We are extremely concerned about the repression suffered by many Iranian lawyers,
following the violent suppression of the rallies in solidarity with Iranian women following the death of Mahsa Amini under the responsibility of the morality police, after allegations of torture on 16 September 2022.
According to reports, the repressed lawyers, including women, are in turn subject to pressure, threats and arrest while exercising their professional duties.
The ECBA HRC stands in solidarity with the colleagues who are being attacked, harassed and intimidated in Iran in the exercise of their functions.
We recall that freedom of speech and the right to freedom of assembly is provided in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Iran in 1975.
The respect of women's rights is provided for under the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and they are not negotiable.
We therefore urge the Iranian authorities to:
- ensure the immediate and unconditional freedom of lawyers arbitrarily detained by the Iranian authorities;
- end persecution and ensure that everyone has access to a lawyer of their choice from the moment of their arrest;
- end all forms of harassment and intimidation of lawyers in Iran; and
- respect women’s rights, freedom of speech and the freedom to peaceful demonstration.