European Legal Associations Demand Release of Imprisoned Lawyer Mohammad Reza Faghihi

The Council of Lawyers and Legal Associations of Europe expressed concern in a letter to Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the 14th government of the Islamic Republic, regarding the situation of Mohammad Reza Faghihi, a lawyer imprisoned on charges of "conspiracy and collusion with the intent to act against national security" in Iran. They called for his immediate and unconditional release and the annulment of all charges against him. This council, abbreviated as "CCBE," represents lawyers and legal associations from 46 countries, encompassing over one million European lawyers. The council noted that Mr. Faghihi's prosecution was related to his participation in a gathering of the Tehran Bar Association within the framework of the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests in October 2022, where he was initially arrested and a case was opened against him. However, he was released on bail due to the lack of "criminal evidence." Despite a general amnesty issued by the judiciary regarding protest cases, Mr. Faghihi's case was transferred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, leading to his conviction and sentencing. The Council of Lawyers and Legal Associations of Europe emphasized that Mr. Faghihi's conviction was "solely based on his legitimate activities as a lawyer," including efforts to defend human rights defenders and political prisoners. The council also expressed concern that Mr. Faghihi's conviction and deprivation of the right to practice law may be part of a broader effort by the Islamic Republic to suppress lawyers in Iran. They urged Iranian authorities to cease targeting lawyers and human rights defenders, reminding that all lawyers should be able to perform their professional duties without fear of retaliation, intimidation, or harassment. Mohammad Reza Faghihi has previously represented many civil and political activists from Azerbaijan and has been a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Central Bar Association and the board of the Association for the Defense of Prisoners in Tehran. According to reports, he played an active role in seeking justice for victims of the Islamic Republic regarding the import of COVID-19 vaccines. Mr. Faghihi was also one of the few lawyers from the Central Bar Association who defended defendants in espionage cases. Yashar Hakkakpour, director of the Association for the Defense of Political Prisoners from Azerbaijan in Iran (ADAP), told Voice of America: "Mr. Faghihi has represented hundreds of ethnic activists in Azerbaijan over the past 20 years and has faced the wrath of the Islamic Republic's security apparatus solely for doing his job and defending the accused." Mr. Hakkakpour, who has been a client of Mohammad Reza Faghihi, added: "He sacrificed his comfort and work to defend the rights of the voiceless." The issuance of a "summons for prosecution" for at least 17 lawyers in Mashhad, the call for the release of imprisoned lawyer Mohammad Reza Faghihi by Lawyers Without Borders, the summoning of a lawyer for explaining the legal rights of protesters, the condemnation of Mr. Faghihi's five-year prison sentence by the "Frontline Lawyers" association, and the detention of 44 lawyers since the onset of protests; a legal expert's warning about the "deviation" of courts from the law; dozens of lawyers have been detained simultaneously with the nationwide protests in Iran.