The head of the Iranian Bar Association stated that in the past 10 years, approximately 20 murders and over 60 serious assassination attempts against lawyers have been reported. According to the news outlet Ekhtebar, Jafar Kousha mentioned that 'among over 1,400 lawyers, 8.4% have faced physical violence due to their legal duties in the past year.' He emphasized that the statistical community of this report is a combination 'of 957 lawyers from the Bar Association and 456 lawyers from the Center for Lawyers,' and the sources of this data consist of surveys, academic research, and collected reports. This lawyer announced that 55% of lawyers in this survey reported that 'in the past year, they have been threatened between one to three times,' but did not specify the nature of these threats. Kousha claimed that the high rate of threats against Iranian lawyers is comparable to three countries: the Netherlands, Norway, and the United States, stating that 'we have formed a committee to support lawyers at risk within the Bar Association.' However, this lawyer did not provide details about the claimed statistics and their source. The head of the Iranian Bar Association asserted that 'any lawyer who is at risk contacts us, and we provide necessary support through correspondence with relevant authorities.' Reports indicate that some of these threats have come from security forces to pressure independent lawyers. Previously, simultaneous with an assassination attempt on Afshin Ghasemi, a lawyer in Tehran, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic froze 'all bank accounts' of another lawyer named Forough Sheikholislami. In this regard, Sina Yousofi, a lawyer, stated that the Islamic Republic 'does not take any legal or protective measures to prevent the murder and assassination attempts against lawyers' and instead 'puts their lives at risk through propaganda actions against them.' Yousofi had previously told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic considers the 'system's interests' in 'cutting off independent lawyers from the judicial process.'
Head of Iranian Bar Association Reports About 20 Murders and 60 Serious Assassination Attempts Against Lawyers in the Last Decade
The head of the Iranian Bar Association reported alarming statistics regarding violence against lawyers, including 20 murders and over 60 assassination attempts in the past decade. This highlights the dangerous environment for legal professionals in Iran, particularly independent lawyers facing threats from security forces. The situation raises concerns about the rule of law and the protection of legal rights in the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The head of the Iranian Bar Association reported that in the last decade, there have been about 20 murders and over 60 serious assassination attempts against lawyers in Iran. This alarming trend highlights the dangers faced by legal professionals, particularly those who are independent and critical of the government.
- 8.4% of surveyed lawyers faced physical violence in the past year.
- 55% of lawyers reported receiving threats between one to three times in the past year.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's legal system is often criticized for its lack of independence and the suppression of dissenting voices, particularly among legal professionals. The government's actions against lawyers reflect broader issues of state control and human rights abuses.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%