The recent permanent suspension of the law license of Mohammad Najafi, a prominent imprisoned human rights lawyer in Iran, epitomizes the relentless repression faced by those who defend justice and human rights in the country. Najafi’s disbarment amid his extended imprisonment highlights the systematic efforts by Iran’s judiciary and security apparatus to silence independent legal voices and undermine the rule of law. This analysis explores the details of Najafi’s case, the broader crackdown on human rights lawyers, and the implications for legal rights, civil society, and international legal norms.
The Case of Mohammad Najafi: A Targeted Lawyer Under Imprisonment
Mohammad Najafi, renowned for his courageous legal defense of political prisoners and victims of human rights abuses, has been imprisoned since 2018. His cumulative sentence exceeds 20 years, with ongoing legal battles that could keep him incarcerated until at least 2033. Despite serious health issues developed during incarceration—such as chest pains and dizziness—Najafi has been granted only very limited medical furloughs.
In December 2024, the High Court of Judges’ Branch 1 announced the permanent revocation of his law license, with the decision becoming publicly known in April 2025. This disbarment was politically motivated, influenced heavily by security agencies and enacted without due process protections. The Bar Association of Iran’s Markazi Province also played a role in this punitive measure.
Mohammad Najafi’s disbarment is viewed by human rights organizations as a deliberate effort to end his career and further isolate him politically. As Hadi Ghaemi, Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, observed,
“Najafi has been slammed with one sham conviction after the next in order to keep him behind bars, because the authorities fear his determination to speak truth to power and defend basic human rights.”
This targeted campaign aims to break Najafi’s effectiveness as a lawyer and intimidate others who dare to defend human rights in Iran.
The Legal Profession Under Siege: Broader Repression of Independent Lawyers
Najafi’s plight is not isolated; it exemplifies a structural repression affecting the legal profession as a whole in Iran. At least sixteen other lawyers faced baseless charges in 2025, accused of “propaganda against the state” after speaking out on legal and social issues. These lawyers also risk license suspension or revocation as part of coordinated efforts to eliminate independent legal voices.
The judicial action against lawyers functions as a strategy to undermine the very concept of justice in Iran, as legal defenders form the last barrier against unchecked authoritarianism. According to advocacy groups like Lawyers for Lawyers,
“Lawyers are the last line of defense against autocrats who would silence all dissent; when they cannot do their job, society as a whole becomes imprisoned.”
Najafi’s disbarment coincides with state actions to legitimize the legal profession’s control by security forces, such as the controversial licensing of Saeed Mortazavi, a former judge associated with serious human rights abuses, by the Bar Association. These developments deepen concerns about the judiciary’s independence and further restrict access to fair legal representation.
Human Rights and International Legal Norms Under Threat
The targeting of human rights lawyers like Najafi is a gross violation of both Iranian constitutional protections and international standards. Article 35 of Iran’s Constitution guarantees the right to freely choose an attorney, while the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers require that lawyers be able to perform their professional duties without intimidation, hindrance, or harassment.
The Permanent disbarment of Najafi contravenes these principles, particularly since it is linked directly to his legitimate human rights work. Human Rights Watch and Front Line Defenders have called for Najafi’s immediate and unconditional release, asserting that “his prosecution and disbarment are solely motivated by his defense of fundamental freedoms and human rights.”
Furthermore, the criminalization of lawyers erodes the justice system’s capacity to safeguard fair trials and legal representation, placing political prisoners at greater risk of miscarriages of justice.
Health and Humanitarian Concerns Amid Imprisonment
Incarceration has taken a severe toll on Najafi’s physical well-being. Despite symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, and overall deterioration due to imprisonment conditions, his medical furloughs have been sparse and insufficient. These realities have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations highlighting the humanitarian dimension of his plight.
Maintaining adequate health care for political prisoners like Najafi is a legal and moral obligation under international human rights law, which Iranian authorities have consistently violated through neglect and denial of proper treatment.
International Recognition and Support for Najafi
Despite repression, Najafi’s human rights work has received global acclaim. Notably, he was awarded the 2019 Human Rights Prize from the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), an acknowledgment of his courage and commitment to justice. This award underscores his importance as a beacon of hope amid systematic suppression.
International human rights groups continue to campaign for his release and for protections for lawyers in Iran, framing his case as emblematic of wider abuses against civil society defenders.
Implications for Iran’s Rule of Law and Civil Society
The disbarment and ongoing imprisonment of Mohammad Najafi symbolize the fracturing of Iran’s legal and democratic frameworks. By criminalizing and disabling independent lawyers, the state undermines not only individual rights but the structures necessary for justice, accountability, and reform.
The broader crackdown signals to civil society that legal defense and dissent carry severe risks, reducing the space for advocacy and weakening grassroots movements. This chilling effect hinders efforts toward political transition and human rights improvements.
Najafi’s case serves as a sobering reminder that laws and legal institutions should protect rights, not enforce repression.
The permanent suspension of Mohammad Najafi’s lawyer license amid his extended imprisonment is a stark manifestation of Iran’s systematic crackdown on independent legal advocates. It reflects a concerted state effort to silence dissent, weaken the legal profession’s autonomy, and deny justice to political prisoners and rights defenders. Human rights organizations have decried these steps as gross violations of domestic and international legal standards and called for Najafi’s immediate release and restoration of his professional rights.
Najafi’s resilience and international recognition offer a measure of hope, but his plight highlights the urgent need for renewed global attention and pressure on Iran to uphold human rights, safeguard judicial independence, and respect fundamental legal protections.
