Pathology of the competence of the president in drafting the Charter of Citizen law

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor in Law Faculty of Tehran University (Pardis Farabi)

2 MA. in International Trade Law, Islamic Azad University Tehran University Central Organization

10.22099/jls.2024.49264.5100

Abstract

The fundamental rights and freedoms enjoyed by members of society are essentially interpretations of the broader concept of "human rights" at the international level. These rights are enshrined and updated in the constitutions of various countries, reflecting different historical contexts and governing principles.
Human rights encompass a set of privileges and entitlements that people inherently possess simply by virtue of being human. To clarify, a right can be understood as a "guaranteed individual preference" mandated and protected by a higher political authority. This guarantee and obligation remain constant regardless of the social status of the individual claiming the right or the moral implications of exercising it. This understanding of rights rests on two fundamental elements: "moral agency" or "being a person," and consequently, "inherent dignity." This necessitates the existence of legal institutions to uphold both the personhood of individuals as conscious agents and the inherent dignity or ultimate value of human beings.
According to the key principle of moral actuality, humans, as rational beings, possess the capacity to make valuable decisions and govern their own lives. Consequently, all individuals, regardless of external circumstances like cultural, social, economic, or political conditions, possess equal dignity, value, and rights. Furthermore, based on the principle of individual moral agency and self-regulation, people should have the freedom to determine their own destinies and manage their lives without obstacles to implementing their decisions. Since the concept and institution of rights were created to protect these fundamental aspects of human life, they necessarily possess an "organic and instrumental" character.
However, as "individual" preferences, rights can sometimes compete with other normative claims. They are balanced with other value demands, such as public interest and collective existence, by adhering to supporting theories of justice. Consequently, rights constitute a "minimum" domain belonging to justice and cover only a limited part of it. Furthermore, rights are designed to support individuals' sovereignty over their destinies and are "morally neutral," meaning they support individuals' decisions without moral judgment. Human rights view the human moral agent as one who governs their destiny, making choices that should be respected regardless of their moral content. This discussion aims not to impose moral options but to support individuals' chosen options.
Hence, rights, in the theory of preference, lack objectives under any condition, solely serving fundamental values like inherent dignity and moral effectiveness. Therefore, if fundamental values could be maintained without the aid of legal institutions throughout the development of collective human life, there would be no need for the concept of rights. This necessitates a continuous process of diagnosing and redefining the concept of rights while considering social transformations and addressing specific societal needs, always within the framework of fundamental values.
It's worth mentioning that human rights have many aspects and manifestations, categorizable under different patterns. Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran has enumerated and recognized numerous examples of human rights in the third chapter of its constitution, advancing fundamental rights and freedoms. Furthermore, in addition to strong constitutional provisions, the drafting of the Law on Respect for Legitimate Freedoms and Protection of Citizen Rights, ratified on May 15, 2013, by the Islamic Council, aims to ensure the people's fundamental rights and freedoms.  Despite the emphasis in these laws, debates about protecting fundamental rights and freedoms often arise due to reliance on special methods, potentially conflicting with established legal standards. Ensuring the aforementioned rights and freedoms faces ambiguities, as seen in discussions around drafting a "Citizenship Rights Charter" by the presidency. Here, we will explore the case of the "Citizenship Rights Charter" to illustrate the challenges in upholding fundamental principles like the rule of law, separation of powers, supervision, and accountability. 

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References

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