FCO to impose sanctions on further Iranians

Foreign Secretary, William Hague welcomed extension of list of human rights violators in Iran subject to EU sanctions According to the FCO press release, which ‘Arabstoday’ has a copy of, EU Foreign Ministers have today extended the list of individuals responsible for human rights violations in Iran who will be subject to EU-wide travel bans and asset freezes. Twenty-nine individuals in the Iranian regime have been added to the thirty-two Iranian officials previously agreed in April. Speaking today, the Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “I welcome the EU’s agreement today to impose restrictive measures on a further twenty-nine Iranians responsible for grave human rights abuses.  Those targeted include Government Ministers, members of the security forces, prison staff and judiciary responsible for serious human rights violations. “In recent months the human rights situation in Iran has continued to deteriorate.  As we mark World Day against the Death Penalty we should recall that Iran has now executed over 500 people this year, including a 17 year old boy.  The government has violently suppressed protests over the mismanagement of a lake in north-west Iran, and families of a number of journalists have been arrested and harassed.  We will continue to identify and list those who seriously violate the human rights of the Iranian people.  Today’s decision sends a clear message to every individual on this list, and others in the Iranian regime, that we will not stand by.  They will be held to account for their actions and should not involve themselves in the appalling abuses we continue to witness.” Notes to Editors: 1.    Sixty-one individuals are now listed including members of the security forces, prison staff, judiciary and prosecutors.  All have perpetrated serious violations such as torture or applying the death penalty on vague charges and without fair trial.  These measures are designed to support the Iranian people in realising their rights by sending a message to all those who perpetrate violations that the EU will not tolerate impunity for these abuses.  We urge those responsible to reform their actions and to respect international and domestic human rights standards. 2.    The details of the named twenty-nine individuals will be published on the website of the Official Journal of the EU on Tuesday 11 October (see: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/).