of citizens based solely on their place of residence, and it demonstrates the government’s intention to deprive Iranians abroad of rights that other citizens can enjoy without obstruction. The measure is in direct conflict with the principle of equality before the law,” it concluded.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran’s Judiciary, announced shortly after the outbreak of the war in late February that a judicial order had been issued for the seizure of assets linked to what he referred to as “collaborators with the enemy, both inside and outside the country.”
He warned these individuals that they faced the death penalty, stating, “One of the penalties specified in this case is execution, and after investigations, one of the legal penalties will be applied to those involved.”
Following the issuance of this directive by the judiciary, the “Saham” smart financial inquiry system was launched. With this system in place, judicial bodies and courts across the country can quickly and efficiently identify citizens’ assets and properties, enabling them to take the necessary steps to seize them.
