The morality police and leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are targeted by Canadian sanctions. Several days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement, the federal government finally unveiled a list of 25 people and 9 Iranian entities newly targeted by Canadian sanctions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announces a freeze on assets in Canada and an inadmissibility for senior officials playing a leading role in the implementation of repressive measures and persons in Iran. The list, obtained by Radio-Canada, includes prominent leaders of the Islamic Republic. The Canadian government also places on its list of sanctioned persons and entities the head of the morality police, Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh, and the secretary of the Iranian headquarters for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice, Mohammad Saleh. Among the entities targeted are the morality police and Evin prison, where political prisoners are held.
Ottawa thus wishes to put pressure on the Iranian regime and denounce “serious violations of human rights” as well as its blatant disregard for human lives. Since the death of young Mahsa Amini, Iran has been rocked by a wave of protests and a bloody crackdown by the ruling regime. two weeks, at least 92 protesters have since died, according to the non-governmental organization (NGO) Iran Human Rights (IHR).
These targeted sanctions are a good decision and can potentially have a greater impact than generalized sanctions which are more difficult to implement, and which can be circumvented, according to Thomas Juneau, professor of international affairs at the University. The importance of enforcing sanctions Professor Thomas Juneau considers it essential that the sanctions regime is then applied.
“Announcing sanctions is a chosen thing; implanting them is another. » — A quote from Thomas Juneau, professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa Even if many of the people targeted by Ottawa have no connection with Canada and will not be reimbursed directly by the punitive measures, they must be important, according to Thomas Juneau. They send a signal to Canadians, to our allies, to the Iranian government and – very importantly – to the Iranian population that Canada opposes violence, explains the professor.
Note that the Trudeau government has still not designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, as the Conservatives in Ottawa have long demanded. They want to follow up on a motion to this effect adopted in the House of Commons in 2018.