EU Sanctions On Iran 'Unlawful’ Says Iranian FM

The findings, according to human rights experts, underscore the systematic use of torture and rape by authorities, exposing a troubling pattern of abuse aimed at suppressing dissent.

The Woman, Life, Freedom uprising in Iran was a nationwide protest movement that started in September 2022, following the killing of Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman while in the custody of the regime’s so-called "morality police".

The protests persisted until at least January 2023 with over 500 protesters killed at the hands of state security forces, and over 19,400 protestors arrested as per reports by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

HRW’s investigation focused on violations against 10 prisoners detained amid the protests.

Between September and November 2022, the detainees from Kurdish, Baloch, and Azeri minorities endured grave abuses at the hands of Iranian security forces.

The victims, which included women, men, and children, provided HRW with testimonies of their experiences, recounting instances of torture and sexual assault inflicted upon them and other prisoners.

“Iranian security forces' brutality against detained protesters, including rape and torture, are not only egregious crimes but a weapon of injustice wielded against detainees to coerce them into false confessions,” said Nahid Naghshbandi, acting Iran researcher at HRW.

Naghshbandi also highlighted the systematic targeting of ethnic minorities in Iran, noting that the regime's use of rape and torture to further marginalize these communities.

Among the testimonies, a Kurdish woman revealed how she was raped by male security forces while their female colleague facilitated the assault in November 2022.

Another victim, a 24-year-old Kurdish man from West Azerbaijan province, described being tortured and raped with a baton after his arrest.

A 30-year-old man from East Azerbaijan Province told HRW how he and other protesters were subjected to gang rape by security forces in October 2022.

The report also brings attention to cases of suicide and severe physical trauma resulting from the sexual violence committed by the state's security officers. One woman is said to have taken her own life due to the emotional trauma inflicted upon her, while another required surgery to address injuries sustained during the assaults.

Emphasizing the urgent need for support and justice for survivors, Naghshbandi, stated that “accounts of brutal rape and the lasting traumatic consequences of those crimes should mobilize countries to meet the physical and psychological health needs of survivors who have managed to flee Iran...”

In response to HRW's findings, in an interview with Iran International, Mahmoud Amiri-Moghadam, director of Iran Human Rights, condemned the systematic use of torture and rape by various institutions of the Iranian regime, asserting that such atrocities must not go unpunished.

He underscored the importance of international awareness and accountability, urging the UN to take action against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

This latest report from HRW adds to a growing body of evidence documenting the widespread abuse of detainees by Iranian authorities.

Previous investigations by Amnesty International and the UN Fact-Finding Mission have similarly exposed the brutal tactics employed by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent.

In his latest article, "Iran-Israel tensions: Only a grand bargain in the Middle East can avert regional war," published on April 18, 2024, Seyed Hossein Mousavian once again casts the United States, Israel and NATO as the principal antagonists in the Middle East's ongoing turmoil, conveniently omitting the destructive roles played by Iran's own regime.

Mousavian's narrative fails to acknowledge how Iran’s Islamic regime has fueled regional instability by supporting and arming terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. These groups have been pivotal in executing Iran's agenda, spreading violence and discord across the region.

Mousavian’s call for the West to engage in appeasement and offer incentives to Iran is a repetitive strategy that surfaces whenever the Islamic Republic faces international pressure or isolation. His articles typically push for a conciliatory approach towards Iran, advocating for unwarranted concessions without addressing the fundamental issues of Iran's sponsorship of terrorism and its blatant disregard for international norms. This biased viewpoint not only misrepresents the true dynamics of Middle Eastern conflicts but also undermines the pursuit of genuine peace and stability in the region.

No wonder that Iranian government-controlled media in Tehran extensively covered Mousavian’s article as a major development, showing the way forward for “peace in the region.”

In discussing Iran-Europe relations, Mousavian paints a rosy picture of the diplomatic ties between Iran and Germany during the tenure of Germany's Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Iran's President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mousavian highlights the political, cultural, and economic collaboration fostered between the two nations, emphasizing Germany's opposition to US sanctions and their support for Iran through banking and insurance credits, which aided Iran's post-war reconstruction after Iraq's invasion. However, Mousavian's account conspicuously omits a critical aspect of the Iran-Germany relationship during this period: the assassination of Iranian dissidents on European soil, most notably the Mykonos restaurant attack.

