Response of Bar Associations to the Arrest of Several Lawyers at a 'Night Party'

The Iranian Bar Association has reacted to the news of the arrest of several lawyers at a 'night party' and raised 'ambiguities' and 'legal questions' regarding these arrests. In a statement published on their official website on Tuesday, May 17, the association deemed the manner of reporting the arrests by 'news agencies or publications claiming media commitment and piety' as 'worthy of considerable reflection.' The statement added that 'any impartial observer will realize' that the way the news was reported was such that 'the arrest of 15 lawyers under inappropriate conditions was suggested.' The news of the arrest of '15 lawyers' at a 'mixed night party' was first published by the official website of the judiciary of Mazandaran province on May 15. This site reported the news citing Nabiollah Moslemi, head of the Protection and Information Center of the Mazandaran judiciary, stating that these individuals were arrested while having 'inappropriate and offensive attire,' consuming alcoholic beverages, and engaging in 'mixed dancing.' The Iranian Bar Association also raised the question, based on several articles of the Criminal Procedure Code, of 'what was the reason for the intervention of the judicial protection officers [in these arrests]?' The association also asked whether the Mazandaran prosecutor's office 'did not have a legal agent at its disposal?' and 'were the acting officers official judicial agents?' The statement further questioned 'which of the five clauses of Article 64 of the Criminal Procedure Code justified the entry into the discussed house?' The Iranian Bar Association also addressed the issue of 'what justification exists for the widespread publication of news considering the religious prohibition against disclosing sins?' The statement concluded by urging judicial authorities to 'urgently and decisively investigate, act, and inform regarding the matter.' Bahman Keshavarz, president of the Iranian Bar Association (Scuda), stated in an interview with ISNA that among these 15 individuals, only 'two lawyers' were present. Keshavarz added regarding the arrests: 'The issue that occupies the mind is the manner of publication and expression of the matter, which raises many legal and technical considerations.' He noted that the way this news was published 'reflects a hidden intent to attribute issues to all lawyers and damage the credibility and dignity of these civil institutions.' Homa Davoodi, vice president of Scuda, also commented that 'unfortunately, this news not only stated the social status of two of the detainees but introduced all detainees as lawyers.' Davoodi added: 'We want to fully defend the institution of advocacy and the legal community while emphasizing the observance of citizens' rights as stated in the law regarding this specific case.' She expressed hope that in this case, judicial officials would maintain the dignity and reputation of the detainees and provide adequate information. Bahram Valipour, a member of the board of the Mazandaran Bar Association, also announced on May 26 that 'no lawyer from Mazandaran was arrested at this night party.' Valipour added that 'of the total detainees, only two were lawyers, neither of whom was under the auspices of the Mazandaran Bar Association.' According to him, 'one of the arrested lawyers was from the Bar Association of Qom province and the other was a lawyer under Article 187 of the judiciary from Golestan province.'