Mission statement

Our Mission

The Iran Democratic Union (IDU) works for a free and secular Iran that honors the individual rights of all its citizens.

Charter

IDU is commited to:

• An open and transparent secular democracy in Iran

• Equality for all Iranians, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or political views as decreed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Preserving Iran's rich legacy of diverse cultures, languages and religions

• The responsible allocation of Iran's national resources and utilizing the skills and contributions of Iranian people, to create a thriving economy with constantly improving living standards

• An Iran that is a bona fide member of the community of nations with respect for internal law and sovereignty of all states

In pursuing our vision for freedom, we educate others about the human rights crisis in Iran in order to garner critical international support for our mission; we advocate for a secular government that is committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; we support a firm but respectful separation between the government and religion. IDU is governed by a board of directors who have assumed specific responsibilities in advancing its mission statement.

The Iran Democratic Fund is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is a sister organization to the Iran Democratic Union, sharing the same board, as well as the same goal of a free and democratic Iran.  The Iran Democratic Fund was established to accommodate those donors in the United States who prefer to receive a tax deduction for their donation, since donations to the Iran Democratic Union, also a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization, are not tax deductible for donors.  501(c)(4) organizations like Iran Democratic Union are permitted to lobby governments, therefore donations to them are not tax deductible.  501(c)(3) organizations like Iran Democratic Fund have limits placed on time spent on lobbying and other similar restrictions, therefore donations to such organizations are tax deductible within allowable limits.