Statute of Sepehr Azadi Iran

The name of the organization is Sepehr Azadi Iran.

Any Iranian or person of Iranian descent may become a member of the organization.

Membership requires acceptance of Sepehr Azadi Iran’s Charter as the organization’s belief system, value structure, and basis for policy, and acceptance of this Statute as its general organizational framework. Members must also pay membership dues.

Note 1. New members serve a three-month provisional period. A provisional member may attend Sepehr meetings without voting rights and is exempt from dues during this period.

Note 2. If a provisional member joined through a local association, that association decides on permanent membership after three months. For an individual member, the Organization and Finance Committee is the deciding authority.

Note 3. The membership count of an association is based on its permanent members.

Note 4. A local association may exempt one person from dues when it has up to ten members, and two people when it has eleven or more.

Note 5. Dues are payable by the end of the calendar year. Members in arrears are suspended until their financial obligations are met; payment automatically restores membership and its associated rights.

Note 6. Newly admitted members have until the end of the calendar year in which they join to pay their dues.

Note 7. The amount of membership dues is set by Congress or the Supreme Council.

Note 8. Retirees, unemployed people, asylum seekers, students, and others experiencing genuine financial hardship pay 20 percent of annual dues. Local associations determine eligibility; for individual members, the Organization Committee does so.

4.1. Members may vote and stand for election to all organizational bodies. Eligibility for the Political–Executive Board, the Presidency of the Supreme Council, or the Arbitration Board begins after one year of membership and at least six months of work in a committee.

4.2. Members may freely express their views within and outside the organization and publish them through the organization’s publications.

4.3. When members express views in public or in the media that differ from the organization’s charters or adopted policies, they must clearly disclose that difference.

4.4. Members may submit objections or complaints to the Arbitration Board for review.

5.1. Local and virtual associations are the organizational units of Sepehr Azadi Iran.

Note 1. A local association may be established at city, state or province, regional, or country level.

Note 2. New associations seeking admission between congresses may be admitted by the Supreme Council upon a recommendation from the Organization Committee.

Note 3. Where no association exists at a person’s place of residence, that person may join directly, work with executive working groups through the Organization and Finance Committee, and join a virtual association.

Note 4. Three months after a new local or virtual association is formed and its membership confirmed by the Organization and Finance Committee, it may present its credentials to Congress or the Supreme Council. Once approved, it immediately gains voting rights. Before approval, it may attend without a vote as an observer.

5.2. The organization has four elected bodies: Congress, the Supreme Council, the Political–Executive Board, and the Arbitration Board.

5.3. Members of these bodies are elected by secret ballot of association delegates.

6.1. Congress is held annually with elected delegates from local and virtual associations and is the organization’s highest body.

Note 1. An extraordinary Congress is held if half of the Political–Executive Board is removed or resigns, or if two-thirds of the Board or Supreme Council delegates request one.

Note 2. Associations elect one delegate for every three members.

Note 3. The Organization and Finance Committee announces the list of voting members one week before Congress. At the opening of Congress, delegates from local and virtual associations identify themselves according to that approved list.

Note 4. Congress meetings are conducted under the Congress Rules of Procedure appended to this Statute.

7.1. Congress may change the organization’s name.

7.2. Congress may amend the Charter. Any Charter amendment requires 70 percent of votes cast by delegates present at a duly constituted Congress.

7.3. Congress establishes policy and the general framework for organizational activity.

7.4. Congress elects the Political–Executive Board, the Presidency of the Supreme Council, and the Arbitration Board.

7.5. With at least 70 percent of votes cast by delegates present at a duly constituted session, Congress may dissolve the organization or merge it into another organization.

7.6. Congress may amend this Statute. Amendments require 60 percent of votes cast by delegates present at a duly constituted Congress.

8.1. Between congresses, the Supreme Council is the organization’s highest body.

8.2. Local and virtual associations appoint representatives as follows: three to five members, one representative; six to ten, two; eleven to fifteen, three; sixteen to twenty, four; and twenty-one or more, five.

8.3. Members of the Political–Executive Board may not serve as Supreme Council representatives.

8.4. Associations must name their Supreme Council representatives during Congress or no later than one month afterward.

8.5. The three members of the Presidency of the Supreme Council are elected directly by Congress delegates. The Presidency convenes and coordinates Council meetings.

Note 1. Members of the Presidency may attend Political–Executive Board meetings without a vote solely in an oversight capacity. They may point out departures from Congress or Supreme Council decisions or Sepehr’s governing documents but may not interfere in executive affairs.

Note 2. The Presidency may not intervene in determining the number of association representatives on the Council and must accept the Organization and Finance Committee’s determination.

Note 3. Associations may replace their Council representatives when necessary but must give the Presidency formal notice at least 24 hours before a meeting.

