following its disestablishment after the Iranian Revolution and its subsequent reinstitution, the Bar Association has been put under increased Judiciary’s governance.25 Additionally, the Iranian Government has repeatedly attempted to amend bylaws of the Bar Association and reduce the independence of lawyers.26 27 28 29 Most recently, a draft bill presented in May 2020 would replace the Bar Association with the “Supreme Council of the Coordination of Lawyers’ Affairs”, which would be composed of Government appointed judiciaries.30 The Bar Association was not involved in the drafting process of the text. 31 As of January 2021, the bill is still under consideration. The Judiciary is in charge of investigating the qualification of lawyers and confirming the issuance of licenses to newly qualified lawyers.32 In November 2020, the Judiciary issued a directive allowing it to investigate complaints against lawyers instead of the Bar Association’s own disciplinary tribunal.33 In 2000, the Judiciary established the General Office for the Supervision of Lawyers, Experts, Family Counsellors and Official Translators in accordance with Article 187 of the Law of the Third Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan.34 In October 2020, Mohammad Mosaddegh, the Iranian judiciary’s deputy chief for legal and parliamentary affairs, announced the creation of a judicial body to supervise lawyers, the General Office for the Supervision of Lawyers, Experts, Family Counsellors and Official Translators, under the responsibility of his Office.35 36 The Bar association and lawyers are not independent from the Iranian Judiciary in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Considering the above, there is no self-regulating independent bar association or council to oversee the process of admitting candidates to the legal profession, provide a uniform code of ethics and conduct, and enforce disciplinary measures. Recommendation Status: This recommendation has NOT been implemented. 25 See more: Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, https://iranhrdc.org/iranian-bar-associations-struggle-for-independence/ Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, May 2015, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/28/70 27 Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/07/16/iran-halt-moves-curtail-lawyers 28 Lawyers for Lawyers, https://lawyersforlawyers.org/en/iran-lawyers-call-upon-iranian-authorities-to-revoke-controversial-bill/ 29 ILNA News < https://www.ilna.news/fa/tiny/news-795247 > 30 Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/more-than-12-000-lawyers-in-iran-reject-move-to-dismantle-barassociation/30590110.html 31 ILNA News< https://www.ilna.news/fa/tiny/news-892761 > 32 The Supreme Disciplinary Court for Judges has the authority to vet lawyers. https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/92825 33 Vokalapress, https://vokalapress.ir/?p=7708 34 Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/93301 35 Tabnak News, https://bit.ly/2MNjDOj 36 Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://iranhumanrights.org/2020/12/new-directive-allows-iranian-judiciary-to-controllawyers-through-disciplinary-body/ 26 4