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.