Lawyers in Iran face perpetual state of fear

An absolute disregard of the rule of law and dismantling of the justice system in Iran has left lawyers subject to systemic persecution, warns the Law Society of England and Wales.

This warning comes as the Law Society visits Geneva this week with Iranian human rights lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, to raise concerns with the United Nations as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) pre-session on Iran.*

Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: "We are deeply concerned that human rights and criminal defence lawyers in Iran are targeted and persecuted for defending their clients.

"Iranian lawyers face harassment, illegitimate prosecutions, unfair trials and arbitrary deprivation of liberty. Many of these lawyers have faced threats from security forces and national security-related charges.

"Most prominently, during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022, at least 66 lawyers were arrested for representing women's rights protestors. This crackdown led to the imprisonment of 11 lawyers, while others were forced to flee the country. At least three female lawyers reportedly died under suspicious circumstances related to the protests.

"It is evident that the Iranian state machinery has prevented lawyers from doing their job when the state feels threatened. This is not justice and the legal system is not working.

"The targeting of lawyers by the state interferes with the independence of the legal profession and integrity of the rule of law in Iran. The right to a fair trial is eroded and access to justice is undermined.

"We hope the UN recognises the climate of terror that lawyers face in Iran and uses this evidence to call for an end to the harassment of lawyers.

"The condition of lawyers in Iran should be of grave concern to the international community. Iran must comply with human rights norms and end its perpetual campaign of intimidation against lawyers."

Notes to editors

• *The UPR reviews the human rights records of all UN member states. They take place every four to five years. Find out more.
• The Law Society's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is available upon request.

About the Law Society

The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.

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