Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran (JCDI)

Given the unprecedented and urgent situation caused by the current military conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, and the grave consequences for the people of Iran:

Emphasizing the fundamental principle of the prohibition on the use of force under international law, and noting that any use of force by states is only permissible in exceptional cases as set out in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter,

And considering the catastrophic consequences of armed conflicts, including the destruction of vital infrastructure, severe violations of civilians’ rights, and the exacerbation of crises,

A group of independent Iranian jurists has taken the initiative to establish a civil body under the title ” Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran” (hereafter referred to as “the Council”), committed to humanitarian, ethical, and professional responsibility.

A) Features of the Council

1. The Council is an independent civil body, free from affiliation or connection to governmental structures, any political factions, or partisan interests, both domestic and foreign.
2. It operates with a transparent, impartial approach based on legal principles and professional expertise.
3. The Council does not claim to represent any existing political group or the Iranian society but instead identifies itself as a responsible institution specialised in fields of legal and judicial affairs.
4. The Council is prepared, as needed and upon request from civil and political institutions, social groups or victims, to play a complementary, advisory, or mediatory role in humanitarian, political and legal processes, especially during crises.
5. The Council is committed to the principles of democracy, human dignity, equality of rights, including guaranteeing women’s rights, protecting children’s rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities, and opposes all forms of punishment that deprive the right to life, including the death penalty and retribution, and any type of punishment that could be considered cruel, inhuman and degrading or as a form of torture. While upholding the equal rights of all citizens of Iran, the Council assertively supports the recognition of ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and social diversity, and is committed to defending the rights of marginalized groups and minorities.
6. Based on international human rights instruments and principles, the Council considers the Islamic Republic regime to be illegitimate and a violator of the fundamental rights of the Iranian people.

B) Objectives of the Council

1. Provide civil and legal support for civilians and citizens facing threats and harms from repression or foreign aggression, relying on principles of human rights and humanitarian law.
2. Cooperate in coordinating and facilitating humanitarian efforts during wartime, in accordance with international legal principles.
3. Offer legal advice to political and social forces aiming to secure equal rights for all groups residing in Iran.
4. Act as a mediator and facilitator for dialogue among political and civil forces, based on democratic principles, mutual respect, and fundamental human rights.
5. Provide legal analysis and advisory opinions in cases of legal gaps or enforcement failures, through interaction with domestic and international civil institutions.
6. Defend the rights of detainees, political and ideological prisoners, and convicts, especially regarding the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment, within the framework of international documents overseeing the rights of prisoners and prohibition of torture and inhuman ill-treatment.
7. Defend the rights and freedoms of civil institutions, trade unions, and social organizations under threat from systematic repression, pressure and persecution.
8. Identify, document, and analyse the legal situation of civilians and social groups during wartime or emergency conditions, for use in national and international judicial processes.
9. Cooperate with domestic and international legal and humanitarian organizations to pursue and support the rights of the Iranian people in international forums.
10. Participate in recording and documenting accurate, rights-based accounts of events during crises, to build collective memory and support transitional justice processes.
11. Monitor, document, and identify violations of human rights and humanitarian principles, and cooperate in designing and implementing protective, preventive, and prosecutorial responses.
12. Support a peaceful transition from the Islamic Republic regime to a system based on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

We, the undersigned, fully commit to the above principles, features, and objectives, and declare our readiness to fulfill our responsibilities in supporting the rights of the Iranian people in this critical situation.

The names of the founding members of the council are: Hossein Raeesi, Moein Khazaeli, Omid Shams, Maryam Abedi, Sina Yousefi, Tanaz Kolahchian, Mehdi Jalali, Hirbod Dehghani Azar, Qasem Baadi.

The names of the council members and legal experts so far (those who wished to keep their names private are kept confidential):
Mehrangiz Kar, Saeed Dehghan, Mohammad Oliaei Far, Behnam Daraei Zadeh, Samaneh Savadi, Niroo Ansari, Shirin Maleki, Sara Gharishi, Forough Sheikh Al-Islami, Mohammad Moqimi, Naqi Mahmoodi are among the signatories of this statement.

Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran (JCDI) – Persian Version