A Critical Analysis of Imamiyyah Jurisprudence and Iranian Law Regarding the Exploitation of Groundwater with Emphasis on Environmental Obligations and the Principle of La-Zarar
Keywords:
Imamiyyah jurisprudence, Iranian law, groundwater, principle of la-zarar, environmental obligations, environmental justiceAbstract
The excessive exploitation of groundwater in recent decades has become one of the fundamental environmental and legal challenges in Iran. This issue, beyond threatening vital resources and destroying ecosystems, has created a profound conflict between individual interests and public welfare. The present study, through a critical and comparative approach, examines the foundations of Imamiyyah (Shiʿi) jurisprudence and the Iranian legal system concerning the exploitation of groundwater, seeking to clarify their relationship with environmental obligations and the principle of la-zarar (no harm). The findings indicate that in Imamiyyah jurisprudence, the principle of ownership and dominion (tasallut) over one’s property is restricted by the rule of la-zarar and the consideration of public interest; therefore, it cannot serve as justification for harming shared resources or the environment. On the other hand, although Iranian legal documents and higher-order policies emphasize the protection of natural resources and sustainable development, their implementation suffers from structural weaknesses and conflicts between private rights and public interests. Consequently, to achieve environmental justice and prevent public harm, it is necessary to reinterpret and institutionalize the jurisprudential foundations of the la-zarar rule alongside the principles of environmental law in the country’s water management policies.
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