Europe Sanctions Seven Officials of the Islamic Republic for Serious Human Rights Violations

On Monday, July 5, the European Union sanctioned seven more officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran due to serious human rights violations. This is the ninth sanctions package from the EU against officials and institutions of the Islamic Republic. With the sanctions package announced on Monday, a total of 223 individuals and 37 entities of the Islamic Republic are now under EU sanctions, including asset freezes, travel bans to Europe, and prohibitions on using economic resources. The export of equipment that may be used to suppress protesters or monitor communications has also been banned. The EU and its member states have urged the Islamic Republic to stop suppressing peaceful protesters, end arbitrary detentions, and release all those unjustly detained. The EU has also called on the Islamic Republic to halt the issuance and execution of death sentences and to annul issued death sentences. Furthermore, the EU has demanded an end to the concerning practice of detaining foreign citizens to gain political leverage by the Islamic Republic. The statement lists the sanctioned individuals along with their titles and charges: Seyyed Mohammad Mousavian: Public Prosecutor and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Isfahan Province, responsible for the trials leading to the executions of Saleh Mirhashimi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaqoubi. He also issued an indictment against Tomaj Salehi on charges of 'corruption on earth' for participating in protests and activities against the Islamic Republic. Seyyed Ali Zareh-Nouri: He is an advisor and deputy of the Criminal Court of Isfahan Province. Zareh-Nouri is also responsible for the trials leading to the executions of Saleh Mirhashimi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaqoubi. In a video released by Islamic Republic media, he was interrogating these three individuals. Seyyed Nader Safavi Mirmahaleh: He is the governor and head of the Security Council of Roudan City in Gilan Province and ordered security forces to shoot at protesters during the protests over the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, resulting in several deaths and injuries, including children. Seyyed Khalil Safavi: He is the police commander of Roudan City in Gilan Province. Safavi held this position during the protests and is therefore responsible for the deadly shootings of protesters, including children. Seyyed Abbas Hosseini: He was appointed as the governor of Amol in Mazandaran Province last winter and is responsible for the deaths of at least two young protesters named Ghazaleh Chalabi and Erfan Rezaei. He was recently removed from the governorship of Amol and appointed as the special governor of this city. Hosseini also plays an active role in violating the human rights of Iranian citizens in this position. Mojtaba Fada: He is the commander of the IRGC in Isfahan Province and a member of the Security Council of this province. Fada oversaw the deadly suppression of protesters during the protests over the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, resulting in the deaths of several individuals, including 18-year-old Mahsa Moqoui. Rashid Kaboudvand: Also known as Rashid Kaboudandi, he is the commander of the Imam Hussein Corps in Karaj, Alborz Province. Kaboudvand is responsible for the arrest and killing of Mohammad Reza Ghorbani and the arrest and assault of Armita Abbasi by security forces in Karaj. He is responsible for gross and blatant human rights violations by security forces during the protests over the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini.