Iran's Penal Policy against Oil Pollution Crime

Abstract

Today, the international community is facing serious environmental dilemmas including oil pollutions that these oil pollutions are known as criminal or hazardous actions in terms of available rules and regulations. Whenever we face a dangerous phenomenon, we become worried, and generally will resort to criminal legislation to confront it, often assuming that new criminal legislation would solve the problem. Legislating criminal laws during the past two or three decades to protect the environment is a clear and tangible example of such thinking. With this interpretation, the question arising is whether the criminal laws of environmental crimes in the field of oil pollution are adequate and effective in protection of the environment or not. Thus, considering the importance of topic of crimes related to oil pollution in Iran, this study tried to explain and evaluate the criminal laws related to oil pollution offenses by recognizing various aspects of such crimes. Meanwhile investigating the major criminal cases (regarding oil pollution), the judicial decisions made were also examined. We wish that the study results lead to identify solutions to prevent oil pollution crimes in the region and would be a useful step in the development of the country (Iran).