Narratives of Legal Healing in Post-Conflict Societies: A Phenomenological Study
Keywords:
legal healing, transitional justice, phenomenology, post-conflict societies, emotional recovery, victim narratives, TehranAbstract
This study aimed to explore how individuals in post-conflict Tehran construct and interpret their experiences of legal healing through their engagement with justice mechanisms. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the study recruited 26 participants from Tehran who had been involved in legal processes following experiences of conflict-related trauma or injustice. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Theoretical saturation guided the endpoint of data collection. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity in gender, age, and background, allowing for a rich understanding of legal healing as a lived experience. Three primary themes emerged from the data: (1) Restoring trust in legal institutions, encompassing perceptions of procedural fairness, access to legal support, and accountability of perpetrators; (2) Emotional and psychological dimensions of healing, including testimonial validation, emotional safety, and the reclamation of dignity; and (3) Legal healing as a collective social process, highlighting the roles of community solidarity, symbolic justice, and cultural-religious narratives. Participants emphasized the importance of being heard, supported, and acknowledged within legal settings, while also noting that procedural delays, retraumatization, and lack of institutional empathy could hinder healing. The role of NGOs and community courts was found to be particularly significant in enhancing legal engagement and emotional restoration. Legal healing in post-conflict contexts is a multidimensional and deeply personal process shaped by institutional legitimacy, emotional recognition, and collective experiences of justice. For legal systems to contribute meaningfully to post-conflict recovery, they must go beyond formal adjudication and incorporate trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and participatory approaches. These findings provide insight into how justice processes can be restructured to serve both legal and emotional needs in societies emerging from violence.
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