IBAHRI, bar associations and international lawyers’ organisations call for protection of lawyers in Iran
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), together with several international lawyers’ organisations, has released a joint statement to express solidarity with human rights lawyers in Iran, Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Ruy and Masoud Ahmadian. The statement condemns the upcoming court hearing of the three, which represents a violation of their freedom to perform all professional duties.
The Statement
The impending trial of Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Ruy, and Masoud Ahmadian in the Shiraz Islamic Revolution Court on 11 November 2023 is a stark reminder of the persistent assault on human rights and freedom of expression in Iran. Accused of ‘cooperation with “hostile” countries’, ‘assembly and collusion to act against national security’ and ‘propagandistic activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran’, these lawyers have become targets of a system that seeks to silence their unwavering commitment to justice and their efforts to advocate for positive change.
Nazanin Salari is a lawyer and a member of the Fars Bar Association. She was also the former Head of the Human Rights Commission at the Fars Bar Association. She is a women's rights advocate and a human rights activist. She was initially arrested in November 2020 and was charged with ‘cooperation with “hostile” countries’, ‘assembly and collusion to act against national security’, and ‘propagandistic activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran. She was arrested again in November 2022 while peacefully demonstrating in front of the Shiraz Bar Association to show her support for the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ national uprising, which was in response to the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from Saqqez, by the morality police in Tehran. She was then released on bail on 19 November 2022. She was charged with ‘inciting people to corruption and prostitution’ and ‘appearing in public places without hijab. The court sessions for these charges were held on 5 and 7 of November 2023.
Mahmoud Taravat-Ruy is a lawyer, member and former President of the Fars Bar Association. He is a human rights activist and has provided legal counsel for numerous political and conscientious defendants. Mahmoud Taravat-Ruy was initially arrested in November 2020 and was charged with ‘cooperation with “hostile” countries’, ‘assembly and collusion to act against national security’, and ‘propagandistic activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was rearrested in November 2022 during a peaceful gathering in front of the Shiraz Bar Association to show his support for protestors who took to the streets after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini. He was released on bail on 19 November 2022 and charged with ‘assembly and collusion to act against national security. The court sessions for these charges were held on 5 and 7 of November 2023.
Masoud Ahmadian Asadabadi is a lawyer and member of the Fars Bar Association. He is a human rights activist and an advocate for women and children's rights and has provided legal counsel for many political and conscientious defendants. Mr Ahmadian is representing Mr Taravat-Ruy and Ms Salari in their 2022 cases but was himself also arrested in November 2020 and charged with ‘cooperation with “hostile” countries’, ‘assembly and collusion to act against national security’ and ‘propagandistic activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran’ for his human rights work.
The court hearing of these three lawyers will be held on Saturday 11 November 2023 at 08:00 (Iran Standard Time) at Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz.
Practising as a lawyer, defending human rights, taking part in international scientific and academic meetings and working to improve the law are very often described as criminal activities by the regime. These justifications are used by the state to overlook the human rights violations carried out by the regime. The Ministry of intelligence’s assertion that these defenders of human rights are criminals is an affront to the principles of justice and equity.
The undersigned organisations stand in solidarity with Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Roui, Masoud Ahmadian, and all the lawyers who fight for human rights and a more just society in Iran.
The undersigned organizations would like to draw to attention of the Islamic Republic of Iran the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, particularly Article 16, which states: ‘16. Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (…) and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.’
The international community must condemn this blatant violation of fundamental rights and call for the immediate cessation of these unjust proceedings. The world is watching, and we will not remain silent in the face of such grave injustice.
Signatories:
- International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
- Observatory International
- Centre for Supports of Human Rights (CSHR)
- Lawyers for Lawyers
- Republikanischer Anwältinnen- und Anwälteverein e. V.
- European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH)
- Defence Commission of the Barcelona Bar Association
- AED - European Democratic Lawyers
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
- The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), established in 1995 under Founding Honorary President Nelson Mandela, is an autonomous and financially independent entity, working to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
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The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
The IBA acts as a connector, enabler, and influencer, for the administration of justice, fair practice, and accountability worldwide. The IBA has collaborated on a broad range of ground-breaking, international projects with the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, The Commonwealth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, among others.
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For further information, please contact: the IBA Human Rights Institute at IBAHRI@int-bar.org