Public Law Studies Quarterly

The Right to Legal Recourse Against Individuals with Diplomatic ‎Immunity: Challenges and Solutions

Document Type : Article

Authors

Farnaz Raeeskazemi 1
Hossein Alekajbaf 2
Soheyla Koosha 3

1 PhD in International Law, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Law, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2023.366836.3415
Abstract
Diplomatic immunity, as a concept of international law, plays a significant role in maintaining diplomatic relations between countries and the rights and freedoms of diplomats. The principle of diplomatic immunity enables diplomats to be protected from legal prosecution for violations of the laws of the host state. Granting extensive immunity to diplomats may sometimes seem to conflict with the fundamental right to seek justice for individuals whose rights have been overlooked by diplomats. Therefore, this article aims to address questions related to existing solutions regarding diplomatic crimes, avoiding instances of diplomatic abuse, ensuring the rights of victims, and the challenges ahead. The research methodology in this study is based on an explanatory-analytical approach. The results indicate that to preserve individuals' right to seek justice and reduce crimes committed by diplomats through their common abuses of diplomatic privileges and immunities, there is a need to amend the Vienna Convention and the laws of 

Keywords

diplomatic immunity
‎diplomatic abuse
crimes
‎international diplomatic ‎criminal court
‎international relations.‎
Subjects

  1. English

    1. Cassel, P. (2012). Grounds of Judgment: Extraterritoriality and Imperial Power in Nineteenth- Century China and Japan;(Oxford Studies in International History)- U.K, Oxford University Press.
    2. Denza, E. (2008). Diplomatic Law: A Commentary on The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. (3rd ed.),112–13-U. K, Oxford University Press.
    3. O. (2012). Vienna Convention in Perspective. Lagos- Nigeria, Golden Publishers.
    4. Grotius, H. (2005). The Rights of War and Pease.1(Book l)- U.K., Cambridge University Press
    5. B. (2012). Personal Inviolability and Diplomatic Immunity in Respect of Serious Crimes. - Accra, Ghana International Press Centre, Abdul Press.
    6. B) Articles
    7. Farhangi, L, S. (1986). Note, Insuring Against Abuse of Diplomatic Irrimunity. Stanford Law Review, (38), 1517-1519.
    8. Friedrich, K. (2007). Note, Statutes of Liberty? Seeking Justice Under United States Law When Diplomats Traffic in Persons.Brooklyn Law Review, (72), 1139- 1160.
    9. Groff, J. (2000). Note, A Proposal for Diplomatic Accountability Using the Jurisdiction of the Inteniational Criminal Court.’ The Decline of an Absolute Sovereign Right. Temple International & Comparative Law Journal, (14), 209- 218.
    10. Hickey, Jr. James E. & Fisch, A. (1990). The Case to Presewe Criminal Jurisdiction Immunity Accorded Foreign Diplomatic and Consular Personnel in the United States. Hastings Law Journal, (41), 351- 356.
    11. MacPherson, B. F. (1998). Building an International Criminal Court for the 2Ist Century. Connecticut Journal of International Law, (13), 1-38.
    12. McDonough, M. B. (1997). Privileged Outlaws. Diplomats, Crime and Immunity. Suffolk Transnational Law Review, (20), 475-78.
    13. Morris, W. G. (2007). Constitutional Solutions to the Problem of Diplomatic Crime and Immunity. Hofstra Law Review, (36), 610-637.
    14. Randall, K, (1988). Universal Jurisdiction Under International Law.Texas Law Review, (66), 785- 830.
    15. Udeoji Ebele Angela & Ochoga Edwin Ochoga. (2023). The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities Among States: Issues and Challenges. Wukari International Studies Journal, (7), 275-282.
    16. Wright, S, L. (1987). Note, Restricting Diplomatic l rritriunity to Deter Violent Criminal Acts. - A Proposal for Amending the Vienna Convention. Boston University International Law Journal,(5), 177- 184.
    17. Zaid, M. S. (1998). The Question of Diplomatic Immunity. To Have or Not to Have, Thai Is the Question. Ilsa Journal of International & Comparative Law, (4), 623-628.

     

    1. C) Documents
    2. United State Constitutuion. art. II, § 2
    3. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Apr. 18, 1961, 23 U.S.T. 3227, 500 U.N. T.S. 95 [hereinafter Vienna Convention].
    4. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Apr. 24, 1963, 21 U.S.T. 77, 596 U.N.T.S. 261 [hereinafter Consular Relations Convention]; Agreement Regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, June 25, 1945, 61 Stat. 3416, 11 U.N.T.S. 11 [hereinafter Headquarters Agreement).
    5. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, July 17, 1998, 2187; U.N.T.S. 90, arts.2, 20, 22, 55, 66, 58, 64, 67. [hereinafter Rome Statute].

     

    References In Persian:

    1. Ebrahimi, S., and Others. (2020). Diplomatic support for damaged legal entities with an emphasis on damage to commercial companies from foreign countries. Islamic Research and Studies Journal, 2 (15),106-131 (In Persian).
    2. Jahangiri, N. A. (2018). Diplomatic immunity from the point of view of jurisprudence. Ma'aref Qur'an and Etrat Journal, 5 (8),199-223 (In Persian).
    3. Mousa Zadeh, R., & Rezaei Estakhroyeh, M. (2015). The Evolution of the Concept of Diplomatic Immunity: Security and Human Rights Considerations. Security Research Journal, (52), 189-216 (In Persian).
    4. Rashid Germi, A., and others. (2022). Criminal responsibility to attack embassies in Iranian criminal law and Islamic jurisprudence. Iranian Political Sociology Journal, (27), 1569-1612 (In Persian).
    5. Shaban nia Roknabadi, G. (2021). Reviewing the Jurisprudential Evidences of Diplomatic Immunity in Islamic Countries. Islamic Government Journal, (102), 147-172 (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 54, Issue 4
Winter 2025
Autumn 2024
Pages 2669-2688

  • Receive Date 17 October 2023
  • Revise Date 23 December 2023
  • Accept Date 23 December 2023

Home

Journal Process Ethics

Peer Review Process

Submission

Indexing and Abstracting

Contact Us