HCHR_The first international conference of "The Man of Human Rights Field" were held on Sunday, January 7, 2024 with the presence of Kazem Gharibabadi, the Vice-President of the Judiciary for International Affairs and the Secretary-General of the High Council for Human Rights; AbbasAli Kadkhodaei, the Head of the Special Legal Follow-up Committee on the Assassination of General Soleimani; Iraj Masjedi, the Senior Adviser to the Quds Force Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Yousef Al-Naseri, the Secretary-General of the Council of Iraqi Scholars, as well as families of the martyrs who defended the shrine.
Emphasizing on the need to clarify on the personality dimensions of Martyr General Soleimani, the Secretary General of the HCHR stated in the conference: “According to the Supreme Leader, Martyr Soleimani is a school and a path. The first characteristic of Martyr Hajj Qasem Soleimani was his sincerity and virtue. Moreover, he was obedient to the Guardianship and it was his second and very key characteristic, because he had well understood the Supreme Leader's intelligent measures in internal and external problems.
Gharibabadi called the other characteristic of martyr Soleimani as people-oriented and added: “This characteristic of Martyr Soleimani can be seen in various actions, for example, despite his busy schedule, he considered himself a transnational responsibility. General Soleimani was a great military strategist in the region. He had a correct understanding of regional and international developments in various security, strategic and social fields, and this was the reason for his efficient military and political designs in all matters. Martyr Soleimani was very brave and fearless and in the fight against terrorism, he fought alongside all warriors and did not limit himself to the command room. This courage and fearlessness is a very important feature.”
The Vice-President continued: “General Soleimani has provided many services not only to the people of Iran, but also to all people of the region and Ahl al-Bayt Holy Shrine. Security was a great service that General Soleimani provided to the people of Iran. The so-called International Coalition of the US was not formed to destroy ISIS, but to save and support it. The one who stood in front of this terrorist group was Martyr Soleimani. The axis of resistance owes to the efforts of Martyr Soleimani. Martyr Soleimani also provided a great service to Islam and Muslims.”
Gharibabadi noted: “Although the United States was the cause of the creation of ISIS, according to Hillary Clinton, the then US Secretary of State, it used this group to tarnish the name of Muslims and Islam. Martyr Soleimani's standing as a Muslim against ISIS emphasized the fact that Islam and Muslims hate the ISIS. Elevating Iran's position in the region was another personality trait of Martyr Hajj Qasem Soleimani.”
Referring to the magnificent funeral of General Soleimani in Iraq and Iran, the Vice-President discussed the assassination of General Soleimani from a legal and international perspective, saying that: “The US themselves confessed to their crime and the assassination of General Soleimani. In addition, Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur, called the assassination of General Soleimani a violation of international laws, rights and principles.”
Gharibabadi continued: “Callamard's report states that the US excuse for assassinating General Soleimani is an illegal pretext. This report has several points, including the fact that the US act in assassinating Martyr Soleimani is first, a violation of the United Nations Charter; second, a violation of the standards of the principle of prohibiting use of force; third, a violation of international law and international rules; fourth, a completely illegal act. The report also highlights the fact that the US committed such a terrorist act under the pretext of calling General Soleimani as a terrorist. This is a very important point and causes the international responsibility of the US regime. Callamard’
leaves no need to argue the fact that the US action in assassinating General Soleimani is illegal.”
He went on to clarify that: “According to the UN Convention 1973, assault and assassination of internationally protected personalities is considered as a crime. Both Iran and the US are members of the Convention. In this crime, the US violated the internal sovereignty of Iraq. In two letters to the Security Council, Iraq condemned the US crime and called it a violation of the country's internal sovereignty.”
Regarding the judicial follow-up of the case of General Soleimani’s assassination, the Vice-President noted: “The case has been pursued at three levels: 1) in the International Court of Justice based on the 1973 Convention, 2) judicial proceedings inside the country, through which the indictment was sent to the court although it took time to prepare the indictment at the domestic level due to the necessary investigations, and 3) judicial proceedings in Iraq. “Financing terrorism” and “terrorist act leading to intentional murder” are among the accusations of a number of US accused in this indictment. This criminal case has 96 American accused, 23 of whom have been restrained from prosecution and 73 other accused have been indicted. We have information and documents about suspects from five to six other countries, including Germany and the UK, but the case is initially focused on the American accused. Other countries will be taken into consideration and the case will not be limited to Americans.”
Gharibabadi also announced: “The first hearing of the trial of the accused in the case will be held in Iran in early 2024, and that the investigation into the case is ongoing in Iraq.” He added: “We have requested from the government of Iraq to speed up the investigation process and we hope to see the trial in Iraq soon.” He continued: “On the international side, we are against the impunity of the US perpetrators.
Therefore, the capacity of the 1973 Convention has also been used to file a lawsuit against the United States.”
At the end of his speech, referring to the legal and judicial processes of the case and the measures taken to investigate and obtain documents to complete the case, the Secretary-General of the HCHR reiterated: “The goal of these legal and judicial measures should be to confront the criminal nature of the US and in this framework all capacities should be used. A part of revenge has been taken and it continues. In the lawsuit against the US, the three main accused, Trump, Pompeo, and Mackenzie, pay a lot for their security every year. The minimum punishment for these people is a constant sense of insecurity.”