Tehran, Iran — Iran remains one of the most perilous countries for legal professionals, where lawyers face an escalating crackdown as they attempt to defend basic rights to fair trials and legal representation. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this situation has worsened, with fears growing significantly following the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, triggered by the tragic death of Jina Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16, 2022.
The National Union of Iranian Bar Associations reports that since 2018, at least 54 incidents, including the deaths of 17 lawyers, have occurred. These incidents range from murders to assaults and vandalism of property, underlining the stark dangers faced by those in the legal profession. Adding to this, nearly 80 lawyers have been arrested since 2021, and hundreds more have seen their licenses revoked or suspended.
Highlighting the severity of the crackdown are several recent cases. For example, Behnam Nezahdi was handed multiple prison sentences on January 21, 2025, by the Tehran Court of Appeals, including four months for “propaganda against the regime.” This stemmed from his operation of an Instagram page critiquing judicial behavior.
In another stark case, Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced human rights attorney Mohammadreza Faghihi in October 2024 to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security.” The conviction was later upheld by the Appeals court, further limiting the legal community’s capacity to function without fear of retribution.
Furthermore, Khosrow Alikordi received a prison sentence while already incarcerated for defending protesters’ families. In January 2024, he was sentenced to additional punishments including internal exile and bans on practicing law, travel, and online activities, portraying an increasingly repressive environment for attorneys.
Iran’s systemic issues with legal representations were highlighted by the Human Rights Committee in November 2023, which noted significant deviations from international norms regarding civil and political rights. Criticisms include restrictions like the “Note to Article 48” in Iran’s Code of Criminal Procedure, which forces parties in sensitive cases to choose their attorneys from a government-approved list, blatantly undermining the fairness of trials.
In light of these restrictions, a call has been made for Iranian authorities to respect international legal standards and embrace reforms that ensure the safety and independence of lawyers. These reforms include the unconditional release of detained lawyers, revocation of laws undermining legal independence, ensuring access to self-chosen legal representation for all detainees, and adherence to fair trial guarantees.
The challenges faced in Iran reflect deeply ingrained systemic issues that require substantial internal reforms and international scrutiny to ensure that lawyers can perform their duties without fear of persecution or harm.
This article was automatically written by Open AI, and the depicted events, people, and circumstances may not be entirely accurate. Any requests for article corrections or retractions can be directed to [email protected].