Civil liberties in Iran are limited by which considerations?

• A. Freedom of assembly, press, and expression are unrestricted
• B. Dissent is punished only for foreigners
• C. Civil liberties are unrestricted for all citizens
• D. Security concerns and Islamic principles justify restrictions on civil liberties

Answer: (D)

In Iran, civil liberties are limited because the state justifies restrictions with security concerns and Islamic principles. The government argues that preserving national security and maintaining an Islamic order requires curbing freedoms such as assembly, press, and expression, and it prosecutes dissent when it’s viewed as a threat to the regime or to religious values. This means freedoms are not unrestricted for citizens, and restrictions are justified by the regime’s security needs and its interpretation of Islamic law. The idea that liberties are unrestricted or that only foreigners face penalties doesn’t fit how Iran governs civil rights, where the justification rests on protecting national security and enforcing religious norms.