The 52nd General Assembly of the National Union of Iranian Lawyers’ Associations, which was supposed to elect a new board of directors, faced a series of obstacles and interference from the authorities on Tuesday.
The meeting, which was held at the Parsian Evin Hotel in Tehran, was disrupted by a power outage in the venue hall, followed by an order from the police to evacuate the premises.
According to the Vaklapress website, which covers legal news and issues related to lawyers, the management of the hotel asked the organizers to cancel the meeting and change the location after receiving a notice from the Public Places Department of Tehran to prevent the holding of the conference.
The notice was reportedly issued at the request of the deputy of legal affairs and parliamentary affairs of the judiciary, who had previously demanded the cancellation of the election of the board of directors of the union.
The deputy, whose name was not disclosed, had sent a letter to the union on Monday, claiming that the election was illegal and that the union had no legal status or authority to represent lawyers.
The letter also accused the union of violating the law by not obtaining a permit from the Ministry of Interior and the judiciary for holding the conference.
The union, however, rejected the allegations and asserted its right to hold the election, which was scheduled for Tuesday morning.
The union said that it had obtained all the necessary permits and approvals from the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the Tehran Governorate.
The union also said that it had invited representatives from these institutions, as well as from the Bar Association and the Parliament, to attend and monitor the election.
The union claimed that the deputy’s letter was part of a systematic attempt to undermine and suppress the independent and professional activities of lawyers in Iran.
The union said that it had faced similar pressures and threats in the past, especially after the controversial 2009 presidential election, when many lawyers were arrested, banned, or harassed for defending political prisoners and human rights activists.
The union also said that it had been denied access to its own bank account and assets by the judiciary, and that its members had been subjected to arbitrary fees and taxes.
The union appealed to the international community and human rights organizations to support the Iranian lawyers and their legitimate demands for autonomy and independence.
Despite the disruption and the police order, the members of the union decided to continue the meeting and the election in another location, namely the building of the Central Lawyers Association, which is affiliated with the union.
However, the election was not held, as the building was surrounded by security forces and plainclothes agents, who prevented the entry and exit of the participants.
The union said that it would announce the new date and place of the election as soon as possible, and that it would not give up its struggle for the rights and dignity of the Iranian lawyers.
The union also thanked the lawyers who had attended the meeting and expressed their solidarity and support for the union.
The union said that it hoped that the Iranian authorities would respect the rule of law and the independence of the legal profession, and that they would refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the union.
The union also called on the Iranian lawyers to remain united and vigilant, and to defend their professional and ethical standards.
The National Union of Iranian Lawyers’ Associations is a non-governmental and non-political organization that was established in 2003 by a group of lawyers who wanted to create a national and independent body to represent and protect the interests and rights of the Iranian lawyers.
The union currently has more than 30,000 members from 31 provincial associations across the country.
The union aims to promote the rule of law, democracy, human rights, and justice in Iran, and to provide legal assistance and education to the public and the lawyers.
The union also seeks to enhance the professional and social status of the lawyers, and to defend them against any violations or pressures from the authorities or other parties.
The union is a member of the International Bar Association and the International Association of Lawyers, and has cooperated with various international and regional organizations and networks on legal and human rights issues.
Sources
Iranian lawyers’ union (SCODA) faces disruption and pressure from authorities
