Iran on Wednesday announced sanctions against European Union-based institutions, individuals and media outlets in response to the EU’s recent punitive measures against Iranian leaders. They are accused of having cracked down on the protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.
Iran has been in the grip of protests since the death on September 16 of the young Iranian Kurdish woman, who was arrested three days after she was arrested by the vice squad in Tehran for violating the country’s strict dress code, including wearing a veil in publicly, died.
Dozens of people, mostly protesters but also members of the security forces, were killed during the demonstrations. Hundreds of others, including women, were arrested.
On October 17, the European Union approved sanctions against the vice squad and 11 Iranian leaders, including the Minister of Telecommunications, for being involved in the repression.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement announcing sanctions against eight institutions and 12 individuals based in Europe for “supporting terrorist groups”, “inciting violence”, and “provoking riots, violence and terrorist acts.” deeds” in Iran.
Iran’s blacklist includes The International Committee in Search of Justice, the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism, and the Persian-language versions of Deutsche Welle and Radio France International.
European and French MPs and politicians, as well as two officials from the German newspaper Bild, were also sanctioned by Iran. The sanctions include a visa ban and the “seizure of their property and assets in territory under Iran’s jurisdiction,” the ministry said.
Iran announced on October 19 that it had blacklisted British entities and individuals, a day after London imposed sanctions on Iran’s vice squad over the death of Mahsa Amini.