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Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran:
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Statement on Iran’s Emergency Situation Analysis

Legal analysis of Iran’s emergency situation following the violent suppression of protests

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Open Letter of the Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran

Urgent Appeal to the International Community to Halt the Mass Killings in Iran

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Charter of the Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran

This Council operates with the aim of legally protecting citizens, defending minority rights, and documenting violations, while advancing peaceful pathways toward democratic and popular governance.

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Open Letter of the Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran

Urgent Appeal to the International Community to Halt the Mass Killings in Iran

January 11,2026

The Jurists’ Council of for a Democratic Iran expresses its profound concern and alarm at the large-scale killing of protesters during the nationwide demonstrations of 8–10 January 2026 in Iran. Credible reports from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, together with hundreds of published images and videos, indicate that the security and law-enforcement forces of the Islamic Republic have engaged in an organized and systematic violent crackdown, firing live ammunition directly at unarmed demonstrators.

At the same time, the Iranian authorities have violated the right of access to information by imposing wide-scale internet shutdowns and blocking communications, in an effort to obstruct the free flow of information and to prevent independent documentation of events. In this context, state-controlled media have disseminated a wholly false and inverted narrative, attributing responsibility for the killings to the protesters themselves, labelling them “terrorists” and using this rhetoric to justify their killing. Yet, under the Palermo Convention and its Additional Protocols, “terrorist” has a specific legal definition which is not met in these circumstances.

From the perspective of international criminal law, the events unfolding in Iran constitute a clear example of a “widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population”. The killing of protesters (Article 7(1)(a)), the arrest and severe deprivation of liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law (Article 7(1)(e)), and the persecution of a civilian population on political grounds (Article 7(1)(h)) all amount, pursuant to Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to crimes against humanity. Criminal responsibility does not rest solely with the direct perpetrators; on the basis of the principle of individual criminal responsibility (Article 25) and superior and command responsibility (Articles 27 and 28), it extends to all those who order, plan or otherwise participate in these crimes, including decision‑makers, commanders and the governing structures of the Islamic Republic.

Recalling the international principle of the Responsibility to Protect, the Council of Jurists for a Democratic Iran calls on the international community to move beyond silence and purely rhetorical reactions and to adopt concrete and urgent measures, including: (i) immediate action to compel the Iranian authorities to halt the killings, release those arbitrarily detained, and fully restore internet access and freedom of information; (ii) maximal diplomatic pressure to secure access for humanitarian assistance to those injured and affected; (iii) urgent measures to guarantee the safe access of the wounded to medical facilities and to end attacks by security forces on hospitals, ambulances and other health‑care centres; (iv) the prompt deployment of international monitoring and human‑rights mechanisms and the establishment of emergency channels for recording, preserving and collecting evidence relating to the killings and mass arrests; and (v) the pursuit of international criminal accountability for all those who ordered or carried out the killings and repression.

We warn that the continued inaction of the international community will place the lives of many more citizens at risk and will further entrench the cycle of impunity and repeated atrocities. What is occurring in Iran today represents a serious test of the credibility of the international legal order and of States’ commitment to prevent and respond to crimes against humanity.

Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran

Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran (JCDI)



In response to the critical situation caused by military conflict and the widespread violation of the rights of the Iranian people, a group of independent Iranian jurists has established a civil, non-affiliated institution committed to the principles of human rights, democracy, and justice.

This council aims to provide legal support to citizens, defend the rights of minorities, and document violations, working toward a peaceful transition to democratic governance.

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Articles

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Videos

A collection of educational and analytical videos exploring legal, social, and democratic issues.
These videos are shared with the aim of raising public awareness and offering practical solutions for a better understanding of justice and rights.

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