Gharibabadi: The Investigation of the Case is being Followed in Iran and Iraq

HCHR_He added: “The court investigating the case of assassination of General Soleimani is going through formal judicial processes”.Four years have passed since the US terrorist operation to martyr General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis and a number of their comrades,and Iran continues to take serious steps towards judicial and legal measures for this case.

Over the past years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has pursued the case of the assassination of General Soleimani in domestic courts and is trying to bring the case to the international level. In this regard, Kazem Gharibabadi, the Vice-President of the Judiciary for International Affairs and the Secretary-General of the High Council for Human Rights, elaborated on the latest status in the case of the assassination of Martyr General Soleimani in an interview with Mizan news agency.

Referring to the continuation of the process of pursuing the assassination of General Soleimani, Gharibabadi said: “After the indictment was sent to the court by Tehran Prosecutor's Office in May, a special branch composed of three judges was appointed and judicial measures were started to go through the judicial
process.”

The Secretary-General of the HCHR, pointed out: “We announced to the American accused that they can attend the Court and defend themselves or appoint a lawyer for themselves. If the accused individuals do not introduce a lawyer of their own choice, the court will appoint a lawyer for them.

He added: “Our perception is that during this week or the next, the last stage of formal judicial processes will be passed. Then the Court will set a time after appointing the lawyers with the necessary notifications sent to the lawyers and the accused persons.

The Vice-President of the Judiciary expressed hope that the first court session will be held within the next two to three months, because the court process is currently undergoing the process of procedural principles and related provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Referring to the persistant contacts between Iran and Iraq regarding the assassination of General Soleimani, the Secretary-General of the HCHR stated:“We are in constant contact and negotiation with Iraq and we asked them to end the investigation as soon as possible and submit their indictment to the Court.”

Gharibabadi noted: "In their trip to Iran not long ago, the Iraqi delegation assured that their investigation would end soon and they would present their indictment to the court. That means we will have this procedure in both countries.”