Over 21,000 Iranian lawyers condemn US sanctions as violation of human rights

The statement, signed by 21,333 lawyers and legal experts, argues that the United States’ sanctions against the Iranian nation are anti-human, as they violate the most basic rights of human beings, especially under the current circumstances where the entire world is gripped by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

“While all other countries have mobilized all their resources to contain the spread of the disease and treat the patients, the Iranian nation is facing the virus on the one hand and the unfair, inhumane, and cruel US sanctions on the other hand,” the statement said.

“Today, American officials admit that their maximum pressure has been designed to target the civilian population and the innocent people with the purpose of sowing public dissatisfaction with the ruling system of Iran,” it added.

The statement said Washington’s inhumane approach to continue anti-Iran sanctions and its preconditions for the sale of medicine and medical equipment to Iran even at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak are in violation of humanitarian issues and must be strongly condemned.

It said the US measures are against the international rules and regulations, as sanctions that prevent nations from accessing medicine and food directly endanger the right to live and the lives of human beings, which are the most basic human rights.

While American officials claim food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are exempt from the sanctions imposed by Washington, the US measures targeting everything from oil sales to shipping and financial activities have deterred foreign banks from doing business with Iran, including humanitarian deals.

The statement signed by Iranian lawyers further described the US’ sanctions as a crime against humanity, which must be prosecuted by The Hague.

It also pointed to the US’ assassination of Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in a January drone attack near Baghdad International Airport, and called it a blatant violation of international human rights rules.

“The assassination of General Soleimani is a violation of the Article 2 of the UN Charter, and put at risk the international peace and security,” it added.

“The UN Security Council must acknowledge the US move as a violation of global peace and security, and take appropriate action based on the Article 41, and if deemed necessary, based on the Article 42 of the UN Charter,” the statement went on to say.

General Soleimani, who was killed in January along with a number of his comrades upon US President Donald Trump’s direct order, was a revered figure in Iran and across the region for helping defeat the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria and countering US influence.