Criminal responsibility of political parties in the Iranian legal system

Identifying criminal liability for legal entities is one of controversial issues in criminal law. A party is considered as one of the most important legal entities whose criminal liability is important, from different aspects. The paper primarily defines concept and background of political parties; then, discusses legal conditions for activity of political parties, after explaining their legal personality and determining the time for formation of legal personality in substantive and affirmative terms. Necessity of identifying criminal liability for political parties, and also foundations of such kind of liability from theoretical and legal points of view are among those subjects discussed, in the paper. Meanwhile, making separation in activities pertaining to political parties, some strategies have been proposed to determine criminal liability for political parties; so that, uncertainties and objections to Islamic Penal Code in explaining criminal liability would be removed. Following subjects are among those issues dealt with here, in the paper: rules and regulations governing crimes performed by political parties, identification of responsible person in those crimes pertaining to political parties, correlation between penalties imposed on real person along with legal entity, those penalties imposable in this respect, and the way these penalties are imposed. Also, references have been made to some articles of the “Law on Activities of Political Parties and Political Groups”; while, making emphasis on necessity of its review and prioritizing legal approach over other political categories, etc.