Jornal of Eslamic Human Rights

A Comparative Analysis of Civil Liability Arising from the Use of Drones in Natural Disasters in Iranian Law with Emphasis on Imami Jurisprudence: Balancing Public Interests and Private Damages

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Shirzad Ahmadi 1
Ali abas Hayati 2

1 Emplooy

2 Associate Professor of Law, Razi University

Abstract
The use of drones in natural disaster management represents an emerging intersection between private law and high-risk technologies. While drones enhance public welfare by expediting rescue and relief operations, they may also cause bodily injury, property damage, and privacy violations. This study examines the legal basis of civil liability arising from drone operations and seeks to define a principled balance between public benefit and private harm, particularly where operators are governmental entities or private actors.
Using a comparative-analytical approach, the research contrasts civil law and common law traditions and evaluates the doctrinal capacities of Islamic jurisprudence within Iranian law. The findings reveal that common law systems primarily adhere to fault-based liability, albeit with expanded doctrines for abnormally dangerous activities, whereas civil law jurisdictions show a stronger tendency toward strict or risk-based liability in hazardous operations. Iranian law, through principles such as la darar, itlaf, and tasbib, provides sufficient normative foundations for recognizing risk-based liability in technologically risky activities.
The article proposes a differentiated liability model for Iran, advocating mitigated risk-based liability for governmental emergency missions and stricter standards for private use, thereby safeguarding both crisis-management efficiency and full compensation for victims.

Keywords

Civil liability
drones
natural disasters

Subjects

منابع
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