Payam Akhavan
{{Short description|Canadian lawyer}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{COI|date=May 2018}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=February 2018}}
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{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
Payam Akhavan {{postnominals|country=CAN|OOnt}} ({{langx|fa|پیام اخوان}}) is an Iranian-born Canadian lawyer. He is nominated as a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague by Bangladesh.[https://pca-cpa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/07/Current-List-Annex-1-Members-of-the-Court-.pdf Current list. Annex 1 Members of the Court] pca-cpa.org {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} He is a Senior Fellow at Massey College at the University of Toronto and is a visiting adjunct at its Faculty of Law.
He was previously Legal Advisor to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague and special advisor to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.[http://www.icty.org/x/cases/erdemovic/acjug/en/erd-asojmcd971007e.pdf Erdemovic - Judgement - Joint Separate Opinion of Judge] icty.org{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/distinguished-visitors/archives/faculty-visiting-2002-03#Payam%20Akhavan|title=Faculty – Visiting – 2002-03 {{!}} University of Toronto Faculty of Law|website=law.utoronto.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-05-15}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/struggling-for-justice-how-payam-akhavan-lost-his-home-in-iran-and-found-human-rights-1.4386404|title='Struggling for justice': How Payam Akhavan lost his home in Iran and found human rights {{!}} CBC Radio|work=CBC|access-date=2018-05-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/society/2017/10/19/meeting-pioneering-war-crimes-prosecutor-payam-akhavan|title=Meeting pioneering war-crimes prosecutor Payam Akhavan|last=Ditmars|first=Hadani|work=alaraby|access-date=2018-05-15|language=en}} He has served as legal counsel in cases before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Supreme Courts of Canada and the United States.{{Cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/140/140-20110401-JUD-01-00-EN.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715192832/http://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/140/140-20110401-JUD-01-00-EN.pdf |archive-date=15 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2012/05/23/tripoli-vs-the-hague-two-courts-vie-to-try-gadhafis-son/|title=Tripoli vs. The Hague: two courts vie to try Gadhafi's son – Macleans.ca|date=2012-05-23|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=2018-05-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#%7B%22itemid%22:%5B%22001-139276%22%5D%7D|title=HUDOC – European Court of Human Rights|website=hudoc.echr.coe.int|access-date=2018-05-15}}
Early life
Akhavan was born in Iran to a Bahá’í family.{{cite web|url=https://uwidata.com/19162-who-makes-up-the-so-called-uyghur-tribunal/|title= Who makes up the so-called 'Uyghur Tribunal'?|date= 14 June 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/special-features/68270/|title=Iranians Fighting Hatred Around the World: Payam Akhavan|accessdate=24 April 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://humanrightsintl.com/2017/12/10/payam-akhavan-receives-2017-ichr-human-rights-award/|title=Payam Akhavan receives 2017 ICHR Human Rights Award|date=11 December 2017|accessdate=24 April 2024}} His family later emigrated to Toronto, Canada during his childhood, due to the persecution of Baháʼís before the Iranian revolution. He has practiced in international criminal law and global justice.{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/event/reducing-genocide-law-probing-reflection-empathy-and-our-faith-global-justice |title=Reducing Genocide to Law: A Probing Reflection on Empathy and Our Faith in Global Justice |publisher=Freedom House |date=6 September 2012}}
Career
He also served as counsel before the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission.[http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1151 Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission]. Pca-cpa.org. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112212535/http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1151 |date=12 January 2013 }} He was counsel before the ICJ in the Case Concerning Application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Georgia v Russia) concerning allegations of "ethnic cleansing" in South Ossetia during the August 2008 armed conflict between Georgia and Russia.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/world/europe/09hague.html?_r=0 | work=The New York Times | first=Marlise | last=Simons | title=International Court Hears Georgian Case | date=9 September 2008}} Additionally he was also counsel to Libya before the ICC in the case concerning Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi whether the ICC or Libyan courts will prosecute allegations of crimes against humanity arising from the 2011 revolution against Muammar Gaddafi.Petrou, Michael. (23 May 2012) [http://www.macleans.ca/2012/05/23/tripoli-vs-the-hague-two-courts-vie-to-try-gadhafis-son/ Tripoli vs. The Hague: two courts vie to try Gadhafi's son – World]. Macleans.ca.[http://publications.mcgill.ca/droit/2012/12/12/payam-akhavan-at-the-icc/ Libyan Tug of War : Law | Focus online]. Publications.mcgill.ca.
