Human Rights Experts Sign Open Letter on Iran

Over 100 human rights scholars and experts on international law have signed an open letter raising profound concerns about U.S. government violations of human rights and international law in its war against Iran. Among these scholars are Human Rights Program Director Carrie Walling, HRP Director Emeritus Barbara Frey, and Humphrey School Professor Eric Schwartz. The letter details four specific legal concerns. Published in Just Security, the letter explains that U.S. and Israeli military strikes have violated the UN Charter prohibition on the use of force. Second, intentional strikes on civilians and non-military personnel violate international humanitarian and human rights laws. The last two concerns focus on harmful rhetoric; the letter argues that dangerous comments made by high level U.S. and Israeli government officials threatening to commit war crimes weakens institutional safeguards designed to prevent such violations.

The letter was also featured in a recent New York Times article highlighting U.S. government threats to commit war crimes and lack of compliance with  international law in its war on Iran. The open letter serves as a call to action to American policymakers and government officials to examine the human rights aspects of the strikes and ensure that the UN Charter and international law are being followed.