US sanctions Iran rights abuses
WASHINGTON, March 9, (AP): The US is imposing more sanctions on Iran, hitting people and firms accused of violating women’s rights during nationwide anti-government protests over the treatment of young women and girls.
Included in the sanctions are two prison officials, several firms that manufacture equipment for Iranian law enforcement, the commander in chief of the Iranian army and others.
Nationwide protests first erupted over the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. She was accused of violating Iran’s strict dress code for women by wearing her headscarf improperly. Those protests have continued for months.
Subsequently, a series of suspected poisonings at girls’ schools across the country, which sickened hundreds of students, fueled claims about the violation of women and girls’ rights and prompted protests.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. government “remains deeply concerned that Iranian authorities continue to suppress dissent and peaceful protest, including through mass arrests, sham trials, hasty executions, the detention of journalists, and the use of sexual violence as a means of protest suppression.”
Brian Nelson, Treasury’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement that Iran’s government “treats women as secondclass citizens and attempts to suppress their voices by any means.”
“We will continue to take action against the regime, which perpetuates abuse and violence against its own citizens - especially women and girls,” Nelson said.
The latest sanctions were imposed in coordination with the European Union, United Kingdom and Australia, with the announcement purposely made on International Women’s Day.
Among other things, the sanctions deny the people and firms access to any property or financial assets held in the U.S. and prevent U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with them.
The U.S. has taken several steps to isolate Iran from the global community, as protests have continued. In November, the U.S. announced that it’s seeking to oust Iran from the U.N.’s premiere global body fighting for gender equality. Vice President Kamala Harris said Iran is “unfit” to serve on the commission and its presence “discredits the integrity” of its work.
Iran’s government in February celebrated the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought a Shiite theocracy to power.
ISTANBUL: Women braved an official ban on an International Women’s Day march in Istanbul, Turkey, demonstrating for about two hours before police used tear gas to disperse remaining protesters and detained people.
Thousands converged on a central neighborhood Wednesday for a protest that combined women’s rights with the staggering toll of the deadly quake that hit Turkey and Syria a month ago.
Organizers - for the second straight year - had been forbidden from marching down Istiklal pedestrian avenue in Turkey’s biggest city where Women’s Day marches had been held since 2003. Police blocked demonstrators’ access to the avenue. An Associated Press journalist saw officers detain at least 30 people and use tear gas after the group ended their demonstration at 2100 local time (1800 GMT).
Local authorities banned the march, saying the area was not an authorized demonstration site. They also claimed the march could “provoke” segments of Turkish society, lead to verbal or physical attacks, be misused by terror groups and threaten national security - as well as curtailing freedom of movement in the cultural and tourist area. Metro stations in the vicinity were closed.
Lale Pesket, a 28-year-old theater student, said that was unfair.
“We are not harming anyone, but unfortunately, we are faced with police violence every time,” she said. “Our only concern is the emancipation of women, we want free spaces in a world without violence and better economic conditions, especially for women.”