Joint letter on the reported torture of Payam Derafshan
Iran
In a joint letter Lawyers for Lawyers and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) express concern over the reported acts of torture against Iranian human rights lawyer Payam Derafshan.
Payam Derafshan is a well-known human rights lawyer who has worked on various high profile cases in which he represented individuals facing politically motivated charges.
According to the information received, human rights lawyer Payam Derafshan, who was arrested in June 2020 and sentenced to 2,5 years in prison, was kept in solitary confinement, during which the lights in his cell were always kept on. It is reported that he was then injected with unknown substances in Evin prison, which resulted in physical and psychological damages. Indeed, it is reported that after these substances were injected, he experienced serious convulsions, lost consciousness and bit off part of his tongue. It is reported that after he experienced further side effects and convulsions, he was forcibly transferred to a psychiatric hospital where he was subjected to a shock therapy which resulted in damages to his brain. It is reported that lawyer Payam Derafshan has now been released on parole and receives medical treatment.
In the letter, Lawyers for Lawyers and the CCBE condemn these reported acts of torture against lawyer Payam Derafshan. Lawyers for Lawyers and the CCBE therefore respectfully urge the Iranian authorities to ensure that a full and impartial investigation into these reported acts of torture is being carried out, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards. Lawyers for Lawyers and the CCBE wish to recall that all lawyers in Iran should be able to carry out their professional duties without fear of reprisal, hindrance, intimidation or harassment in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice and the rule of law.