The Role of National Courts in Prosecuting International Crimes with an Emphasis on the Assassination of Martyr General Soleimani
Keywords:
national criminal jurisdiction, in absentia proceedings, judicial mutual assistance, moharebeh, efsad fi al-ardAbstract
The case of the assassination of Martyr General Qasem Soleimani, an official military commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran, constitutes a clear example of the violation of peremptory norms (jus cogens) and a threat to international peace and security from the perspective of international criminal law. In light of the absence of genuine willingness or effective jurisdiction by international bodies or the responsible states, assessing the feasibility of criminal prosecution within the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran has gained heightened significance. This study, focusing on the capacities of Iran's domestic legal system, analyzes the theoretical foundations and procedural frameworks related to criminal jurisdiction—particularly in cases of in absentia proceedings, protective jurisdiction, and the use of judicial and police mutual assistance mechanisms such as INTERPOL (e.g., Red Notices) (see, e.g., Cassese, 2013; Schabas, 2020, APA style). The present study demonstrates that the principles of the Constitution, relevant provisions of substantive and procedural criminal laws, as well as formal mechanisms of international cooperation, enable Iranian courts—provided that procedural standards such as lawful service of process, preservation of the right to defense, and reasoned judicial decisions are observed—to legitimately and validly adjudicate international crimes committed against the country’s national interests. Furthermore, doctrinal–jurisprudential analysis of concepts such as moharebeh (armed hostility against society) and efsad fi al-ard (corruption on earth) provides a Sharia-based foundation for pursuing such crimes. Accordingly, conducting in absentia proceedings against the perpetrators of the assassination, when accompanied by the proper use of legal and diplomatic tools, can yield not only domestic legal effects but also convey a politico-legal message to the international community.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mehdi Karimnejad Kaleshtari (Author); Ghasem Zamani (Corresponding author); Ali Faghih Habibi (Author)
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