Public Law Studies Quarterly

Criminalization of the Use of Biological Weapons in Terrorist Acts and Armed Conflicts

Document Type : Article

Authors

Masoud Raei 1
Leila Raisi 2
Ali Asghar Aghalar 3

1 Associate Prof, Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Prof, Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Ph.D. Student in International Law, Faculty of Law, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2022.339218.3033
Abstract
If a biological or harmful toxin agent is used as weapon in armed conflict or terrorist acts, that agent is classified as a biological weapon. Biological weapons, which have a long history of being used in military conflicts, have received special attention from developed states .Due to their unique characteristics, these weapons are considered a serious threat to human health and the peace and security of the international community. The danger of such weapons is greater than nuclear and chemical weapons because they can destroy tens of millions of people in a short term, and the effects can be transferred to future generations. The results of this paper, which uses a descriptive-analytical method, show that under international law, the use of biological weapons in terrorist acts and armed conflicts violates legal rules and disrupts public order. Therefore, the use of such weapons can be criminalized both as a crime against humanity and as a war crime.

Keywords

international criminalism
war crime
crime against humanity
international criminal law
biological weapons
Subjects

  1. English

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Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 54, Issue 3
Autumn 2024
Autumn 2024
Pages 1865-1882

  • Receive Date 19 February 2022
  • Revise Date 11 June 2022
  • Accept Date 11 September 2022

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