International Criminal Law

International Criminal Law

A Critical Examination of the Ineffectiveness of Repressive Punishments in Iran’s Drug-Related Crimes and the Proposal of Alternative Models Inspired by the European Union

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mehrzad Houshmandi 1
Masoud Heydari 2
Mohammad Reza Shadmanfar 3
Seyyed Mahmoud Ashrafi 1
1 Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Is.C. (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Is.C. (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran:
3 Department of Law, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22034/iclj.2026.545579.1178
Abstract
Drug trafficking offenses are among the most serious threats to public health and social security. For decades, Iran’s legal system has relied on harsh criminal policies such as capital punishment and long-term imprisonment in dealing with these crimes. However, experience has shown that this approach has not been effective in reducing crime rates and has even led to negative consequences, including prison overcrowding and international pressures regarding human rights compliance. Adopting a critical and comparative perspective, this study examines the inefficiency of repressive punishments in Iran while analyzing the criminal policies of the European Union, where rehabilitation, proportionality of punishment to crime, and non-custodial alternatives play a significant role. The research method is qualitative, based on the analysis of legal documents, judicial practices, and scholarly literature. The findings indicate that drawing on the experiences of European countries—such as expanding alternative sanctions, emphasizing rehabilitation, and harmonizing criminal policies—can enhance the effectiveness of Iran’s criminal justice system. Finally, the study offers recommendations for transitioning from a purely repressive approach toward more balanced and humane policies.
Keywords
Repressive punishments
criminal policy
drug-related crimes
drug trafficking
capital punishment
International Criminal Law

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 31 May 2026

  • Receive Date 06 September 2025
  • Revise Date 02 October 2025
  • Accept Date 31 May 2026