The Mykonos restaurant in Berlin was the site of a brutal attack in 1992, where four Iranian-Kurdish dissidents were murdered. This attack was not an isolated incident but part of a broader strategy by the Iranian regime to silence opposition, even beyond its borders. The assailants were linked to the Iranian government, leading to a notorious trial that profoundly impacted Iran's international relations. The Berlin Court's ruling in the Mykonos trial explicitly named the Iranian government as responsible for the assassination, stating that the orders had come from the highest levels of leadership in Tehran.

Mousavian's narrative fails to address how Iran's actions in Europe, including the Mykonos attack, severely damaged its diplomatic relationships. The trial and its aftermath demonstrated Iran's willingness to conduct state-sponsored terrorism on foreign soil, fundamentally breaching international law and the norms of diplomatic engagement. The verdict was a landmark moment, as it was one of the first times a European court directly accused the Iranian government of such grave actions, leading to a diplomatic fallout between Iran and Germany. This fallout was not, as Mousavian suggests, due to US pressure or unwillingness to normalize relations but was a direct response to Iran's aggressive and unlawful actions in Europe.

The documentary "Holy War," by Reza Allamezadeh for Dutch television in 1994, delves into this tense period before the Mykonos trial verdict in 1997. The film highlighted how the Iranian embassy, led by Mousavian at the time, attempted to suppress its broadcast. Upon realizing Allamezadeh’s involvement, the embassy tried to buy the film to prevent its airing. It resorted to veiled threats against the filmmaker and his family when their initial attempts failed. The documentary ultimately aired, drawing significant viewership, and contributing to the public discourse on Iran's covert operations in Europe. This incident exemplifies how Iran, under the guise of diplomatic relations, misused its ties with Germany, assuming that solid bilateral relations would shield it from the repercussions of its illicit actions abroad.

In the documentary Holy War, Mousavian makes several statements (Minute 33:44) that starkly contrast with the historical actions and policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mousavian asserts that Iran does not carry out executions without trials, claiming such actions would violate the Iranian constitution. He also suggests that the Iranian government is firmly against terrorism in any form and eagerly awaits the judicial outcome of the Berlin Mykonos trial, confident of Iran’s non-interference in the assassinations of Iranian Kurds in Germany.

These statements, however, stand in direct contradiction to well-documented records of the regime's conduct since the Islamists came to power in 1979. Research and historical data, including those from the Rastyad, paint a grim picture of systemic human rights abuses. For instance, in 1981 alone, more than 3,200 people were executed in Tehran, including 104 children. Furthermore, during the summer of 1988, Iran witnessed the mass execution of over 5,000 political prisoners. These individuals, already serving prison sentences issued by kangaroo courts, were summarily executed without any new crimes being committed, clearly indicating executions without fair trials.

Mousavian's comments in the film not only whitewash these atrocities but also misrepresent the constitutional and judicial realities of Iran. His claims are particularly egregious given the evidence of Iran’s routine use of extrajudicial killings and its blatant disregard for both domestic and international legal standards. Mousavian's demeanor and assertions in the documentary could be seen as an attempt to reshape public perception and mitigate the international fallout of the Mykonos trial. His narrative is disingenuous and serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which officials of the Islamic Republic will go to fabricate state innocence and manipulate historical facts to their favor.

This series of events underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and highlights the substantial barriers to normalization with Europe due to Iran's involvement in acts of terror. Mousavian's selective recounting and blame on external forces like the United States distort the actual dynamics, overlooking how Iran's actions have significantly impacted its foreign relations and led to diplomatic isolation. The story of the "Holy War" and the Mykonos trial encapsulates the challenges and the urgent need for accountability in dealing with state-sponsored terrorism, reinforcing the necessity for a truthful, comprehensive dialogue about Iran's international conduct.

It is disheartening to see that Princeton University, a prestigious academic institution, has employed Seyed Hossein Mousavian—a former Iranian government official whose professional history is marred by affiliations with state-sponsored cross-border political violence and blatant disregard for human rights. As family members of the victims of the Islamic Republic's atrocities, we demand that Princeton take immediate action to terminate Mousavian's association with the university. Despite our detailed letter to the President of Princeton University outlining our concerns and demands, our pleas have been ignored. In response, we will gather in front of Princeton University on April 26 to remind the public and the university community that they host an individual who not only poses a grave threat to the safety of Iranians and Americans alike but also undermines the ethical standards and integrity expected of such an esteemed institution. This protest aims to shed light on the administration's baffling decision to protect a known perpetrator of human rights abuses, calling for accountability and the immediate dismissal of Mousavian.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the views of Iran International

"The problem of insecurity is not solely caused by warfare instigated by enemies, but also by the currency policies that devastate the people’s morale," Toghyani stated during a parliamentary session.

