Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil in Iranian Law: Challenges and Ambiguities
Keywords:
Constitution of Iran, Human Dignity, Individual Rights, Privacy, Law to Protect Those Who Command and Forbid, Enjoining good and forbidding evilAbstract
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is one of the fundamental branches of Islam and a foundational principle of the Islamic Republic of Iran, explicitly recognized in the Constitution and in statutory laws such as the Law on the Protection of Commanders of Good and Forbidders of Evil (2015). Despite this legal acknowledgment, the implementation of this religious duty in society faces numerous challenges and ambiguities, primarily stemming from its potential conflict with fundamental individual rights such as dignity, life, property, residence, occupation, and privacy. The purpose of this study is to examine the legal status of enjoining good and forbidding evil, to analyze its deficiencies, and to propose solutions for resolving existing legal ambiguities. The research employs a descriptive–analytical and qualitative approach, with data collected and analyzed from legal documents including the Constitution, the Islamic Penal Code, the Law on the Protection of Commanders of Good and Forbidders of Evil, authoritative Islamic jurisprudential sources, and relevant scholarly articles. The findings indicate that despite the legislator’s efforts to protect those who perform this duty, concepts such as “individual rights” and “privacy” remain insufficiently defined and can lead to subjective interpretations and potential misuse in the enforcement of this religious obligation. Therefore, revising statutory provisions and clearly delineating exceptions and explicit instances are necessary to ensure both the correct and effective implementation of enjoining good and forbidding evil and the protection of individuals’ rights and human dignity.
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