TY  - JOUR
T1  - The 2010 Law on Dissemination and Free Access to Information Focusing on
Sustainable Development of Civil Society and FOIA
AU - Seyyed Mousavi, Mir Sajjad AU - Asadzadeh, Ali 
JO  - The Social Sciences
VL  - 14
IS  - 10
SP  - 341
EP  - 345
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1818-5800
DO  - sscience.2019.341.345
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=sscience.2019.341.345
KW  - Information
KW  -freedom of information
KW  -right to access
KW  -privacy
KW  -dissemination law
KW  -transparency
AB  - Freedom of information is a basic requirement of freedom of expression in modern world. The right
to freedom of expression is one of the important indicator of human rights. It is noteworthy that both these
rights are inherent human rights. Freedom of information is the right of citizens to free access to information
held by government institutions. Freedom of information is one of the most important achievements of human
rights which is closely related to freedom and transparency of information. The most important effect of
freedom of information is the right to free and easy access to information; however, this right is restricted in
some cases. Although, recognition of the right to freedom of information is evident in the Iranian legal system,
adoption of the law on dissemination and free access to information and its executive regulations can be
considered as the first and most serious attempt in this field. By archival review of the written documents, this
study addresses FOIA in the light of sustainable development focusing on the law on dissemination and free
access to information. Hence, this study first describes the legal nature of FOIA and its role in the Iranian legal
system and distinguishes the concept of free access to information from other similar concepts. Then, this study
discusses and analyzes freedom of information and its interference with privacy as well as limitations and
exceptions to FOIA. Finally, its provisions, strengths and weaknesses as well as its enforcement are
overviewed. It is noteworthy that adoption of FOI and its executive regulations, recognition of this right of
Iranian citizens and emphasis on duty of the government to provide information to citizens is an important,
significant and effective step in paving the way for freedom of information and free access to information.
ER  -