Yazdan Shahdai: A Legal Vacuum Is More Dangerous Than Dictatorship
Yazdan Shahdai, member of the Secretariat and spokesperson of the Iran Transition Council stressed the need for political and legal preparedness for the period following the fall of the Islamic Republic during the conference “Human Rights in Post–Islamic Republic Iran.” He said Iranian society must begin preparing for what he described as the “zero point of history” — the moment when political power collapses and a new system has yet to take shape.
According to Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), the conference was held in Oslo, on 18–19 October 2025. At the beginning of his speech, Shahdai extended greetings to political prisoners and the people of Iran and quoted German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, saying: “Where politics closes its eyes to human rights, a window to crime opens.” He added that Iran is approaching a period of change and that, to avoid repeating the mistakes of 1979, human rights and legal mechanisms must be placed at the centre of decision-making.
The spokesperson of the Iran Transition Council described the transition period as a sensitive stage between the collapse of the existing system and the formation of a new political order, a moment filled with both opportunity and risk. “If tomorrow at eight in the morning the Islamic Republic collapses, the main question will be: who will be responsible for security, public order and the administration of the country?” he said, warning that the opposition’s lack of preparation for such a moment could increase the risk of renewed chaos and violence.
Shahdai noted that at the beginning of a transition period there should be a temporary agreement to suspend judicial rulings and punishments in order to prevent a cycle of revenge. “A legal vacuum is more dangerous than dictatorship,” he warned. Referring to the experiences of South Africa and Poland, he said: “Both countries established truth and reconciliation commissions that helped steer the process of justice away from violence while drafting interim constitutional frameworks. In Iran as well, such a combination should be developed jointly by legal experts and political actors.”
He described international human rights standards — including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights — as an appropriate basis for legislation during the transition period and called for the participation of Iranian experts and international institutions in developing these mechanisms.
Emphasising that Iran is a society with strong civil capacities, Shahdai pointed to institutions such as the Bar Association, the Medical Council, the Engineering Organisation, and professional associations of teachers and nurses as potential pillars for maintaining stability and public order during a transition.
“Iran is a wealthy and aware society that can rely on its human capital to ensure the continuation of everyday affairs without interruption,” he said. Shahdai stressed the need to plan for the continued functioning of key institutions such as schools, hospitals and banks, adding: “A political vacuum combined with a legal vacuum can lead to catastrophe. Before entering the transition period, we must establish the necessary guarantees for democracy in Iran.”
Translated from Farsi via machine translation and lightly edited for clarity.