Amini protests: New EU sanctions against Tehran
The European Union has been on the line of protests in Iran for nearly a month, moving to impose sanctions on Tehran officials.
The 27 member states of the European Union have agreed to punish Iranian officials involved in suppressing protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini”, diplomatic sources were quoted as saying by AFP on Wednesday.
The sources added that the political agreement reached by the ambassadors of the European countries in Brussels must be confirmed by the European Union foreign ministers during their meeting next week in Luxembourg.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted that “We have asked for those responsible for the repression of women to be held accountable. The shocking violence inflicted on the Iranian people cannot go unanswered”.
The MEPs called for Iranian officials, especially those linked to the morality police, who are found to be complicit or responsible for the death of a security engineer and violence against demonstrators, to be blacklisted by the EU.
The European Union penalizes human rights violators by denying access to its territory and freezing their assets in its State.
In 2011, the EU introduced punitive measures against Tehran for serious human rights violations there, and in 2013 added other measures including a ban on means that can be used for internal repression and those that can be used to monitor or intercept Internet and communications on mobile or fixed phone networks, which remain in effect until next year.
Iran has been witnessing massive protests since September 16th following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini three days after she was arrested by Tehran’s morality police for allegedly dressing indecently.
Activists say Amini received a fatal blow to her head, a claim denied by Iranian authorities, who cleared the police of Amini’s blood.
The Iranian authorities are facing protests in various cities, including the capital Tehran, with heavy repression that has left dozens dead and hundreds injured, according to unofficial human rights organizations.
According to the latest toll from the Norwegian-based Iranian Center for Human Rights, 201 people, including 23 children, have been killed in the government crackdown on protests since they began on Wednesday.
Last week, a corps of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said 185 Basij soldiers were wounded in the crackdown on protests in Tehran.
