University of Guilan (with the participation of the Iranian Association of Penal Law) Criminal Law Research 2322-2328 16 1 2025 06 22 The Optimal Model of Domestic Criminal Policy Against Ecocide (A Comparative Study of the Legal Systems of Iran, France, and Belgium) The Optimal Model of Domestic Criminal Policy Against Ecocide (A Comparative Study of the Legal Systems of Iran, France, and Belgium) 97 112 8620 10.22124/jol.2025.28950.2535 FA Afshin Abdollahi Afshin Abdollahi, Associate Prof, Law depart,ment, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran Erfan Babakhani PhD. in criminal law and criminology, at Paris-Nanterre University, France. Journal Article 2024 11 11 The crime of ecocide, or severe harm and destruction to the environment, refers to a deliberate act that goes beyond ordinary fires and pollution. In the past two decades (since the year 2000) and given the international community's efforts and the extensive risks it poses, ecocide has entered the criminal policy of countries with progressive legal systems, including Belgium and France. However, the prespective of Iran's criminal justice system on this issue seems ambiguous. To prevent impunity and apply appropriate punishment for effective deterrence, the implementation of a suitable criminal policy appears essential. In this regard, the present research, using interpretative , has examined and analyzed the existing laws in the countries under study. It was found that both the Belgian and French legal systems, while criminalizing ecocide, distinguish it from unintentional pollution and environmental crimes. However, they differ in terms of the severity of the crime and the level of punishment. This research also highlights the gaps in Iran's legal system in this regard and, in conclusion, emphasizes the need to enact comprehensive legislation or amend existing laws to criminalize the crime of ecocide. It also underscores the preferred of the , particularly the severity of the crime committed. The crime of ecocide, or severe harm and destruction to the environment, refers to a deliberate act that goes beyond ordinary fires and pollution. In the past two decades (since the year 2000) and given the international community's efforts and the extensive risks it poses, ecocide has entered the criminal policy of countries with progressive legal systems, including Belgium and France. However, the prespective of Iran's criminal justice system on this issue seems ambiguous. To prevent impunity and apply appropriate punishment for effective deterrence, the implementation of a suitable criminal policy appears essential. In this regard, the present research, using interpretative , has examined and analyzed the existing laws in the countries under study. It was found that both the Belgian and French legal systems, while criminalizing ecocide, distinguish it from unintentional pollution and environmental crimes. However, they differ in terms of the severity of the crime and the level of punishment. This research also highlights the gaps in Iran's legal system in this regard and, in conclusion, emphasizes the need to enact comprehensive legislation or amend existing laws to criminalize the crime of ecocide. It also underscores the preferred of the , particularly the severity of the crime committed. https://jol.guilan.ac.ir/article_8620_7b8d672ba31e979571f365145e6dbeea.pdf