Fundamental Challenges of Iranian Law Regarding Criminal Warrants (Mesures de Sûreté) in Light of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Criminal warrants are among the most important tools for ensuring the presence of the accused and protecting victims' rights in the criminal justice process. However, a close examination of the Code of Criminal Procedure and judicial precedents reveals numerous challenges and gaps in the issuance, execution, and supervision of these orders. This article provides a critical analysis of the legal and practical framework of criminal warrants, particularly in the area of pretrial detention (détention provisoire). It meticulously evaluates the general and specific conditions for issuing these orders, their application to natural and juridical persons, and the classification of different types of criminal warrants under Iranian law. The central question of this research is: What are the challenges in the law and implementation of criminal warrants within Iran’s Code of Criminal Procedure? In addition to identifying legal conflicts, interpretative ambiguities, and weak enforcement mechanisms, the article proposes solutions for legal reform, the establishment of consistent judicial procedures, and the protection of fundamental principles of a fair trial, such as the presumption of innocence, the separation of investigative and prosecutorial authorities, and the proportionality of warrants. These solutions are offered through a comparative study, with a special focus on the French Code of Criminal Procedure. This descriptive-analytical article, using library resources and precedents, endeavors to identify structural and procedural challenges—such as legal conflicts, structural ambiguities, and implementation gaps—and, through comparative analysis with French criminal procedure, proposes remedial solutions, including legal reform, greater use of judicial supervision orders, and the creation of unified judicial precedents, to address the existing problems.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 21 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 October 2025

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