In 2013 he acted as counsel for Japan in the Whaling in the Antarctic Case brought by Australia before the ICJ, alleging that Japan's scientific research program was commercial whaling in disguise.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/03/japan-australian-role-whaling-crusade | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Japan attacks Australian role in whaling 'moral crusade' | date=3 July 2013}}{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japan-claims-fatal-flaw-in-australian-whaling-attack-20130715-2pzol.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Japan claims fatal flaw in Australian whaling attack}} In 2008, he was counsel to Sheikh Hasina while she was imprisoned to avoid her participation in national elections. He campaigned for her release.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160306162017/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-28852020070806 Rights lawyer appointed for former Bangladesh PM | Reuters]. In.reuters.com. In 2016, the Kurdistan Regional Government asked him to help investigate ISIS crimes against Yazidis.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/02/15/yazidis-in-iraq-the-case-for-investigating-genocide.html|title=Forgotten Yazidis: The case for investigating genocide|newspaper=Toronto Star|access-date=1 February 2018}} He is a member of the team of counsel for The Gambia in the Rohingya genocide case filed in 2019 against Myanmar before the ICJ.{{cite web |title=Foley Hoag Leads the Gambia's Legal Team in Historic Case to Stop Myanmar's Genocide Against the Rohingya {{!}} Foley Hoag |url=https://foleyhoag.com/news-and-events/news/2019/november/foley-hoag-leads-the-gambias-legal-team-in-case-to-stop-myanmar-genocide |website=foleyhoag.com |access-date=25 January 2020}}
Payam Akhavan co-founded the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre to establish a record of the Islamic Republic's human rights abuses and promote individual accountability for crimes.Levin, Arielle. (9 January 2005) [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E6D71039F93AA35752C0A9639C8B63&pagewanted=all Thinking of Home And of Human Rights]. The New York Times. He served as a steering committee member and prosecutor of the Iran People's Tribunal, a victim-based truth commission and informal court in exile, to expose the mass executions of political prisoners in Iran during the 1980s.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/22/world/middleeast/years-of-torture-in-iran-comes-to-light.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 | work=The New York Times | first=Kristen | last=McTighe | title=Years of Torture in Iran Comes to Light | date=21 November 2012}}[https://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2012/10/iran-1988 Iran, 1988: Judgment time]. The Economist (30 October 2012). This includes Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa for the mass execution of some 5,000 people in the summer of 1988.[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/veronique-mistiaen/iran-tribunal-to-uncover-_b_1599761.html Veronique Mistiaen: Iran Tribunal to Uncover Iran's "Srebrenica"]. Huffingtonpost.co.uk.Petrou, Michael. (14 January 2013) [http://www.macleans.ca/2013/01/14/bringing-torture-to-light/ Tribunal finds Iran guilty of torture and murder of political prisoners – World]. Macleans.ca. Akhavan appeared in the documentary The Green Wave[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPvbu0U4Vms The green wave trailer.mov]. YouTube (5 July 2012). had testified before the European Parliament, United States Commissions, and the Canadian Parliament, advocating non-violent democratic transitions, emphasis on human rights rather than the nuclear issue, targeted sanctions against human rights abusers, and firmly opposing war.Petrou, Michael. (15 February 2012) [http://www.macleans.ca/2012/02/15/irans-heroic-struggle-to-reclaim-its-lost-humanity/ Iran's "heroic struggle to reclaim its lost humanity" – The World Desk]. Macleans.ca.
Akhavan has collaborated Shirin Ebadi on Iran human rights issues, including an opinion piece in the Washington Post.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/in-iran-human-rights-and-nuclear-security-go-hand-in-hand/2013/11/29/e131a7dc-578b-11e3-8304-caf30787c0a9_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post| first1=Shirin | last1=Ebadi | first2=Payam | last2=Akhavan | title=Should the United States fund the service program AmeriCorps? President Obama would increase its budget. Rep. Paul Ryan would eliminate federal funding for the program | date=29 November 2013}}[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/leave-every-stone-unturned/article4190300/ Leave every stone unturned]. The Globe and Mail.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/irans-calculus-of-terror-includes-syrian-response/article4230740/ Iran's calculus of terror includes Syrian response]. The Globe and Mail. He was the academic supervisor of Nargess Tavassolian, Shirin Ebadi's daughter, during her graduate studies at McGill University. In August 2008, the Iranian Government press made the "accusation" that "Nargess Tavassolian converted to Baháʼísm in 2007 under the direction of Payam Akhavan and started her activities in the Association for Baháʼí Studies" amidst death threats against Ebadi for "serving the foreigners and the Baháʼís."[http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/306 Iranian Press Targets Nobel Prize Winner Ebadi]. Iran Press Watch (3 December 2008).
In 2017, Akhavan was selected to deliver the Massey Lectures and wrote the book In Search of A Better World: A Human Rights Odyssey.{{cite web | title=CBC Massey Lectures| website=Massey College| url=https://www.masseycollege.ca/cbc-massey-lectures/ | access-date=24 April 2024}} A documentary by the same name centred around the book was subsequently released on CBC Gem.{{cite web | title=In Search of a Better World | website=CBC | url=https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/in-search-of-a-better-world | access-date=24 April 2024}}
Since November 2021, Akhavan has chaired the Committee of Legal Experts{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Committee of Legal Experts (COLE) - Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law |url=https://www.cosis-ccil.org/organization/cole |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240915054006/https://www.cosis-ccil.org/organization/cole |archive-date=2024-09-15 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.cosis-ccil.org |language=en-gb}} for the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. {{Cite web |title=About - Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law |url=https://www.cosis-ccil.org/about |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.cosis-ccil.org}} This work is part of Akhavan's on-going effort to find legal channels to legitimize Ecocide as a crime under international law.{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Annie |date=2023-03-30 |title=Legal Avenues to Fight Climate Change |url=https://www.ipinst.org/2023/03/legal-avenues-to-fight-climate-change-2023#5 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=International Peace Institute |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |title=COP28: A Canadian lawyer’s backchannel strategy to force polluters to act {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10142075/cop28-backdoor-legal-strategy-compel-biggest-polluters/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqY0yxvWe3o Payam Akhavan at Human Rights Day Seminar, Leiden University, The Netherlands, 2013] (Video)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhavan, Payam}}
Category:Lawyers from New Haven, Connecticut
Category:Iranian emigrants to Canada
Category:International law scholars
Category:Academic staff of McGill University
Category:Fernand Braudel Fellows
Category:Harvard Law School alumni
Category:Osgoode Hall Law School alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)