attorney. 13 Similarly, none of the death row prisoners Iran Human Rights has inquired about have had access to a lawyer in the initial phase after their arrest.14 Reports have shown a pattern of reported cases where prisoners remain incarcerated without proper access to legal representation during all stages of their trial procedure. 15 16 17 18 In many reported cases, especially those involving charges of crimes against national security, defendants have reported seeing their lawyer for the first time on the day of their trial. 19 20 In light of the above, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not ensured that all those sentenced to death can exercise their right to equal access to justice through adequate legal representation. Additionally, the existing legal aid programmes have not been effective in ensuring adequate and qualified legal representation for all. Recommendation Status: This recommendation has NOT been implemented. 13 https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_ICS_IRN_42313_E.pdf https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4732/ 15 HRANA https://www.en-hrana.org/political-prisoner-denied-access-to-an-attorney 16 HRANA https://www.en-hrana.org/arash-sadegh-golrokh-iraeis-lawyers-access-cases 17 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, January 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_Special_Rapporteur_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_ Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4361.pdf 18 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 2020, https://documentsdds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N20/190/27/PDF/N2019027.pdf?OpenElement 19 Joint submission to the Human Rights Committee from the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, Impact Iran, Human Rights Activists in Iran, 2020, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CCPR_ICS_IRN_42313_E.pdf 20 Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/03/24/iran-detainees-denied-fair-legal-representation 14 3