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On Monday, the EU sanctioned the head of the Iranian Morality Police, 10 other individuals and four entities for the crackdown on demonstrators protesting the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman who died three days after being arrested for improperly wearing the veil.
As a consequence of the sanctions, none of the individuals will be allowed to enter the EU, and both they and their companies will have their property and assets in the EU frozen.
In addition to the head of the Morality Police, Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, those sanctioned also include the head of Iran’s Disciplinary Force in Tehran, Hossein Rahimi.
The list includes other prominent members of the Morality Police – which arrested Amini – the Iranian Disciplinary Force and the Armed Forces, as well as the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Issa Zarepour.
Iran’s own Morality Police and the Islamic Republic of Iran Disciplinary Force are among the sanctioned entities, along with the paramilitary organization Basij Resistance Force.
It also includes the Cyber Defense Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which according to the EU monitors the websites, emails and internet activity of individuals considered political opponents.
“The EU expects Iran to immediately stop the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters, release detainees and ensure the free flow of information, including access to the Internet,” the Council of the EU, the institution representing the countries, said in a statement.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbok and her Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra warned of new sanctions against Iran if it does not stop the crackdown.
The EU-27 also called on Tehran to investigate Amini’s death.
With the new measures adopted today, the EU has now sanctioned 97 individuals and 8 entities in Iran for violating human rights.
