Thread by @SorayaBauwens

🧵🧵The @BarHumanRights stands in solidarity with our lawyer colleagues in #Iran who are among at least 90 members of civil society arrested since nationwide protests began in September. #MahsaaAmini #مهسا_امینی

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The arrest, detention and intimidation of lawyers represent a grave threat to the rule of law, and place Iran in breach of its international obligations and domestic law.

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Lawyers perform a vital function. Prompt access to legal representation is a vital safeguard against torture, ill-treatment, and due process violations.
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Lawyers must be allowed to perform their professional duties without fear of intimidation, harassment, arrest, or prosecution simply for discharging those duties.
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Lawyers and associations have been threatened with arrest and closure simply for calling for the respect of fair trial rights. In at least one example, a lawyer has been detained while representing their client in court.
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These reports are even more concerning given the wave of mass arrests of protesters in Iran, consistent and credible reports that persons exercising their fundamental rights are being denied access to legal counsel.
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Reports also suggest that at least 1 protester has been sentenced to death + was denied access to a lawyer. The death penalty for exercising protected rights is a breach of international law; denying access to counsel in capital trials renders the death penalty arbitrary.
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Iran must immediately release all lawyers detained for advising or representing clients, or potential clients, or for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, and/or without legal bases that are in compliance with Iran’s international obligations.
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Check out our joint statement with @thebarcouncil

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barcouncil.org.uk/resource/arres…