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The UK Government has imposed sanctions on Iran’s ‘morality police’ and other senior figures related to the Iranian regime, following violent crackdowns on protestors in Iran and the murder of Mahsa Amini. In response to recent events, CFI Vice-Chairman Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP secured an urgent question in the House of Commons asking what representations the UK Government has made to Iran on the ongoing protests in the country and urging the UK to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has placed sanctions on the entire morality police, which are now banned from entering UK territory and all of their assets under UK justification have been frozen. Two commanders-in-chief of the morality police, Mohammed Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi and Haj Ahmed Mirzaei have received individual sanctions. The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani who is responsible for the internal security of Iran has also received similar sanctions.
Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. James Cleverly MP said that these sanctions show Iranian authorities will be held to account for their repression of women and violence against their own people. Mr Cleverly said in a statement: “The UK stands with the people of Iran who are bravely calling for accountability from their government and for their fundamental human rights to be respected”.
The United States and Canada have implemented similar sanctions, with the European Union expected to follow.
On Tuesday, CFI Vice-Chairman Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP secured an urgent question on the ongoing protests in Iran following the murder of Mahsa Amini. Foreign Office Minister Gillian Keegan MP said that “the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran was a shocking reminder of the repression faced by women in Iran”. Ms Keegan assured the UK will maintain sanctions on senior security and political figures in Iran and the Iranian morality police. She added that the UK is also imposing sanctions of five leading officials in Iran who have committed human rights abuses and the UK continues to maintain sanctions of a further 78 individuals who have committed abuses related to human rights, terrorism, and the Iranian nuclear programme.
Ms Villiers urged the Government to meet with Iranian opposition leaders, proscribe the IRGC and rule out sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement.
