The European Union Sanctions Several Officials and Entities of the Islamic Republic Due to 'Serious Human Rights Violations'

On Monday, the Council of the European Union sanctioned five individuals and two Iranian governmental organizations in connection with 'serious human rights violations' and the case of an Iranian female lawyer named Maryam Arvin 'who was brutally arrested, severely mistreated, and subsequently died due to her activities.' The individuals include Salman Adineh Vand (commander of the police rescue unit), Mohammad Amin Aghamiri (secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace), Mohsen Nikvarz (who was appointed head of the protection and information department of the judiciary in Kerman province last February), Nader Moradi (deputy for public security police oversight), and Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi (spokesman for the police command). Additionally, the two organizations Basij Student Organization and the Foundation for Cooperation of the IRGC are included in the EU's eighth sanctions package. The Council of the European Union states that the Foundation for Cooperation of the IRGC is responsible for managing the IRGC's investments and directing funds towards activities for the 'ruthless suppression of the regime and the Basij Student Organization.' The Council claims that the Basij Student Organization is the IRGC's arm for 'brutal' repression in Iranian universities. According to the EU Council's statement, the Basij Student Organization was the violent executor of the IRGC in suppressing student protests on university campuses in the fall of 2022, and those students subsequently became victims of severe human rights violations such as kidnapping and torture. The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans to the EU, and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available to the listed individuals. The sanctions also encompass a ban on exporting equipment that may be used for internal repression and telecommunications surveillance to Iran. Maryam Arvin, a lawyer who died after being temporarily released from prison, was one of dozens of lawyers arrested during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in the morality police. She died after being temporarily released from prison. Ms. Arvin, a young lawyer and member of the Kerman Bar Association, was arrested on December 9 while defending her clients, who were detained protesters in Kerman, in the courtroom of Sirjan. Judicial officials also arrested her mother, Tayebeh Nazari, who had come to follow up on her case. Maryam Arvin was released on bail on December 21, and according to reports, her court ruling was expected to be issued in the following days. In recent months, several detainees from the nationwide protests have suspiciously died after their release, with their deaths reported as 'suicides.' The deaths of several prisoners after their release, such as Mohsen Jafari Rad, Arshia Imam Gholizadeh, Yalda Aghafazli, and Hasti Hossein Panahi, have raised many questions about how the Islamic Republic authorities treat prisoners. The new EU sanctions against the Islamic Republic; 'Death to Khamenei' in Qezel Hesar prison. Students at Amir Kabir University protested with the slogan: 'No ballot, no votes, boycott the elections.' A suspicious death of a protester after release; Arash Forouzandeh was poisoned 'by drinking water during interrogation.' Dozens of lawyers have been arrested simultaneously with the nationwide protests in Iran.