UN Special Rapporteurs Express Serious Concern Over 'Intimidation and Harassment' of Lawyers in Iran

A group of United Nations experts on Monday, January 22, on the eve of 'International Day of Lawyers at Risk,' issued a statement praising the courageous commitment of Iranian lawyers to the rule of law and their ongoing efforts to practice their profession despite numerous obstacles and pressures. In part of their statement, the experts noted: 'Lawyers in Iran have repeatedly stood up to challenges and have borne the consequences.' They further referred to the detention of thousands of Iranians without arrest warrants and their imprisonment in dire prison conditions, as well as the 'stunning' execution of at least eight protesters following short, arbitrary, and fabricated trials, reminding that many Iranian lawyers have 'risked clear danger' to provide legal support to protesters facing legal charges. In another part of the statement, the experts stated: 'Brave men and women in the legal profession have been targeted for intimidation and harassment, including arbitrary arrests and deprivation of their legal profession...' and at least 66 of them have been detained since the protests of September 2022. According to the UN experts' statement, laws and regulations that 'contradict international standards regarding the free and independent practice of law and the right to a fair trial' have restricted Iranian lawyers. They stated, 'Although the Bar Association is one of the oldest professional organizations in Iran, the government has historically targeted this independent entity through structural changes, regulations, and investigations.' The statement emphasized that the legal profession and its free practice are a 'fundamental element' of the rule of law, human rights protection, and the functioning of an independent judiciary, contributing to ensuring access to justice, overseeing state power, protecting legal processes, and judicial guarantees. The experts expressed serious concern that 'lawyers in the Islamic Republic of Iran are unable to perform their work independently and free from intimidation, harassment, or criminalization.' They also noted that the situation of lawyers affects the right to a fair trial for all Iranians and that frequent reports of violations of detainees' rights to have legal counsel of their choice have made them 'very concerned.' They concluded their statement by asserting that the Islamic Republic must take all necessary measures to ensure that Iranian lawyers can fulfill their vital role in the legal system without facing legal prosecution or being subjected to administrative and economic restrictions. Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, are among the signatories of this statement. Pressure on lawyers and legal professionals by the Islamic Republic has increased following the nationwide protests of 2022. In one of the latest instances of this increased pressure on lawyers, the Court of Appeals of Razavi Khorasan Province on Saturday, January 20, upheld the sentences issued by the lower court against Khosrow Alikordi, who represented Fatemeh Sepahri, the family of Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, and several other political prisoners. The 35th branch of the Court of Appeals of Razavi Khorasan Province also cited the charge against this lawyer as 'propaganda activities in favor of opposition groups to the Islamic Republic' and interviews with Persian-language television channels outside of Iran. Khosrow Alikordi had detailed the specifics of his disbarment ruling in an interview with Voice of America on January 17.