The Law Society of England and Wales has joined the chorus of international lawyers calling on the Iranian authorities to comply with their international legal obligations to respect fundamental human rights, after further information has emerged of an increase in lawyers being arrested and detained arbitrarily in the Islamic Republic.
“We are extremely concerned about the welfare of these lawyers, many of whom we understand have been ill-treated in detention,” the Law Society of England & Wales vice president, Nick Emmerson, said. “It is reported that they have been refused visits from their lawyer and family members, including during their time in hospital. We are also extremely worried about a human rights defender on hunger-strike, who is said to be in a critical condition.”