A Comparative Study of Pharmaceutical Sanctions in International Law and Islamic Norms
Keywords:
Pharmaceutical sanctions, international law, Islamic norms, human rights, public healthAbstract
International sanctions against countries, by restricting access to medicines and medical equipment, violate public health and fundamental human rights. Using a descriptive–analytical method and relying on international legal instruments (such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) and Islamic sources (the Qur'an, hadiths, and jurisprudence), this study examines the comparative impact of pharmaceutical sanctions on health systems and their conflict with legal and ethical principles. The findings indicate that sanctions not only contradict the right to health under international law but also oppose Islamic norms such as preserving human dignity and the obligation of treatment in emergencies. Empirical cases in Iran, Iraq, and Syria confirm the increase in mortality among patients with specific conditions, shortages of essential medicines, and price inflation. This study, by offering solutions such as humanitarian exemptions and strengthening regional cooperation, emphasizes the necessity of revising sanction mechanisms to reduce human harm.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Asal Asadpour, Heydar Ali Jahanbakhshi, Nazafarin Nazemi (Author)
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