8.6. The Presidency sets the Council’s agenda and conducts meetings under the Rules of Procedure appended to this Statute.

9.1. The Council reviews and approves the organization’s general policies within the framework adopted by Congress.

9.2. It oversees the policies and programs of the Political–Executive Board and makes necessary changes.

9.3. It may remove one or more members of the Political–Executive Board and appoint replacements.

9.4. The Council must meet at least once every three months. If half of the Political–Executive Board is removed or resigns, the Council must convene an extraordinary Congress within two months.

9.5. A joint meeting of the Council and Political–Executive Board is held at the request of a majority of Council delegates or of the Board. Board members have voting rights in joint meetings, whose authority is limited to that of the Council.

9.6. The Council may remove members of its Presidency or accept their resignations. Replacements must be elected at the same meeting.

10.1. The Political–Executive Board consists of seven full members and two alternates elected by Congress from among the organization’s members for one year.

10.2. Board members are elected individually.

10.3. During their term, Board members may not hold a leadership position in another organization.

10.4. Full members may serve no more than three consecutive terms. After one term away, they may again stand for election.

10.5. Alternates may attend Board meetings and accept responsibilities but ordinarily have no vote. When a full member is absent, an alternate gains a vote for that meeting according to the number of votes received at Congress or by agreement.

10.6. A Board member may not simultaneously serve in the Presidency of the Supreme Council or on the Arbitration Board.

10.7. A Board member may serve as the responsible officer or a permanent member of no more than two committees.

11.1. A candidate must have been a member of the organization for at least one year.

11.2. A candidate must have at least six months’ experience in one of the organization’s committees or have represented a local or virtual association on the Supreme Council.

12.1. A Board member’s resignation takes effect when approved by the Supreme Council.

12.2. Once approved, the first alternate permanently replaces the resigning member and gains full voting rights.

12.3. Following a resignation, the alternate serving as replacement has voting rights until the Supreme Council meets.

13.1. The Political–Executive Board is the organization’s official spokesperson.

13.2. Its members bear individual and collective responsibility to the Supreme Council and Congress.

13.3. It has authority to develop policies and operational programs within the framework adopted by Congress and the Council.

13.4. It coordinates the organization’s activities in pursuit of its goals.

13.5. Board members must uphold the Charter, Statute, and general policies and may not publicly state or sign positions contrary to them.

13.6. Board members divide responsibility for organization and finance, political affairs, media and public relations, campaigns, international affairs, women and anti-discrimination work, and cooperation and joint projects. They establish executive working groups and carry out activities through them.

14.1. Committees operate under Political–Executive Board members with the voluntary participation of Sepehr members and collaborators. Members are expected to join at least one committee.

14.2. Except for the Organization and Finance Committee and the Political Committee, committees have permanent and rotating participants. Each has five permanent members: the Board-appointed responsible officer and four interested members nominated by that officer and confirmed by the Board.

Note 1. A committee meeting is duly constituted when at least three permanent members are present. Decisions require a simple majority of all permanent and rotating participants present.

Note 2. On the responsible officer’s proposal and with committee approval, one permanent member becomes deputy. The deputy may not be a full member of the Political–Executive Board and assists the responsible officer and chairs the committee in their absence.

15.1. The responsible officer is a full member of the Political–Executive Board selected by that body. The accounting officer is an organization member appointed by the Board.

15.2. Permanent members are the responsible officer, accounting officer, a representative elected by the Presidency of the Supreme Council, and two Sepehr members nominated by the responsible officer and confirmed by the Board. Meetings require three permanent members; decisions require a simple majority of those present.

15.3. The Committee strengthens existing associations, helps establish new ones, prepares the annual budget, oversees and organizes all financial affairs, and reports quarterly to the organization. It finalizes the membership list and determines voting allocations for associations at the Council and Congress under the Statute and rules.

Note 1. All funds sent to the organization, including dues and donations, must be sent exclusively to the accounting officer, who alone may pay organizational expenses. The accounting officer must maintain clear, transparent, accurate, and publicly understandable records.

Note 2. Financial records and payments within associations are excluded from this rule. Each association’s finance officer is responsible for its accounts, and the organization’s accounting officer is not responsible for their accuracy.

Note 3. In exceptional cases, another member may make a payment with the accounting officer’s case-specific authorization. Expenses over US$100 require an invoice and proof of payment.

Note 4. The accounting officer reports to the Supreme Council and Congress under accounting standards and archives financial records.

Note 5. The accounting officer conducts all organizational correspondence through the Organization and Finance Committee and does not operate as a separate committee.

Note 6. Financial reports must be audited and approved by the Organization and Finance Committee.

15.4. The accounting officer receives dues according to association membership reports and Sepehr’s financial rules and notifies the Committee and the relevant association or member of matches or discrepancies. Members disputing their payment status may submit evidence to the Committee, whose decision is final.

