Hadi Tahan Nazif, a jurist member and spokesperson of the Constitutional Council- made the remark addressing the International Legal-Political Conference commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Martyrdom of the "Commanders of Victory" at the University of Baghdad.
He honored the memory of the martyrs, saying, “They, by shedding their pure blood, not only safeguarded the dignity and independence of their nations but also preserved global peace and security against the unrestrained violence of terrorism.”
General Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), and their companions were assassinated in a US drone strike authorized by then-US President Donald Trump near the Iraqi capital Baghdad’s International Airport on January 3, 2020. Both commanders were highly revered across West Asia because of their key role in fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
He added, “These noble martyrs are the ever-burning lights on the path of resistance and will embody the highest meanings of sacrifice and commitment to the lofty Islamic and human ideals, and their memory will remain eternal in the hearts of the free people of the world.”
Embodiment of the Constitution in Martyr Soleimani's Actions
The spokesperson of the Constitutional Council further emphasized that Martyr Soleimani, based on the progressive principles of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which considers the happiness of humans in the entire human society as its ideal and recognizes independence, freedom, and the rule of justice as the right of all people of the world, and relying on Iran's international commitments as a member of the United Nations Charter, rushed to aid the oppressed.
He added, “Martyr Soleimani, in the most difficult hours of the battle against terrorism and during the occupation of the territories of Iraq and Syria by ISIS, restored hope to the people victimized by terror and violence.”
Dr. Tahan Nazif further said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, from the beginning of the Islamic Revolution until now, by supporting civilians to confront crimes against humanity and also to maintain regional and international peace and security, has committed itself to fighting terrorist groups and has been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism.”
Iran's Legitimate Performance in Combating Terrorism
“The resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and other regional and international documents, as well as the requests of the legitimate governments of Iraq and Syria from Iran, all confirm the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran's performance in combating terrorism, in which Martyr Soleimani, while fully respecting the sovereignty of the host governments, displayed a prominent model of adherence to internal and international principles and regulations and always took steps to maintain regional security and stability, so that all his actions were approved and praised by the official authorities of the Iraqi government and other countries in the region.”
The spokesperson said Martyr Soleimani always emphasized the importance of utilizing the capabilities and capacities of countries internally to confront threats in order to preserve their territorial integrity and political independence. “With an approach based on respect for the national sovereignty of countries, he sought to ensure their sustainable and internal security by strengthening and enhancing the defense and security capacities of these governments.”
The Iranian Commander's Attention to the Humanitarian Principles of Islam and International Law Standards
Dr. Tahan Nazif considered another prominent feature of Martyr Soleimani to be his attention to the humanitarian principles of Islam and international law and his special commitment to preserving the dignity of civilians and supporting vulnerable groups in war, who were often exposed to the most severe types of human rights violations in conflicts.
In this regard, he stated: This commitment was greater towards women and children, who were the direct targets of ISIS attacks. For example, during the operation to liberate Aleppo province from ISIS control, Commander Soleimani ordered all his commanders and fighters to first provide a safe path for the exit of women and children from the conflict zones before starting any military action and to remove them from the scene of conflict in complete safety.
Martyr Soleimani, throughout all these years, strived to offer security, which is a fundamental human right, with his life, to the Iranian nation and the defenseless people of the region, the innocent women and children, he noted.