Beyond a Summit

The summit of the heads of judicial systems of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has garnered significant attention from analysts in the field of international relations due to its importance and scope.

It has become evident to all that the essence, inputs, and dynamics of the SCO are not confined to the economic sphere. Each member state, from permanent members to observers, plays a crucial role in strengthening a highly significant and decisive arena known as "judicial diplomacy."

One of the most notable achievements of the recent SCO summit was the enhancement of cooperation among member states in combating transnational crimes. The deliberate misinterpretation of transnational crimes by the West is not something that can be overlooked. In other words, the West never allows independent nations to provide a true interpretation of transnational crimes or to transform it into a "legal model." However, during the recent SCO summit, the Islamic Republic of Iran and other members of the organization emphasized addressing transnational crimes with an interpretation and approach distinct from what the West promotes.

In many international resolutions, the term "terrorism" has been repeatedly mentioned. But who truly defines terrorism and its manifestations, and who communicates these definitions to other countries as collective guidelines for addressing terrorism and money laundering? 

The pivotal role of the three permanent Western members of the UN Security Council—namely the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—in determining the definitions of "crime," "terrorism," "organized crime," and "transnational crime" fundamentally disregards concerns such as "global peace" or "the preservation of basic human rights."

In such circumstances, forming a legal coalition of countries to counter the Western trend of deliberate misinterpretation is essential. The recent summit of the heads of judicial systems of SCO member states serves as a clear manifestation of this necessity. At this summit, SCO members officially rejected the deliberate and distorted legal and judicial interpretations of the West, challenging the false and claimed legal order propagated by the United States and the European Union. 

Here, we witness the emergence of a creative endeavor that has manifested itself in various dimensions, and its completion must continue with the determination of the member states.The bilateral and multilateral judicial, educational, and legal collaborations established within the framework of the SCO by the senior judicial authorities of its member states represent a significant step toward achieving a common legal order. 

This order is based on rejecting interventionism and the West's misinterpretations in the international system. Such developments not only inspire hope and determination among the nations of the SCO but also encourage other nations worldwide to transition from the imbalanced and unjust legal structures imposed by the dominant powers.