EU sanctions Iran 'morality' police

The EU on Monday sanctioned Iran’s “morality” police, information minister and the cyber division of its Revolutionary Guards for the fatal beating in custody of Mahsa Amini and repression of subsequent protests.

The list, published in the bloc’s official administrative gazette, also blacklisted the chiefs of the so-called morality police, the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij paramilitary force, and a uniformed branch of the national police.

The list was drawn up before the latest dramatic turn of events in Iran: a deadly fire at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, where the regime holds Iranian political prisoners, as well as dual nationals and foreigners.

The EU has been alarmed at the Iranian regime’s bloody crackdown on protests sparked by the death a month ago of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old taken into custody by morality police who arrest women deemed to wear Islamic headscarves inappropriately.

The demonstrations have since morphed into anti-regime street protests, with those taking part demanding the end of the mullah-led regime.

The United States, Britain and Canada have already announced their own sanctions against Iran for the rights violations taking place. Tehran has responded by accusing the United States of fomenting the anti-regime protests.