US Treasury sanctions Iran's Morality Police, senior security figures

WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating on Thursday Iran's Morality Police for abuse and violence against Iranian women and the violation of the rights of peaceful Iranian protestors.
"The Morality Police are responsible for the recent death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested and detained for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly," said the department in a statement.
OFAC is also targeting seven senior leaders of Iran's security organizations: the Morality Police, Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), the Army's Ground Forces, Basij Resistance Forces, and Law Enforcement Forces.
These officials oversee organizations that routinely employ violence to suppress peaceful protesters and members of Iranian civil society, political dissidents, women's rights activists, and members of the Iranian Baha'i community.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen said "Mahsa Amini was a courageous woman whose death in Morality Police custody was yet another act of brutality by the Iranian regime's security forces against its own people." "We condemn this unconscionable act in the strongest terms and call on the Iranian government to end its violence against women and its ongoing violent crackdown on free expression and assembly.
Today's action to sanction Iran's Morality Police and senior Iranian security officials responsible for this oppression demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration's clear commitment to stand up for human rights, and the rights of women, in Iran and globally," Yellen added.
"Today's actions are taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13553, which imposes sanctions on certain persons with respect to serious human rights abuses by the Government of Iran.
Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi serves as the head of Iran's Morality Police, which has demonstrated a culture of violence and excessive force under his command.
Haj Ahmad Mirzaei served as the head of the Tehran division of Iran's Morality Police during Amini's unjust detention and untimely death Esmail Khatib is Iran's Minister of Intelligence and head of the MOIS, one of the Iranian government's main security services which is responsible for serious human rights abuses.
As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC," Yellen said.
Yellen also noted, "we condemn this unconscionable act in the strongest terms and call on the Iranian government to end its violence against women and its ongoing violent crackdown on free expression and assembly.
Today's action to sanction Iran's Morality Police and senior Iranian security officials responsible for this oppression demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration's clear commitment to stand up for human rights, and the rights of women, in Iran and globally." (end) asj.mb