What it means
کفیل (kafil) means bail guarantor or surety: a person who formally undertakes responsibility for ensuring a defendant appears before the court when required. The word is Arabic in origin, from the root ک-ف-ل which means to guarantee, to be responsible for, or to stand surety. کفیل is the active participle: the one who guarantees. The concept is distinct from the bail money itself, which is called وثیقه (vasiqe) or ضمانت (zamânat). Being a کفیل carries legal consequences if the defendant fails to appear.
How to use it
- برادرش کفیل او شد تا آزاد بشه. (barâdarash kafil-e u shod tâ âzâd beshe.) “His brother became his guarantor so he could be released.”
- قاضی خواست یه کفیل معتبر معرفی بشه. (qâzi khâst ye kafil-e mo’tabar mo’arrafi beshe.) “The judge asked for a credible guarantor to be presented.”
- کفیل باید مطمئن بشه متهم حاضر باشه. (kafil bâyad motma’en beshe mottaham hâzer bâshe.) “The guarantor must ensure the defendant is present.”
- اگه متهم فرار کنه، کفیل مسئوله. (age mottaham farâr kone, kafil mas’ule.) “If the defendant flees, the guarantor is responsible.”
Cultural note
The role of کفیل is central to the Iranian bail system. Rather than relying solely on a cash deposit, courts may release a defendant into the custody of a named guarantor who assumes legal liability. This system reflects both Islamic jurisprudence and the practical reality that many defendants cannot post large cash bonds. In Iran’s labour migration context, کفیل also appears in the sponsorship system governing foreign workers, where an employer acts as a legal sponsor, though this usage is distinct from the courtroom sense.