Iran: UK sanctions Morality Police for 'repression of women'

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Iran’s Morality Police along with senior Iranian security officials for using threats of violence to control what Iranian women should wear. The sanctions come amidst ongoing protests in Iran over the death of a woman in the custody of the Morality Police.

The British Foreign Office issued a statement announcing the sanctions on Iranian security officials and the Morality Police on Monday. The ministry cited the Morality Police’s use of threats of detention and violence against women to control what they wear and behave in public. The ministry also cited Amini’s death in the custody of the Morality Police and the other deaths of women that followed amidst the ongoing protests calling for the downfall of Iran’s clerical regime.

Iran’s Morality Police chief Mohammed Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi and the Head of the Tehran Division Haj Ahmed Mirzaei were also the officials sanctioned. Five other officials that were sanctioned include the IRGC’s Basij Head Gholamreza Soleimani, Iranian police NAJA Special Forces Unit commander Hassan Karami, and Iranian police Commander-in-chief Hossein Ashtari.

“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,” said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

“These sanctions send a clear message to the Iranian authorities – we will hold you to account for your repression of women and girls and for the shocking violence you have inflicted on your own people,” said Cleverly.

Tehran has sought to blame Iran’s enemies, such as the United States, for the protests that have continued for weeks.

The sanctions would mean that the officials and groups targeted cannot travel to the UK and the freezing of any assets they hold in the country. The sanctions were also made by British laws that aim to encourage Iran to comply in line with international human rights law.

France and the European Union are also set to impose sanctions on Iran in light of the ongoing protests. France accused Iran of “dictatorial practices” by taking five of its nationals hostage following a video that showed a French couple appearing to confess to espionage. The bloc has so far agreed on the technical aspects of a new sanctions package on Iran.