The European Union announced on Friday (July 24) new sanctions against five Iranian judges and the founder of the cyber organization “Ashiyane,” Nima Salehi. The EU stated that these individuals are suspected of serious human rights violations.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, posted on social media platform X on Friday, stating, “While the world’s attention is focused on conflicts in the Middle East, we cannot overlook Iran’s repression of its own people.”
“Today, the EU has imposed new restrictive measures on several Iranian judges. These individuals are suspected of serious human rights violations, including persecution of political dissidents and religious minority groups,” she said.
“The EU has also sanctioned a key figure in a cyber organization aiding the Iranian regime in suppressing information,” she added, emphasizing that “as Tehran intensifies domestic crackdowns, the EU will continue to hold accountable those involved.”
According to a statement released by the EU on Friday, the five sanctioned judges all hold positions in Iran’s local Revolutionary Courts. These judges have presided over trials of religious minority groups, political dissidents, and human rights activists. The defendants have included Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi. The judges based their judgments on vague charges related to national security and religion.
In these cases, the EU stated that these judges have sentenced political dissidents and human rights activists to death, long-term imprisonment, flogging, fines, or other additional punishments.
In addition to the five Iranian judges, the EU has also included Iranian hacker and computer engineer Salehi in the sanctions list. Salehi is the founder of the “Ashiyane” cyber organization and a key figure within the group.
The EU mentioned that “Ashiyane Digital Security” collaborates closely with the network police (FATA) and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) listed by the EU, launching intensive cyber attacks against domestic opposition groups, reformists, and foreign entities, thereby assisting the Iranian regime in suppressing dissent.
To date, the EU has implemented human rights-related sanctions against a total of 269 individuals and 53 entities related to Iran. These measures include asset freezes, travel bans to the EU, and prohibitions on providing funds or economic resources to those listed.
Furthermore, the EU has prohibited the export of equipment to Iran that could be used for domestic repression, including telecommunications monitoring devices.