We invite international lawyers, jurists, legal workers and organizations around the world to sign on to this statement!
International Lawyers’ Appeal of Solidarity with Daniel Jadue
The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) strongly condemns the acts of intimidation and serious threats that former Mayor of Recoleta, Chile, Daniel Jadue, has faced in recent weeks, the severity of which has compelled him to file a formal legal complaint.
According to the complaint filed with the Ñuñoa Local Prosecutor’s Office by Daniel Jadue, he found on December 9 a sticker on his doorbell containing an inscription in Arabic, overlaid on an image of a clock. The inscription reads: “The Banu Nadir (Jewish tribes that attempted to assassinate the Prophet Muhammad) are returning. Every dog has its day”. Such a message constitutes a direct threat to the person of Daniel Jadue and is especially alarming given his Palestinian heritage and his views on the Middle East conflict.
Three weeks earlier, in a clear act of intimidation, graffiti reading “Jadue to Patronato” [a neighbourhood in Santiago home to many members of the Palestinian community in Chile] had been spray-painted on the walls of his home.
Given the gravity of these incidents, we call on the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Chile and the courts to conduct a thorough investigation into these illegal acts, act swiftly, identify those responsible, ensure their arrest, and impose the corresponding criminal sanctions.
Furthermore, we reiterate our appeal to the Government of Chile and all Governments to adopt a firmer stance toward the Zionist State of Israel, responsible for the genocide in Gaza, by severing diplomatic relations as an unequivocal expression that the people of Chile and their authorities condemn the ongoing flagrant violations of international law and the commission of the most serious international crimes, as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Finally, we wish to highlight that these serious threats and acts of intimidation are occurring amid an ongoing investigation and legal process against former Mayor Daniel Jadue. With justifiable reason, this case has been described as another instance of Lawfare, where the misuse of prosecutorial tools by prosecutors and courts has violated legal and constitutional norms, particularly those of international human rights law, which are binding on both the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary.
IADL is a global association of progressive lawyers, judges, law professors and jurists and has UN ECOSOC consultative status.