Arrest of lawyers under scrutiny by human rights organizations and warnings about deprivation of lawyers in Iran

Following the international legal community's warning about the deprivation of lawyers in Iran, international organizations signed a statement calling for an end to the detention of lawyers and ensuring immediate access to lawyers for those detained.

A group of organizations and prominent figures from the international legal community issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over what they called the “systematic denial of access to lawyers for those detained during nationwide protests.” The statement also addresses the detention, intimidation, and pressure exerted on lawyers who have taken on the role of defending protesters or documenting alleged violations.

The statement, signed by 10 human rights and legal institutions, stressed that preventing detainees from having immediate access to a lawyer is in conflict with Iran’s international obligations and constitutes a violation of fundamental principles of a fair trial. The signatories of the statement called for an immediate end to this process, for full and unhindered access to a lawyer for all detainees, and for the release of all lawyers who have been detained solely for carrying out their professional duties.

The statement states that access to a lawyer from the moment of arrest is a fundamental guarantee to prevent torture, ill-treatment, forced confessions and violations of due process. This right is recognized in international instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. The signatories referred to reports of the detention and intimidation of lawyers who attempted to defend protesters or document violations of due process, calling these measures “a direct attack on the rule of law.”

The statement mentioned the names of a number of lawyers who were detained or under pressure, including Shima Ghosheh, Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour, and Enayatollah Keramati. Other cases were also mentioned, including Nazanin Baradaran, Hossein Shokri, Mehdi Ansari, Mehran Ansari, Jafar Keshavarz, Jafar Zarei, Zohra Javani, Sepideh Taheri, Timur Salari, Alireza Farzaneh Jajromi, Amir Bahadorifar, Mohsen Darginezhad, and Dariush Ganjapour Qashqai.

The signatories also expressed serious concern about the situation of Masoud Shirmardi Shahqasemi, stating that he has been denied access to a lawyer and, according to reports, has been beaten and tortured while in detention, and has been denied medical care.

According to international standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right to have access to a lawyer of their choice within the shortest possible time and to a fair and public trial. In recent years, UN special rapporteurs and human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the restrictions imposed on independent lawyers in Iran.

Legal experts believe that pressure on lawyers not only violates the individual rights of defendants, but also undermines the criminal justice system. When lawyers face the risk of arrest or disqualification for performing their professional duties, the principle of independence of the legal profession is called into question and the possibility of effective oversight of the trial process is reduced.

In the Christian tradition, defending justice and standing with the oppressed is central. Many Christian leaders and institutions believe that free access to a lawyer and the enjoyment of a fair trial are part of the God-given dignity of every human being. In such a context, supporting lawyers who work to defend the rights of detainees is not only a legal demand, but also a moral duty.

The statement by the international legal community comes amid continued concerns about the situation of those detained during the nationwide protests. The signatories stressed that respecting the right to defense, guaranteeing the independence of lawyers, and ending pressure on them would be a fundamental step toward restoring public trust in the justice system and upholding Iran’s international obligations.