Members of Kavian belong to different political leanings and sometimes hold very different views. Yet, they are united by a common goal: a democratic Iran. This is precisely why we need a fundamental, shared vision of the future of our country - based on our fundamental principles. 

 

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Human Rights

These are the fundamental rights to which every human being is entitled. They protect life, dignity, freedom and equality of all people. It goes without saying that we support the universal human rights declared by the United Nations.

 

Principles of Democracy

Democracy consists of three central, interrelated characteristics.

 

First, there must be institutions and procedures in place through which citizens can effectively express their preferences regarding alternatives to policies and politicians - this means free and fair elections.

 

Second, there must be institutionalized limits on the exercise of power by the executive branch - that is, there is a constitution and politicians are not above that constitution.

 

Third, there must be a guarantee of civil liberties for all citizens in everyday life and in political participation - the government must respect the constitutional rights of each individual.

 

We strive for a democratic Iran whose constitution guarantees these principles and whose institutions actively realize them.

 

Territorial integrity

We understand Iran's territorial integrity to mean the inviolability and preservation of its national borders. It is a fundamental principle of international law, which states that Iranian territory may not be threatened from outside or inside.

 

Ahmad Asali, member of our Board of Directors, has published an in-depth article on the issue of territorial integrity, based on the process to answer a similar question with regards to Quebec and a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada. You can find it here.

 

 

 

In addition to these basic principles, our work is based on further social and political values, as described in the document describing our guiding values.