Australia Sanctions Five Iranian Security and Military Officials on the Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death

On the second anniversary of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's death in the custody of the morality police, Australia has sanctioned five security and military officials of the Iranian government. Penny Wong, Australia's Foreign Minister, stated in a statement on Monday, September 17, that her country supports Iranian women and girls in their fight for equality and empowerment. The names of the five sanctioned officials are Ahmad Taheri, Ahmad Naderian, Hossein Amjadiyan, Mohammad Abdollahpour, and Delavar Alqasi-Mahr, who are accused of involvement in the 'violent suppression' of Iranian protesters. Wong warned that the human rights situation in Iran is 'complex' and that female activists remain detained and face death sentences. She reminded that the crackdown on dissent in Iran has continued since Mahsa's death. In this context, Nikita White, a member of Amnesty International's Australian branch, also stated on Monday that the human rights situation in Iran is rapidly deteriorating. She referred to reports of torture and mistreatment of detainees, noting that those sentenced to death face execution after 'horrifically unfair' trials. Additionally, Simon Birmingham, a legislator in the Australian Parliament, called on the Australian government to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the list of terrorist organizations. Australia has imposed around 200 sanctions against individuals and organizations of the Iranian government so far. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini died a few days after her arrest by the morality police on September 16, 2022, in Kasra Hospital in Tehran, and her death triggered widespread protests across Iran that continued for months in streets, universities, and schools. During the crackdown on the nationwide protests in 2022 by government forces, hundreds of citizens were killed, and thousands were injured and arrested. Furthermore, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic began executing a number of detained protesters less than three months after the onset of the peaceful nationwide protests. The judiciary has executed Mohsen Shekari, Majidreza Rahnavard, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, Saleh Mirhashimi, Saeed Yaqoubi, Majid Kazemi, Milad Zohrevand, Mohammad Qobadlu, and Reza Rasai, among those detained during the 2022 protests, and several other protesters remain at risk of execution. The entry of more former officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran into Canada will be prohibited. The United States supports the people of Iran on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death; new sanctions against the government will be imposed. Narges Mohammadi stated on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death: 'The foundation of the religious dictatorship of the Islamic Republic has become shaky.'