In a related development on Sunday, another lawmaker, Sodeif Badri, criticized the Central Bank of Iran for its failure to provide necessary foreign currency for raw material imports, intensifying the crisis triggered by the falling rial. Badri, a conservative politician, highlighted the dire situation in the nation's industrial sectors, stating, "The Central Bank tells producers that it has no currency," thereby shedding light on the shortages impacting production and economic stability.

Since arly January, the rial has lost more than 30 percent of its value against the US dollar.

The foreign exchange market saw the dollar breaching the 700,000 rials mark over the last weekend following the Islamic Republic's attack on Israel. The rate somewhat decreased to 650,000 rials in the past few days.

The plummeting value of the rial has exacerbated inflationary pressures in Iran, where the annual inflation rate has hovered around 50 percent for the past five years. In 1978, the rial was valued at 70 rials per dollar. The devaluation over the decades has led to millions of Iranians falling below the poverty line.

Iranian authorities have often downplayed the impact of US and other international sanctions on the economy. However, the continuing high inflation rates have eroded the middle-class, with tens of millions of people now subsisting on approximately $200 a month, significantly below what is needed to maintain a middle-class lifestyle in Iran.

His Monday statement on X came amidst escalating tensions with Israel and just hours after the Iranian foreign ministry reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's military doctrine.

Ghoddusi, who is known for his hardline stance in domestic and foreign policy, also made provocative comments prior to Iran's missile and drone attack against Israel, warning that attempts to assassinate 'Resistance Front' personalities worldwide would be met with retaliation with Iranian missiles.

During a press briefing in Tehran, ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani emphasized, "Nuclear weapons have no place in our nuclear doctrine."

The mention of a doctrine has often been made in reference to what’s known as the Supreme Leader’s so-called “nuclear fatwa” – an alleged Islamic ruling issued by Khamenei banning the development of nuclear weapons.

However, experts challenge the authenticity and the binding nature of the fatwa, suggesting it has been used strategically to deflect international scrutiny over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Moreover, Islamic Revolutionary Guard general Ahmad Haghtalab recently hinted that threats from Israel could force Iran to "review its nuclear doctrine and deviate from its previous considerations." The admission suggests potential shifts in Iran’s nuclear strategy in response to external military pressures.

While the foreign ministry maintains a façade of peaceful intentions, nuclear experts are skeptical, pointing out that Iran's uranium enrichment to 60-percent purity since 2021 suggests a direction towards weaponization.

According to information obtained by Iran International, instances of Iranian police officers demanding money from women to avoid hijab-related arrests have come to light. The coercion further extends to confiscating valuables and personal belongings from citizens.

Since the implementation of the new hijab enforcement plan, "Project Nour" on April 13, a wave of violent encounters targeting unveiled women has unfolded across various cities in Iran. Victims recount disturbing experiences of being accosted by Iran’s so-called “morality police", with some revealing instances of sexual harassment.

In one account, a woman revealed that the police coerced her and several others into paying 100 million rials ($153) under threat of arrest or seizure of their vehicles.

In another account, after arresting a woman, the police officer took out a card from his pocket and demanded that the woman “deposit 120 million rials ($184)” into the account shown on the card as a condition to release her.

Furthermore, three additional women told Iran International that following their arrests upon arriving at the police stations and surrendering their belongings, they discovered upon release that their jewelry pieces were missing from their possessions. Their attempts to reclaim their belongings were met with hostility and denial by the officers responsible.

In addition to extortion, there have been numerous instances of confiscated cell phones, further infringing on the rights of those targeted by hijab enforcement officers.

The intensified crackdown on women had already escalated to the point where women were reporting physical assault and verbal sexual abuse during encounters with the morality police last week. 

The renewed emphasis on enforcing compulsory hijab regulations has been endorsed by Iran's highest authorities, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Ebrahim Raisi, and the head of Iran's judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

This new wave of egregious violations against women and girls in Iran has exacerbated the oppression they face, living under the rule of the Islamic Republic regime, particularly amidst a growing movement of nationwide hijab defiance.

Many mid-ranking clerics, some insider politicians and commentators have been voicing concern over the illegal and harsh enforcement measures. They warn that this will widen the gap between the population and the rulers, while increasing the chances of new unrest in the country.

In 2022, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the morality police led to months of nationwide protests, posing the biggest threat the Islamic government had faced in its four-decade rule. Security forces killed around 550 civilians and arrested 22,000 before the unrest was suppressed.