Josep Borrell – Photo © European Union 2021
(BRUSSELS) – The European Union imposed sanctions against another 29 Iranian officials Monday in view of their role in the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to the recent demonstrations in Iran.
“The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable violent crackdown of protesters,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell: “We stand with the Iranian people and support their right to protest peacefully and voice their demands and views freely.”
The new designations include: the four members of the squad that arbitrarily arrested Mahsa Amini, provincial heads of the Iranian Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) and of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), as well as Brigadier General Kiyumars Heidari, the Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, for their role in the brutal repression of the recent protests. In addition, the EU designates Iranian state television broadcaster Press TV responsible for producing and broadcasting the forced confessions of detainees. Moreover, the EU lists Vahid Mohammad Naser Majid, the head of the Iranian Cyber Police for his responsibility in arbitrarily arresting people for expressing online criticism of the Iranian regime. Lastly the EU also designated Iran’s Minister of Interior, Ahmad Vahidi, who is also in charge of the LEF, which have committed serious human rights violations.
The measures imposed consist of a travel ban and an asset freeze. In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities. The Iran human rights sanctions regime also includes a ban on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications.
The list of those subject to EU restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime now comprises a total of 126 individuals and 11 entities.
The EU and member states have strongly condemned the continued widespread and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors and irged Iran ‘to immediately stop the violent crackdown against peaceful protesters, to free those detained, and to ensure the free flow of information, including internet access’.
The EU has urged Iran to clarify the number of deaths and arrested, to hold those responsible accountable and provide due process to all detainees. It says the killing of Mahsa Amini must be also investigated in an independent and transparent manner and any proved responsible for her death must be held accountable.