15.5. Within one month after Congress, local and virtual associations must appoint representatives to the Committee as rotating members. Associations may replace them when necessary.

15.6. The Committee establishes the organization’s archive and stores all documents systematically and chronologically.

15.7. The Committee interprets the Statute. If at least two Board members or five Sepehr members object, the matter may be referred to the Supreme Council, whose interpretation is final.

15.8. The Committee reviews local and virtual associations to ensure genuine group and organizational relationships and the holding of meetings. It reports problems to Congress or the Council. Associations must hold at least two group meetings each year and report them to the Committee.

The Committee administers online communications, including the website and social platforms; plans and produces radio, television, online discussion, and related programs; develops media capacity; publishes and promotes the organization’s positions and programs; and produces political, cultural, and analytical material for members and the wider Iranian public.

It builds relationships with Persian-language media to communicate Sepehr’s views and maintains a public-relations unit to handle media contact, publicity, event coverage, public surveys of organizational activity, and responses to communications addressed to Sepehr Azadi Iran.

The Committee investigates and follows human-rights violations in Iran, including the situation of prisoners, women, children, and other groups at risk.

It examines the situation of oppressed religious groups and nonreligious people, including atheists; and the conditions of ethnic communities in Iran, including Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Baluch, Turkmen, and others.

It cooperates with human-rights groups, assists in preparing reports, and defends the right to a healthy environment.

The Committee contacts governmental and nongovernmental international institutions to exchange views on Iran and the region and cooperates with them within frameworks accepted by Sepehr.

It participates in or organizes international conferences on Iran; communicates with and gives interviews to non-Iranian media; and informs foreign institutions about Iran within the organization’s adopted positions.

It prepares and distributes statements, reports, and declarations on Iran and the Middle East in foreign languages and translates articles for publication on Sepehr’s website and social-media pages.

The Committee exposes gender discrimination in Iran and raises public awareness of it.

It develops programs to win support and cooperate with groups and individuals active in Iran’s women’s movement and with progressive women’s movements outside Iran in defense of women in Iran and worldwide.

It also develops programs supporting the rights of LGBTQ people and gender equality.

The Committee contacts Iranian organizations in the United States, Europe, and other countries to explore coalitions, cooperation, and coordination consistent with Sepehr’s plans and policies.

It follows the positions of aligned groups, parties, and organizations, identifies areas of agreement and disagreement, and seeks dialogue and coordination with republicans and advocates of freedom inside Iran.

21.1. The Political Committee is an advisory arm of the Political–Executive Board. It comprises five Sepehr members—including at least one and no more than two Board members—and two external advisers, all appointed by the Board for one year. A Board member on the Committee, appointed by the Board, serves as its responsible officer.

21.2. The Committee develops strategic analysis and drafts political, social, economic, and cultural statements and documents for final decision by the Board, which remains accountable for the Committee’s work.

Note 1. When a rapid position is required, the Board may draft a statement directly.

Note 2. The Board may assign a particular draft to another group of Sepehr members.

Note 3. The Political Committee has no role in drafting joint statements with other organizations.

21.3. The Committee administers Sepehr’s think tank, including educational, intellectual, political, and open-discussion sessions. The Committee appoints the think tank’s responsible officer.

22.1. The Arbitration Board has three members elected by Congress for one year. They may not hold a leadership position in another political organization during their term.

22.2. The Board reviews member complaints and disputes between working groups or committees and Political–Executive Board officials and issues decisions.

When a member engages in insulting speech or conduct or makes unfounded accusations, the Arbitration Board may act under Article 23 after receiving a complaint from the Political–Executive Board, an association, or a Sepehr member and reviewing the matter.

Note 1. The Arbitration Board may not hear complaints concerning how members of the Political–Executive Board or other bodies perform their organizational duties; Congress and the Supreme Council have jurisdiction over such matters.

Note 2. The Arbitration Board must limit its review and decision to the specific subject of a complaint.

It also investigates and reports on matters assigned by Congress or the Supreme Council.

22.3. Members or committees affected by an Arbitration Board decision, or whose complaints are rejected, may appeal to the Supreme Council. The Council may affirm or reverse the decision; its ruling is final. An appeal decision requires 60 percent of votes present at a duly constituted Council meeting.

23.1. If the Arbitration Board finds that an organization member has violated the rules, it may issue an oral warning; a written warning with temporary suspension of the right to post in Sepehr’s internal media; permanent loss of that posting right; or a recommendation to the Supreme Council or Congress that the member be expelled.

23.2. If the person is a member of the Political–Executive Board, the Arbitration Board may issue an oral warning or a written warning. If misconduct recurs after a written warning, it may impose a one-month suspension of membership or recommend impeachment to the Supreme Council.