Article

2015-08-31 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

New "Foreign Legion" Law will Boost Iran’s Proxy Wars

A group of Iranian MPs have taken steps to clear the way for foreign nationals to be awarded citizenship in exchange for taking up arms for Iran.

Proposed amendments to Iran’s Civil Code referring to naturalization, called “Facilitating Naturalization of non-Iranian Veterans, Warriors and Elites,” will offer citizenship to foreigners who join Iranian military units, whether it be border patrol, advances on Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, public order operations, or any of Iran’s less “official” military initiatives, including support for Hezbollah. Under the amendments, “revolutionary heroes” will be able to become citizens without having to go through existing naturalization requirements, or even having to obtain the approval of the Council of Ministers, the body traditionally responsible for these matters.

Parliamentarians who signed the bill say people who “serve the revolution,” including people who have contributed to Iran’s scientific progress, will be entitled easier access to the citizenship they deserve. But human rights activists and lawyers say the amendments are part of a political and militaristic strategy to entice immigrants, including Afghans who have resided illegally in the country since 1979, into fighting Iran’s proxy wars.

If passed, the amendment to Article 980 will allow a new working group — the Committee for Granting Naturalization to non-Iranian Veterans, Warriors and Elites — to decide whether a non-Iranian “revolutionary” will be granted Iranian citizenship. The MPs who tabled the bill on January 12 include conservative parliamentarians Ruhollah Hosseinian, Jabar Koochaki Nejad, Abdullah Sameri, Alireza Salimi and Nader Ghazipour. They are currently waiting for the new addition to be reviewed in parliament.

So who is affected by the changes to this law, and what is it really trying to achieve?

The establishment of the new committee is controversial. If the amendment to the existing naturalization law passes through parliament the new committee, with its new powers, will be made up of representatives from various Iranian authorities, including the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (Sepah), police forces, the Foundation of Islamic Revolution Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, several ministries, including Intelligence; Science, Research and Technology; Health and Medical Education; and Foreign Affairs, as well as the representatives from the office of the country’s public prosecutor, Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi. A representative from the Islamic Consultative Assembly will also serve as an observer member on the committee.

Posted by Pappy 2015-08-31 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iran

#1 So we have allowed financial support of the terrorist groups Hezbullah and Hamas under this current POTUS? There was a time this would have had a clear cut name and been handled accordingly.

Posted by JohnQC 2015-08-31 10:01|| 2015-08-31 10:01|| Front Page Top

#2 Running out of Iranians willing to fight & die for MM?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-08-31 10:13|| 2015-08-31 10:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Running out of Iranians willing to fight & die for MM?

Most likely. The million-plus survivors of the Iran-Iraq war are now fathers and grandfathers. Their offpring aren't inclined to run off and die for the Revolution. The mullahcracy also paid a heavy price both monetarily and in public support last time around (though being Iranian, they've figured out ways to profit from their "compassion.")

There's long been an "immigrant" presence in Iran's security units, most notably in the Basiij. Given there's a lot of refugees floating around the edges of Iran, the mullahs figure there's a good pool to draw from to do "jobs that Iranians won't do."

Posted by Pappy 2015-08-31 11:55|| 2015-08-31 11:55|| Front Page Top

#4 Romans giving citizenship to auxiliaries---I remember how it ended.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-08-31 15:57|| 2015-08-31 15:57|| Front Page Top

#5 "Service guarantees citizenship"

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2015-08-31 16:30|| 2015-08-31 16:30|| Front Page Top

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