European Bar Associations Award 2019 Human Rights Prize to four Iranian Lawyers

Iran Human Rights (IHR) –  The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) on Thursday, November 29, 2019, announced that its human rights award for 2019 goes to the four Iranian lawyers Abdolfattah Soltani, Amirsalar Davoudi, Mohammad Najafi and Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Lawyers Nasrin Sotudeh, Mohammad Najafi and Amirsalar Davoudi are imprisoned in Iran solely for expressing their opinion and for defending their clients, including civil activists, human rights defenders and ethnic minorities. Lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani was released from prison last year after almost a decade of imprisonment.

“I am delighted to inform you that you have been selected as the winners of the CCBE Human Rights Award 2019 for your outstanding and tireless commitment in favour of human rights in Iran.  The CCBE believes that your courage, determination and commitment to defending human rights in Iran – where all forms of opposition, be it ideological or political, are not tolerated – deserve the recognition of the European legal profession,” says a statement by CCBE president.   

Iran Human Rights (IHR) congratulates the four Iranian lawyers for the award, and calls for the release of all imprisoned lawyers and an end to the persecution and harassment of the independent lawyers in Iran.  
IHR director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said: “Iranian human rights lawyer are in the frontline of combatting the violation of human rights by the Islamic Republic. They have been subjected to severe repression in recent years. We hope the CCBE award leads to more international solidarity with the Iranian people who are struggling for their most fundamental rights.”
The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), founded in 1960, is an international non-profit association which has been, since its creation, at the forefront of advancing the views of European lawyers and defending the legal principles upon which democracy and the rule of law are based.