The book “Fundamentals of Water Law” by co-authors Amirhossein Noorbakhsh and Nasim Khodakhah, two Iranian lawyers and researchers, has recently been published in Tehran in light of the country’s water crisis and global climate change.

In a brief overview of the contents of the book, we read: In referring to global documents, we see that in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, some basic human rights are mentioned, including adequate standards for living such as food, clothing, and housing. When we talk about the “right to water” as a human right, it means that all individuals have the right to access safe drinking water without discrimination and in sufficient quantities. Currently, human rights are one of the most important issues in international law, and we know that our country and even large parts of the world are facing water crises and drought. Therefore, it seems necessary for the management of this crisis to be assisted by the government and members of society, and this requires the following services: a) accessibility, b) quality, c) availability, d) physical accessibility, e) economic accessibility, f) non-discrimination, and g) access to information. In terms of international regulations

In a brief and general perspective, water rights in the civil laws of Iran refer to the share and designated amount of water for villages, farms, gardens, and houses from rivers, springs, and other sources which are considered to have a relatively wide scope in Islamic jurisprudence and law. The main issue there is whether the use of water resources should adhere to specific human, moral, and legal rules or if the use of water resources is not subject to any specific regulations, and the well-known Islamic rule of “the right belongs to the one who is stronger” applies, allowing anyone with power to use water resources as they wish. The next step in the national water law is the consideration of numerous regulations, which include various resolutions.

The authors of the book, while discussing the rules and internal regulations related to water, also refer to the discussion about international water laws and the crimes resulting from water scarcity in the domestic sphere. The writers of this work hope to open a new chapter in the field of water relations.

Book Name: Fundamentals of Water Law

Authors: Amirhossein Noorbakhsh and Nasim Khodakhah

Publication Date: 1397

Publisher: Forest