Media Trial; The Challenge of the Conflict between the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Right to a Fair Trial

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

The media has the right to cover criminal incidents in light of the principle of freedom of expression. The consequence of this coverage is the public's judgment of the case, which, under the influence of media indoctrination—outside the judicial process and regardless of the presence or absence of sufficient and credible evidence against the accused—proceeds to try and convict the accused.
The present research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, utilizing library resources and a critique and analysis of legal materials and notable cases. Its goal is to identify a mechanism that protects the defendant's right to a fair trial while guaranteeing the media's right to freedom of expression.
The research findings show that a fair trial is an absolute and inviolable right that should be preferred to the public's right to information; therefore, it is proposed to amend Articles 96 and 352 of the Criminal Procedure Code and determine legal mechanisms that restrict media freedom in the realm of legal and judicial issues, and in parallel, organize the publication of judicial news by the spokesperson for the judiciary.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Criminal Law Research
Volume 17, Issue 1 - Serial Number 33
Papers
July 2026
Pages 21-34

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