Prohibition of attorneyship and seizure of assets; new pressure on Iranians at home and abroad

The ban on attorneys and the seizure of assets indicate a new wave of restrictions against Iranians abroad and the expansion of judicial tools to control and confiscate property.

In continuation of the increasing legal and judicial pressure on Iranians abroad, the Attorney General's Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a new order, based on which the possibility of granting power of attorney for the transfer of property and assets of Iranian citizens residing abroad has been completely restricted; a measure that effectively blocks the access of a large portion of Iranians to the legal management of their property within the country.

According to this order, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been ordered to stop providing services related to the preparation of power of attorney for the transfer of property in the consular system "Mikhak" until further notice. As a result, Iranians residing abroad can no longer buy, sell or transfer their assets through their legal representatives in Iran; unless they return to the country in person and go through legal processes at notary offices inside Iran.

"Mohammad Kazem Movahed-Azad," the Attorney General of the Islamic Republic, stated that the purpose of this measure is to confront individuals who, in his opinion, are working "against the system," and said that based on the "Law on Enhancing Punishment for Espionage," it is also possible to seize and confiscate the property of these individuals.

But critics of this decision emphasize that the scope of these restrictions goes far beyond those accused of political activity and includes virtually all Iranians abroad; from students to workers and immigrants who are deprived of a basic legal right simply because of their place of residence.

In this context, the "Dadban" legal consulting center has criticized this policy and stated: "Prohibiting the transfer of Iranians' property abroad and preventing the preparation of power of attorney to manage or transfer their assets is an action that clearly contradicts the fundamental principles of property rights and lacks a clear legal basis. The right to property is considered a fundamental right of every citizen, and no administrative or judicial authority can deprive individuals of exercising authority over their legitimate property without an explicit legal ruling and a valid judicial process."

The legal center has also emphasized that such a policy constitutes a form of structural discrimination against a large portion of Iranian citizens and violates the principle of equality of citizens before the law.

The decision comes amid reports of increased judicial crackdowns on Iranians abroad. According to domestic media reports, the assets of more than 400 Iranian citizens abroad have been seized on charges of collaborating with hostile countries or working against the interests of the Islamic Republic. The names of some journalists, media activists, and well-known figures living abroad also appear on these lists.

The official news agency of the judiciary has also announced the implementation of orders to identify and freeze the assets of more than 100 other people, a move that has been justified within the framework of the judiciary's new security policies and citing cases related to "espionage" and "collaboration with the enemy."

Referring to this trend, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of the judiciary, had previously announced that heavy sentences, including confiscation of property and even more severe punishments, would be imposed on elements collaborating with the enemy inside and outside the country; statements that, according to critics, have pushed the country's legal environment towards securitizing private property.

In addition to these policies, the launch of electronic asset identification systems has also provided judicial institutions with the ability to quickly track and seize citizens' property; a tool that, according to experts, can increase the speed of execution of confiscation orders in an unprecedented manner.

Critics of this trend believe that these measures represent a serious change in approach to dealing with the private property of Iranian citizens; an approach in which individuals' property is defined not as a legal right, but as a tool that can be controlled and confiscated within the framework of security policies.

Ultimately, what is seen in practice is the formation of a mechanism in which legal restrictions, asset seizure, and deprivation of legal tools such as attorneyship have become a tool for political and social pressure on citizens inside and outside the country; a process whose consequences go beyond the legal sphere and have also cast a shadow on public trust and economic security.