HOSSEIN RAEEISI
Human Rights Lawyer
Expert in Iranian Law & Islamic Law
Advocate for Human Rights, Children’s Rights & Justice
With over 30 years of legal experience, including 20 years of practice in Iran as a licensed lawyer, I specialize in Iranian and Islamic Sharia law and its applications, particularly in family law, children’s rights, judicial system, general contracts regulations and the criminal justice system. My expertise spans across family law, authentication of judicial documents, child custody, divorce, general contracts, refugee/immigration, procedural law, criminal justice system, inheritance, wills, children’s justice, and international human rights law.
I have a deep understanding of the legal structure in Iran both pre and post the1979 revolution and am well-versed in Sharia law as practiced in Iran and other Islamic countries. I have also acted as an expert witness in cases before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and have been qualified to act in that capacity in different cases (e.g., Al-Barqawi v. El-Hassan, 2019 & Aldush v. Alani, 2021 ONSC 6410 at paras. 33-51)
In addition to my legal practice, I am an adjunct research professor, a scholar and researcher, and I am the director of the Youth and Justice Lab at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. I also teach and conduct research in Children’s Rights, Islamic Law, Juvenile Justice, and Criminal Justice Reform.
Iranian and Islamic Sharia Law
Expertise in Iranian pre and post 1979 revolutionary law and justice system, Islamic sharia law, divorce, criminal law, immigration, refugee, and juvenile justice.
Children’s Rights and Juvenile Justice
Extensive experience defending children in conflict with the law, advocating for reforms in the juvenile justice systems, and protecting the rights of children in Iranian and international contexts.
Family Law & Conflict Resolution
Specializing in family law cases, particularly in Iranian family disputes involving children, custody, and inheritance, wills, applying Iranian and Islamic law principles.
Expert Reports & Testimony
Providing expert legal analysis and reports on Iranian law, Islamic law, and children’s rights for use in court and other legal proceedings.
Expert Witness
Available to testify as an expert witness on issues related to Iranian family law, Islamic law, children’s rights, and justice for minors in legal cases.
Mediation & Arbitration
Skilled in resolving conflicts with regards to general contracts, inheritance, wills, marriage, divorce, and children’s disputes through mediation and arbitration, with a focus on Iranian law matters.
Document Authentication and Verification
One of my key abilities and services is assessing judicial and legal documents to verify their authenticity, ensuring that all court and legal documents are legitimate and trustworthy.
Specializing in human rights, family law, and juvenile justice.
Advocacy for Children
Successfully defended over 100 cases involving the death penalty for minors, securing acquittals and reductions in sentences for children and women facing execution.
Expert on Iranian Islamic Family Law
Extensive experience in mediating family law conflicts, especially concerning custody, inheritance, and minors’ rights within the context of Islamic law.
International Collaboration
Worked with UN-OHCHR, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and legal institutions on human rights and justice reform.
Academic Contributions
Faculty member at Carleton University, managing the Youth and Justice Lab and conducting research on juvenile justice, Islamic law, and international human rights.
Legal Writing & Research
Published articles and reports on Iranian law, juvenile justice, and children’s rights in legal journals and human rights publications.
Expert Reports
In-depth reports on Iranian family law, Islamic law, authentication of judicial documents and children’s rights, providing legal analysis and context for use in Canadian and international courts.
Expert Testimony
Offering expert witness testimony on Iranian legal practices, the impact of Islamic law on family and child-related matters, and children’s rights in the Iranian Islamic State context.
Mediation & Arbitration
Mediation services to resolve family disputes and children’s conflicts under Iranian family law, with a focus on preserving children’s rights and well-being.
Consultation & Advisory
Providing legal consultation to Canadian law firms on cases involving Islamic sharia law, Iranian legal matters, women’s rights, LGBTQs rights, children’s rights, immigration, refugee, and international human rights law.
Research on the Death Penalty
In-depth studies on the death penalty for minors in Iran and its implications for international human rights law.
Children’s Rights in Islamic Legal Systems
Research and reports on the protection of children’s rights within Islamic legal frameworks in Iran and other Islamic nations.
Family Law & Sharia Law
Contributions to discussions on family law disputes, including inheritance, custody, and the protection of children in Iranian and Islamic contexts.
