Statement from 11 International Organizations Regarding the Trial of Three Lawyers in Shiraz: Their Charges are 'Baseless'

Eleven international organizations of lawyers and legal experts issued a statement reacting to the trial of Mahmoud Taravat-Roui, Nazanin Salari, and Masoud Ahmadian Asadabadi, three Iranian lawyers. In the joint statement from these international entities, including bar associations from several countries and the International Union of Lawyers, which a copy was sent to VOA, the charges against these three lawyers are deemed 'baseless' and it is emphasized that they have acted 'in their professional duties without threats and improper interference' in defending their clients. The signatory organizations demand the immediate cancellation of the trial of Mahmoud Taravat-Roui, Nazanin Salari, and Masoud Ahmadian and their acquittal from all charges. The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Shiraz has accused these three human rights lawyers of 'collaborating with hostile governments', 'conspiracy and collusion to commit crimes against national security', and 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic'. The three lawyers stated that their case was sent to the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Shiraz without conducting sufficient and substantiated investigations from the prosecutor's office, and there are still serious legal flaws in it. Nazanin Salari has been a member of the Bar Association of Fars Province and a former head of the Human Rights Commission of this bar association. Mahmoud Taravat-Roui has also been a member and former president of the Bar Association of Fars Province, and Masoud Ahmadian Asadabadi is also a member of this bar. These three human rights lawyers are facing two cases in the Islamic Revolutionary Court and the Criminal Court of Shiraz. Nazanin Salari explained that the first two hearings are related to the case of last November and the peaceful gathering of lawyers at the Fars Bar Association and that 'the charge of conspiracy is being heard in the Revolutionary Court and the charge of encouraging people towards corruption and prostitution and appearing in public places without proper hijab is being heard in the Criminal Court'. She explained that another case was formed in November 2020, in which these lawyers are accused of 'collaborating with hostile governments, conspiracy against national security, and propaganda against the regime'. Nazanin Salari wrote on the social media platform X on Saturday, November 20, that the Revolutionary Court 'issued an order to form a character file' and 'final defenses have been postponed to the next session'. This lawyer and her two colleagues were also tried on Sunday, November 14, in the Criminal Court of Shiraz for the charge of 'encouraging people towards corruption and prostitution'. Sina Yousafi, a lawyer, stated that the case of these three lawyers, despite being sent for 'correction' to the prosecutor's office, was sent back to the Revolutionary Court without rectifying the flaws and obtaining inquiries, and 'this court has held a session'. Adel Zarei, a legal expert, also reacted to the trial of these three lawyers on the social media platform X, writing: 'Now that there is no independence left for lawyers, now that all powers have been taken from the bar association, they should also prepare a series of forms from now on to write: Defense as you say so that the lawyer does not get beaten for doing his job.' Following the onset of nationwide protests in late September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of the morality police, dozens of lawyers in Iran were arrested, and the judiciary formed cases against several others. Some legal experts have warned against deviating from the law in the judiciary of the Islamic Republic in dealing with detainees of the nationwide protests. For instance, last December, 45 lawyers and human rights defenders emphasized in a letter to Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, that 'only the swift reaction of the world’s public opinion and democratic and freedom-loving governments and influential and humanitarian figures can stop the execution and repression machine of the Islamic Republic.' The signing of this letter led to the summoning and arrest of several other lawyers and legal experts. Mohammad Seifzadeh, a veteran lawyer, previously stated that judicial officials asked him to sign a repentance letter.