The Execution of the Iranian Nationals in Saudi Arabia: the Need for Re-examination of Judicial Precedent within the Context of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

In the beginning of 1391 (2012) the news of the execution of several Iranian nationals by the Saudis authorities was broadcast. The Iranian government reacted by condemning the execution as illegal and accusing the Saudi authorities of violating their international obligations under international law; in particular general human rights and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The main purpose of the Geneva Convention is to protect the interests of the nationals of the sending states and to ensure the efficient performance of functions by consular posts on behalf of their respective states. It therefore held them internationally responsible. This article intends to examine the legality of the Saudi acts and to see whether they constitute a breach of an international obligation of that state and; hence, entailing its international responsibility. To this end, the article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, international precedents and customary rules of international law will be examined. The importance of this subject is not difficult to comprehend: should the answer to the above question be affirmative then that would uphold the Iranian government legal rights and would strengthen its diplomatic position regarding the illegal execution of Iranian nationals by the Saudi government; whereupon it would prevent the latter from committing such atrocity in the future.