NEW DELHI – Iran’s judiciary chief on Saturday called on BRICS member states to condemn violations of Iran’s sovereignty and pursue those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during two recent terrorist wars against the Islamic Republic, invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Speaking at the BRICS meeting of heads of judicial systems here, Gholam-Hussein Mohseni Ejei referred to the “brutal aggression” by the United States and Israel against Iran, recounting that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and 168 schoolchildren were martyred on the first day of the war.
“The Iranian people have paid a heavy price for their independence for many years,” Ejei said, adding that Iran has faced “brutal aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime” during the past two years.
He said the attacks constitute an unlawful war in violation of international norms and are not merely a limited military confrontation.
“Many infrastructures and facilities, including hospitals, educational and cultural centers, and residential areas, were targeted, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of civilians, including women and children,” he noted.
Ejei described the actions of the United States and Israel as “clear instances of war crimes,” while criticizing the international community’s failure to respond to the violations.
Ejei said the issue extended beyond Iran, warning BRICS members that other countries could face similar violations in the future.
“Today, this may be Iran’s voice, but tomorrow it may be the voice of any one of the countries represented in this hall,” he said.
Ejei referred to U.S. military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and, more recently, Venezuela, saying thousands of civilians have been killed in the aggressions. He also slammed the terrorist regime of Israel for massacring more than 73,000 people in Gaza and Lebanon, including women and children, and forcing more than two million people to leave their homes.
Ejei urged BRICS members to take concrete legal and political measures in response to violations of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“First, BRICS members should condemn the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran in accordance with international law, particularly the UN Charter, and take the necessary measures to prevent the aggressors from carrying out illegal actions,” he said.
“Second, by applying the principle of universal jurisdiction, they should prosecute those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the two wars of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.
Referring to BRICS’ role in shaping a new global order, Ejei noted that BRICS documents repeatedly emphasize mutual respect, respect for countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, the peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to the UN Charter.
“BRICS, as one of the most important economic and political coalitions, has an increasingly important role in shaping the new world order,” Ejei said. 
“We seek an order in which no power considers itself above the law. We call on BRICS members to stand with the law.” 
The judiciary chief said judicial systems and legal institutions must not remain indifferent to violations of fundamental human rights, the killing of civilians, forced displacement, damage to infrastructure, and the impunity of perpetrators of international crimes.