News Center- UN experts issued a statement on Monday to mark the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, annually observed on January 24. Expressing their concern about the situation of lawyers in Iran, UN experts urged Iran to respect and protect lawyers.

 “Lawyers in Iran have, again and again, risen to the challenge and have suffered the consequences”, the experts declared. “In the aftermath of the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests following the death in police custody of Jina Mahsa Amini, Iranian authorities arrested many thousands of individuals without warrants, held them in deplorable conditions, and sought the death penalty for some protestors. In numerous cases, the judiciary—in particular judges of the Islamic Revolutionary Court—issued death sentences against protestors for their peaceful participation in ongoing protests. Despite the manifest danger, many Iranian lawyers provided—or attempted to provide—legal support to those protesters facing charges. Their efforts were met with obstacles at every turn, and many were themselves subjected to judicial harassment and imprisonment,” the experts said in the statement.

At least 66 lawyers arrested in Iran

“These brave women and men have been targeted with intimidation and harassment, including arbitrary arrest and disbarment for seeking to ensure those arrested and charged were able to access their right to a legal defense. At least 66 lawyers have been arrested and detained since September 2022, apparently in an attempt to both intimidate them and to prevent them from representing protestors,” the experts said.

Since 2022, 11 lawyers have been sentenced, and 47 have been released pending trial. “The arrests, detention, and sentencing of lawyers is part of a continuous pattern in which lawyers have been subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention, unfair trials based on vaguely worded or overly broad laws, lengthy prison sentences, and ill-treatment, denial of medical care and prolonged solitary confinement merely for carrying out their duties as members of the legal profession or legitimate human rights advocacy.”

They expressed their concern

We are extremely concerned that lawyers in the Islamic Republic of Iran are not able to practice independently and free of intimidation, harassment, or criminalization, the experts said in the statement. “Even more, without the protection provided by an independent Bar Association, they are extremely vulnerable to various attacks and to restrictions on their ability to exercise their profession, especially from State authorities.

“Silencing and/or controlling bar associations not only poses great risks to the legal community, but also has an adverse impact on the rule of law and the ability of ordinary people to defend their human rights. The legal profession and its free exercise are an essential element of the rule of law, the protection of human rights and the functioning of an independent judicial system. It contributes to ensuring access to justice, oversight of state power, protection of due process and judicial guarantees.”

They urge Iran to respect and protect lawyers

Urging Iran to respect and protect lawyers, the experts said, “Iran must put in place all appropriate measures to ensure that lawyers can play their crucial role in the legal system and that they are not subject to, or threatened with, prosecution or any administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognised professional duties, standards and ethics.”