Expert Qualification in Sharia Law and International Human Rights
Ontario Superior Court of Justice — Aldush v. Alani, 2021 ONSC 6410
Hossein Raeesi was qualified by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice as an expert in Sharia Law, Islamic Legal Systems, and International Human Rights Law in the matter of Aldush v. Alani, 2021 ONSC 6410. In this decision, the Court assessed his academic and professional background, publications, and international consultancy work, ultimately finding that my opinion evidence met the threshold for admissibility.
[33] Mr. Hossein Raeesi works as an adjunct professor at Carleton University in the Law and Legal Studies Department. He has been in this role since 2016. He teaches a course and works on various international projects, mostly this year on children rights.
[34] In 1991, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from Shiraz University, in Iran. He has been licensed to practice law since then, and he is a member of the Iran Bar. He practiced for 20 years in the areas of criminal law, human rights, family law and Sharia Law related issues.
[35] In 2010, he obtained his master’s degree in Criminal Law and Criminology from the University of Tehran. Other professional training includes taking courses on international humanitarian law, LGBT human rights in Muslim countries, advocacy and community mobilization, and human rights allocated for youth.
[36] Mr. Raeesi’s academic and legal career has focused on Sharia Law and the Islamic Legal System. He has received numerous research grants, the most recent being for a project called “Improving Juvenile Justice and Advancing the Human Rights of Adolescents.” This project focuses on comparing Islamic law practices in different Muslim countries in the Middle East.
[37] Throughout his career, he has taught many courses and lectured numerous times regarding laws in Islamic states and other societies around the world, on a wide variety of topics ranging from domestic violence, to human rights, children rights, women rights, freedom of expression, and criminal law.
[38] Mr. Raeesi has previously been qualified (January 2018 and September 2019) as an expert to give opinion evidence before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
[39] Other notable professional experience includes working as a consultant to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the abolition of the death penalty of minors in Muslim countries.
[40] Mr. Raeesi provided a detailed curriculum vitae setting out his vast experience in women and children rights in Muslim countries.
[41] In addition to his thesis on the preservation of human dignity in pre-trial investigation, he has written manuals and 30 articles on topics such as children’s rights, domestic violence, the social and legal dilemmas of the legislation on protection of family rights.
[42] Mr. Raeesi was challenged on the fact that much of experience and practice pertains to Iran and that his interpretation of the law does not transfer to other jurisdictions, such as the UAE.
[43] Mr. Raeesi is being tendered as an expert in Sharia Law and Islamic Legal Systems, including family laws in Islamic states, as well as International Human Rights.
[44] Mr. Raeesi’s expert report complies with the requirements set out in r. 20.2(2) of the FLA.
[45] Mr. Raeesi gave his evidence in a very precise and direct manner. He did not waver under cross-examination about his experience or his opinion. Mr. Raeesi does not claim to be licensed to practice in the UAE, but he has extensive knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence that is similarly used in the UAE.
[46] The Father does not dispute that Mr. Raeesi has extensive knowledge regarding Sharia Law and Islamic Legal Systems. The Father’s objection is that Mr. Raeesi is not qualified to practice in the UAE. He posits that Mr. Raeesi may possess the theoretical knowledge but it is insufficient because he lacks the practical knowledge.
[47] I disagree.
[48] Mr. Raeesi has acquired significant expertise in Sharia Law and Islamic Legal Systems through his numerous years of practical and scholarly involvement. I acknowledge that Mr. Raeesi has not practiced in the UAE, but I am not troubled by this fact. The Father’s concern is one of weight to be attributed to the expert evidence and not whether Mr. Raeesi has the necessary qualifications to render an expert opinion.
[49] Since 1991, Mr. Raeesi’s professional experience has been dedicated to human rights, women’s rights, and children’s rights issues in Muslim countries. Through his practice as a lawyer in Iran as well as his studies, research and publications on the laws affecting women and children in Muslim countries, Mr. Raeesi has acquired special and peculiar knowledge in respect to Sharia Law and Islamic Legal systems.
[50] Mr. Raeesi’s special and peculiar knowledge in the subject matter has been gained in numerous ways. The relevant factors to consider when qualifying an expert, as enumerated in R. v. Pham, are present: practicing lawyer for 20 years, education including a master’s degree, extensive teachings and publications, ongoing funded research, and being a consultant for important world organizations.
[51] Mr. Raeesi is therefore qualified to render an opinion in Sharia Law and Islamic Legal Systems, including family laws in Islamic states, as well as International Human Rights. His expert report and evidence are admissible at the Motion.
