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Solitary confinement from the perspective of human rights standards in ‎the light of Iran's legal system

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Prof., Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, ‎Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student in International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, ‎Tehran, Iran‎

Abstract

One of the most serious violations of prisoners' human rights occurs in solitary confinement. These violations, like most issues related to people deprived of their liberty, fall within the framework of the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The present article is trying to evaluate the compliance of Iran's domestic laws and regulations regarding solitary confinement with human rights standards by comparative study of different judicial systems, human rights documents and international court procedures. In this framework, an attempt has been made to provide a precise definition of the concept of solitary confinement by using library and documentary sources and by descriptive and analytical methods, and to examine the threshold of entering the realm of torture and cruel, inhuman and humiliating behaviors and by differentiating between the types of solitary confinement based on the objective index and the logic of its use, the prohibited and permitted cases of using solitary confinement are examined.
The findings of the research show that the new Executive Regulations of the Prisons Organization of the I.R. of Iran (2021) have considered the basic issues of human rights standards and international standards related to solitary confinement to the extent acceptable.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. English

    1. A) Books
    2. African commission on Human and Peoples’ rights (2014). Guidelines on the Conditions of Arrest: Luanda Guidelines. Banjul: Police Custody and Pre-Trial Detention in Africa.
    3. American Civil Liberties Union (2013). ALONE & AFRAID: Children Held in Solitary Confinement and Isolation in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities. Washington, D.C: ACLU.
    4. Coyle, A., & Fair, H. (2018). A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management, Handbook for Prison Staff. third edition. London: University of London.
    5. European Court of Human Rights (2022). Guide on Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Prohibition of torture. Strasburg: ECtHR.
    6. ICRC (2018). Dignity and safety in restrictive detention regimes. Geneva: ICRC.
    7. ODIHR and PRI (2018). Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela. London: PRI.
    8. PRI and Essex (2017). Initial guidance on the interpretation and implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules. London: University of Essex.
    9. World Health Organization (2014). Prisons and Health. Copenhagen: WHO.

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Conley, A. (2013). Torture in US Jails and Prisons: An Analysis of Solitary Confinement Under International Law. ICL Journal. Vol 7,4.
    3. Scharff Smith, P. (2006). The Effects of Solitary Confinement on Prison Inmates: A Brief History and Review of the Literature. Crime and Justice. Vol. 34. No. 1.
    4. Grassian, S. (2006). Psychiatric effects of solitary confinement. Journal of Law and Policy. Vol. 22.
    5. Pruszewicz, M. (2014). When murderers were hanged quickly. BBC News Magazine. 7 August 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28688474.

     

    1. C) Cases
    2. European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (1986), Johnston and Others v. Ireland, Judgment (18 Dec. 1986), Application No. 9697/82.
    3. Committee Against Torture (CAT) (2007), L.J.R. v. Australia (2008), U.N. Doc. CAT/C/41/D/316/2007. Communication No. 316/2007.
    4. European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (2010), Onoufriou v. Cyprus, App no. 24407/04.
    5. European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (2004), Iorgov v. Bulgaria, App no. 40653/98.
    6. European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (2010), A.B. v. Russia, App no. 1439/06.
    7. European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (2005), Rohde v. Denmark, App no 69332/01.
    8. D) Documents
    9. Human Rights Committee (HRC) (1982), General Comment No. 9: Article 10 (Humane Treatment of Persons Deprived of their Liberty), INT/CCPR/GEC/4719/E, 16th Session.
    10. UN Doc A/RES/45/113 (1990), UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Their Liberty.
    11. UN General Assembly A/63/175 (2008), Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
    12. UN General Assembly A/RES/65/229 (2010), United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules).
    13. UN General Assembly A/66/268 (2011).
    14. UN General Assembly A/68/295 (2013), Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture.
    15. UN General Assembly A/RES/70/175 (2015), United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).
    16. UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) (1992), CCPR General Comment No. 20: Article 7.
    17. Human Rights Council, A/HRC/31/57/Add.1, (2016).
    18. Human Rights Council, A/HRC/34/54/Add.3, (2017).
    19. Republic of Ecuador (2008) Constitution of 2008. Quito: Republic of Ecuador. Article 51.1.
    20. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) (2011), General Report No. 21, CPT/ Inf (2011)28-part2.
    21. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) (2013 - 2014), General Report No. 24.
    22. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) (2019), Report to the Italian Government on the visit to Italy from 12 to 22 March 2019.
    23. The Yogyakarta Principles plus 10 (2006 & 2017), Group of international human rights experts.

     

    References In Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Akhondi, M. (1995). The Regulations of Penal prosecutions. Tehran: Ministry of culture. 3 (In Persian).
    3. Denesh, T. A. (1997). Prisoner’s Rights and the science of prisons. Tehran: University of Tehran (In Persian).
    4. Easton, S. (2015). Prisoners’ Rights: Principles and Practices. translating by shahlaie, Faraz. Tehran: Negah Bayene (In Persian).

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Ranjbarian, Amirhossein & Karbalaee, Maryam (2022). The Necessity of Preserving Humanity in the Treatment of Persons Deprived of Liberty: From Theory to Practice. The Public Law Studies Quarterly. Tehran: University of Tehran. 52. 919-942. https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2020.292432.2232 (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 December 2025
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History
  • Receive Date: 02 September 2023
  • Revise Date: 21 November 2023
  • Accept Date: 23 December 2023
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