How Iran’s systematic repression turns law into an instrument of fear is evident in the way courts, security forces, and legislation work in tandem to suppress dissent rather than protect rights. Instead of serving justice, the legal system is frequently deployed to intimidate, punish, and silence communities through executions, unfair trials, and repressive social controls.
This entrenched pattern has been repeatedly described by international human rights mechanisms as widespread and systematic, reflecting deliberate state policy rather than isolated abuses.
Systematic Violations and the Role of Law
Serious human rights violations in Iran are neither accidental nor sporadic but stem from the very design of the legal and institutional framework. Laws and policies are structured in ways that predictably produce fear and injustice, with the United Nations repeatedly highlighting the systematic nature of these abuses. The machinery of repression is visible in the excessive use of the death penalty, closed-door trials, and the criminalization of peaceful protest, all of which are justified under broad national security laws and vague legal provisions.
Death Penalty and Fear
Iran’s legal system deploys the death penalty as a tool to instill fear in the population and deter opposition. Executions are carried out in large numbers, often following trials that fail to meet basic fair trial standards, and sometimes involving individuals who were children at the time of the alleged offense. The United Nations has noted that
“the death penalty in Iran is being deployed as a weapon to instill fear in the population and deter any form of opposition”.
Such practices reinforce the message that the law is not a shield for citizens but a weapon for the state.
Courts and the Illusion of Justice
Revolutionary Courts play a central role in this machinery, relying on broadly defined national security charges to prosecute journalists, activists, and protesters. Closed-door proceedings and coerced confessions are common, with the United Nations stating that
“the use of forced confessions and secret trials gravely undermines any semblance of justice and serves to reinforce a climate of fear”.
When legal processes are opaque and unfair, the law becomes a theater of control, designed to intimidate the public rather than uphold rights.
Crackdowns on Protest and Legal Retaliation
Major protest waves are met with lethal force, with hundreds of protesters and bystanders killed in short periods. The United Nations has condemned the use of live ammunition against unarmed crowds, stating that
“the use of live ammunition against unarmed protesters in Iran cannot be justified and constitutes a serious violation of the right to life”.
After protests are suppressed, the law is used to criminalize survivors and families, with authorities intimidating and prosecuting those who seek justice. This legal retaliation ensures that fear extends beyond the streets into homes and communities.
Gender Apartheid and Legal Control
Compulsory hijab laws and morality policing are prominent examples of how law is used to control women and instill fear. The killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini after her arrest by morality police highlighted the lethal consequences of this system. The United Nations has described Iran’s hijab enforcement as part of a broader system of gender discrimination, noting that
“the compulsory veiling laws in Iran form part of a gender-based persecution that violates women’s dignity and autonomy”.
By criminalizing everyday choices, the state turns public life into a field of constant fear for women.
Discrimination Against Minorities
Ethnic and religious minorities face intersecting layers of discrimination, with higher rates of executions and security-related charges. The United Nations has stated that
“members of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran suffer intersecting layers of discrimination, including disproportionate use of the death penalty and security charges”.
This combination of legal discrimination and coercive enforcement amplifies fear in marginalized communities.
United Nations Analysis and International Response
The United Nations has repeatedly documented these patterns, emphasizing that the persistent violations demand genuine accountability and legal reform. Independent fact-finding missions have been established to investigate alleged abuses, with the United Nations noting that
“without independent investigations and accountability for serious crimes, the cycle of violence and fear in Iran will persist”.
These findings underscore the extent to which Iran’s legal system is perceived as part of the problem rather than the solution.
Law as a Tool of Fear
How Iran’s systematic repression turns law into an instrument of fear is seen at every stage, from vague security laws and closed courts to prison cells and gallows. The United Nations and human rights experts have consistently highlighted the systematic nature of these abuses, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and reform.
The law, in its current form, serves not to protect citizens but to maintain power and suppress dissent, reinforcing a climate of fear across Iranian society.
