Sweden Explains It all: Iran Human Rights sanctions

The historical background:

The EU has highlighted and expressed its concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, and in particular the decline that has taken place since the presidential elections in June 2009. The number of executions has increased sharply, cruel punishments have been imposed and due process has, in many cases, been very inadequate. Representatives of the Iranian opposition, peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders and others are being repressed, harassed and, in some cases, imprisoned for having exercised or defended their fundamental rights. The situation is also extremely serious for certain minority groups, such as the Bahá'í community.

In light of this, the Council of the European Union decided on 12 April 2011 to introduce restrictive measures – sanctions – against persons responsible for grave human rights violations in Iran and persons or entities associated with them. The main target group is senior officials in the Iranian administration and certain political representatives. The sanctions particularly target persons complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing such violations in the repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders, students or other persons who speak up in defence of their fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. The sanctions also target persons complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing grave violations of the right to due process, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, or the indiscriminate, excessive and increasing application of the death penalty, including public executions, stoning, hangings or executions of juvenile offenders in contravention of Iran's international human rights obligations. These measures were taken with the aim of improving respect for human rights in Iran.

A new EU sanctions regime was thus established against Iran alongside the existing sanctions regime initiated by the UN in response to Iran's nuclear and missile technology programmes.

The EU has subsequently added to the measures targeting individuals with a prohibition on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and a prohibition on supplying the Iranian regime with equipment which might be used for the monitoring or interception of the internet or telecommunications in Iran. Moreover, additional individuals have been added to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures. Just over 80 individuals and one entity are currently covered by such measures.

The details of the sanctions:

1. Travel restrictions

A prohibition on entry into or transit through the EU applies to persons responsible for grave human rights violations in Iran. The persons specifically targeted are named in the section entitled “Background to the sanctions”. Those subject to the restrictive measures are listed in the annexes to the relevant Council regulations (see under “Relevant EU documents”).

2. Freezing of assets

All funds and economic resources belonging to persons or entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran are to be frozen. No funds or economic resources may be made available for the benefit of such persons or entities. The persons and entities subject to the restrictive measures are listed in the annexes to the relevant Council regulations and, regarding persons, are the same as those subject to travel restrictions (see under “Relevant EU documents”).

3. Prohibition on the export etc. of equipment that might be used for internal repression

It is prohibited to sell, export, etc. to Iran certain products that might be used for internal repression. The products covered by this prohibition are listed in the annex to the relevant Council Regulation (see under “Relevant EU documents”). Corresponding prohibitions apply for technical and financial assistance linked to such equipment. This prohibition does not include certain equipment intended solely for the protection of personnel of the EU and its Member States in Iran.

4. Prohibition on exports of certain monitoring equipment

It is prohibited to sell, export, etc. equipment, technology or software that might be used for the monitoring or interception of the internet or telecommunications to persons and entities in Iran, or for use in Iran, without prior authorisation from a national competent authority. The products covered by this prohibition are listed in the annex to the relevant Council Regulation (see under “Relevant EU documents”). Licences for export etc. should not be granted if it can be reasonably assumed that the equipment will be used by the Iranian regime for the monitoring or interception of the internet or telecommunications in Iran. Corresponding prohibitions and permit requirements apply to services in connection with the products in question.

The relevant documents:

The sanctions are regulated in Council Decision 2011/235/CFSP of 12 April 2011, which has been supplemented by Council Implementing Decision 2011/670/CFSP and Council Decisions 2012/168/CFSP, 2012/810/CFSP and 2013/124/CFSP. The EU law aspects of the decisions are regulated in Council Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 as supplemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1002/2011, Council Regulations (EU) No 264/2012 and No 1245/2012 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 206/2013. The persons and products covered by the sanctions described are listed in the annexes to the abovementioned decisions and regulations.

Link:

Sweden EU Iran human rights sanctions page

Posted with Blogsy