An Analysis of the Legitimacy of Detention and Interrogation Prior to Proof of Guilt from the Perspective of Imami Jurisprudence with Application to the Criminal Procedure Code of 2013

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran, Iran.

10.22075/feqh.2023.23806.2932

Abstract

Regarding temporary detention and interrogation, it is essential to recognize that while the investigation and questioning of suspects are necessary to uphold justice after a crime has been committed, temporary detention inherently conflicts with individual rights and freedoms, leading legislators to impose restrictions on its application. Article 217 of the Criminal Procedure Code of 2013 articulates two principal goals: first, the rationale behind issuing detention orders, and second, the objectives of the criminal justice system, namely the pursuit of justice and the maintenance of social order. This paper employs a descriptive-analytical approach, examining contemporary criminological perspectives and the views of Imami jurists through library research, to explore the legitimacy or illegitimacy of detention and interrogation prior to the establishment of guilt, across various levels of criminal accusations. Although classical juristic sources lack a comprehensive discussion specifically on interrogation, insights into the ruling on interrogation can be derived from the broader discourse on pre-conviction detention.
The analysis suggests that temporary detention in Islamic law has a solid jurisprudential foundation, as many jurists have issued favorable rulings that align with legal standards, a stance also evident in the Criminal Procedure Code. Moreover, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, laws that explicitly contradict Sharia are not enacted. This study therefore concludes that the primary ruling on detention and interrogation prior to proof of guilt is non-permissibility unless a specific justification applies. It also argues that the negative impacts of detention outweigh its positive aspects; thus, the presumption of freedom for suspects prior to a definitive verdict should be prioritized, with detention as an exceptional measure. To minimize temporary detention, alternative solutions should be emphasized, reserving detention as a last resort in essential cases only.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Studies in Islamic Law & Jurisprudence
Volume 16, Issue 35
August 2024
Pages 187-222

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