EU sanctions against Iran: judges and hackers hit for human rights violations

The EU Council decided today to sanction others six people responsible for serious violations of human rights in Iran. They are placed in the list five judges of Iran’s regional revolutionary courts that have presided over trials of religious minorities and political dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, on vaguely defined charges of national security and religious reasons.

The magistrates imposed death sentences and long prison terms, floggings, fines or additional penalties for political dissidents and human rights activists, including in relation to the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Furthermore, the Council sanctioned Nima Salehian Iranian hacker and computer engineer, founder and leading figure of the “Ashiyane” computer group.

Ashiyane Digital Security collaborates closely with the Cyber ​​Police (Fairy) and the Revolutionary Guards, and is responsible for intense cyber attacks against internal opponents and foreign institutions.

With these additions, restrictive measures related to human rights violations in Iran now apply to a total of 269 ​​people and 53 entities. The measures consist of freezing assets, a ban on travel to the EU and a ban on making funds or economic resources available to the persons listed.

There is also a ban on the export to Iran of equipment that could be used for internal repression, including telecommunications monitoring equipment.

By Editor