LegalizeCouncil Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/645 of 20 March 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran
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| 20.3.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | LI 80/1 |
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 of 12 April 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran 1, and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
- (1) On 12 April 2011, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 359/2011.
- (2) On 25 September 2022, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a declaration on behalf of the Union deploring the widespread and disproportionate use of force by the Iranian security forces against non-violent protestors, noting that it had resulted in the loss of lives as well as a large number of injuries. The declaration also spelled out that those responsible for the killing of Mahsa Amini must be held accountable, and called on the Iranian authorities to ensure transparent and credible investigations to clarify the number of deaths and arrests, to release all non-violent protestors and to provide due process to all detainees. Furthermore, the declaration stressed that Iran’s decision to severely restrict internet access and block instant messaging platforms blatantly violates freedom of expression. Finally, the declaration stated that the Union will consider all the options at its disposal to address the killing of Mahsa Amini and the way Iranian security forces have responded to the ensuing demonstrations.
- (3) In this context, and in line with the Union’s commitment to address all issues of concern with Iran, including the human rights situation, as confirmed in the Council conclusions of 12 December 2022, eight persons and one entity should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011.
- (4) Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 20 March 2023.
For the Council
The President
J. BORRELL FONTELLES
ANNEX
The following persons and entity are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011:
Persons
| Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing | |
| ‘206. | KHOSROU PANAH Abdol Hossein عبدالحسین خسرو پناه a.k.a. KHOSROW PANAH Abdul Hossein; KHOSROPANAH Abdolhossein | DOB: 21.3.1966 POB: Dezful, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: chairman and secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution Associated entity: Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution | Abdol Hossein Khosrou Panah is a conservative cleric and has been the chairman and secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution since January 2023. The Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution promoted several projects undermining the freedom of girls and women, setting limits on their clothing and education. Its laws have also discriminated minorities, such as the Baha’i. It is a vehicle for promoting the current regime’s policies and Islamist opinions. As chairman and secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, Khosrou Panah is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 207. | ALAM-AL HODA Ahmad احمد علم الهدی | DOB: 31.8.1944 POB: Mashhad, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: Friday imam of Mashhad and representative of Khorasan Razavi province in the Assembly of Experts | Ahmad Alam-Al Hoda is the Friday imam of Mashhad and representative of Khorasan Razavi province in the Assembly of Experts. In his speeches and in the media, he participates in the propagation of hate against women, demonstrators and religious minorities. Alam-Al Hoda is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 208. | RASTINEH Ahmad احمد راستینه | DOB: 1980 POB: province of Bakhtiari, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: Member of Parliament and spokesman for the Parliament’s cultural commission. | Ahmad Rastineh is a Member of the Iranian Parliament (Madjles) and its spokesman for the cultural commission. The cultural commission has a supervisory position to control and supervise the institutions in charge of ‘spreading the culture of chastity and hijab’. Rastineh promotes a hard-line version of the Islamic revolution’s cultural principles, particularly concerning women, and the wearing of the veil/hijab. During the 2022/2023 protests in Iran, he called for an affirmation of the law imposing the veil on Iranian women. He also supported the government’s control over the internet and internet-cuts. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 209. | KHAN MOHAMMADI Hodjatoleslam Ali حجت الاسلام علی خان محمدی | Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: spokesman of the Headquarters for Enjoining Right and Forbidding Evil | Hodjatoleslam Ali Khan Mohammadi is the spokesman of the EU-listed Headquarters for Enjoining Right and Forbidding Evil. In 2022 and 2023, in his position as spokesman of the Headquarters for Enjoining Right and Forbidding Evil, he qualified the non-wearing of the hijab as a crime and promoted a hard-line version of the Islamic revolution’s cultural principles, particularly concerning women, and the wearing of the veil/hijab. Acting in his position, he expressed his support for and contributed to legitimising the repression of anti-hijab activists, undermining women and girls’ rights and freedoms. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 210. | AKBARI Mohammad Sadegh محمد صادق اکبری | Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: chief justice of Mazandaran province | Mohammad Sadegh Akbari is the chief justice of Mazandaran province. In this position, he is responsible for handing down death sentences in unfair trials (absence of lawyers, coerced confessions) and for the torturing of convicts. During the 2022/2023 protests, he was responsible for shutting down shops that did not respect the hijab laws and for sentencing to death a 35-year old mentally ill protester who allegedly burned the Quran. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 211. | BARATI Morteza مرتضی براتی a.k.a. BARATI Qazi | DOB: 30.11.1962 Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: presiding judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Courts of Isfahan | Morteza Barati is the presiding judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Courts of Isfahan. In January 2023, he sentenced to death by hanging at least three protestors, denying them the right to a fair trial. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 212. | AL HOSSEINI Musa Asif موسی آصف الحسینی a.k.a AL-HOSSEINI Asef | Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: head judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Courts of Karaj, Alborz province | Musa Asif Al Hosseini is the head judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Courts of Karaj, Alborz province. Trials under his supervision have been conducted summarily, without adherence to basic rights of the accused and with reliance on confessions extracted under pressure and torture. During the 2022/2023 protests, he presided over the trials of protestors and issued several death sentences, two of which were carried out against Mohammed Karami and Mohammed Hosseini. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023 |
| 213. | JALILI Vahid وحید جلیلی | DOB: 1973 Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: chief for cultural affairs and policy evolution at Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) | Vahid Jalili is the chief for cultural affairs and policy evolution at the EU-listed Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). During the 2022/2023 protests, IRIB broadcasted forced confessions from foreign hostages. Due to his senior position at IRIB, Jalili is directly involved in undermining the human rights of foreign hostages and in their inhuman treatment. He is also responsible for sharing propaganda confessions supporting the regime. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023’ |
Entities
| Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing | |
| ‘34. | Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution | Associated individual: KHOSROU PANAH Abdol Hossein (chairman and secretary) | The Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution is a regime policy body responsible for preparing and formulating strategic policies and plans in the fields of science, education, religion and research. It promoted several projects undermining the freedom of girls and women, setting limits on their clothing and education. Its decisions have also discriminated against minorities, such as the Baha’i. It is a vehicle for promoting the current regime’s policies. The Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 20.3.2023’ |
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