A newspaper with a cover picture of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the “morality police” is seen in Tehran, Iran 18 September, 2022. (Photo credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)
European Union member states approved a new round of sanctions against 29 individuals and three entities for the internal repression in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union confirmed on 14 November, according to Al-Arabiya news.
“Foreign ministers adopt further sanctions against 29 individuals and three entities in Iran for their role in the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to the demonstrations,” the Czech Republic has reported in a message on social networks.
đź—ş FAC | Foreign ministers adopted further sanctions against 29 individuals & 3 entities in #Iran due to their role in the death of #MahsaAmini and the violent response to ongoing demonstrations. The decision enters into force on publication in the Official Journal. #EU2022CZ pic.twitter.com/pf6jrTyrkd
— EU2022_CZ (@EU2022_CZ) November 14, 2022
Prominent among the sanctioned individuals is Ahmad Vahidi, head of the Interior Ministry. According to Reuters, the EU holds him responsible for the use of live ammunition against demonstrators.
Among the entities, the EU is extending sanctions to the state-owned Press TV channel, which the EU-27 attributed to the production and broadcasting of “forced confessions of detainees, including journalists and political activists,” thus violating the right to a fair trial and due process.
The ‘blacklist’ includes the morality police officers directly involved in the arrest of Amini and provincial leaders of the Iranian security forces.
However, on 7 October, Iran’s Forensic Medical Organization released Mahsa Amini‘s autopsy report, revealing she died from multiple organ failure (MOF) caused by severe cerebral hypoxia, as opposed to claims by international media that her death was a result of a blow to her head while in the custody of Iran’s morality police.
Meanwhile, Iran has accused the US, Israel, and European countries of fueling protests to destabilize the Islamic Republic
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi went on a live interview late on 28 September to address the nation directly about recent achievements in the field of cooperation with other states, and attempts by Iran’s “enemies” to destabilize the country, following nationwide protests sparked by the death of Masha Amini after her detention by the Moral Security Police.
Raisi highlighted that the death of Amini has “saddened” everyone in Iran, but added that the event was used by Iran’s enemies to sow discord among its people.