Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has imposed sanctions on five Iranian individuals accused by the government of being complicit in violent crackdowns on protests in Iran. The sanctions were issued under Magnitsky-style laws implemented in Australia in 2021. These laws target individuals rather than entire nations and aim to address serious human rights violations.
The Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Thematic Sanctions) Bill 2021 prevents serious offenders from finding refuge in foreign countries, accessing assets, or securing protection for their family members. Wong announced the sanctions on the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Jina Amini, a 23-year-old Iranian woman who was arrested in Tehran for opposing mandatory hijab laws. Amini’s arrest and subsequent death sparked widespread protests in Iran against the country’s stringent laws.
The individuals sanctioned include senior security and law enforcement officials who were allegedly involved in the violent suppression of protests in Iran. Wong emphasized the dire human rights situation in Iran, particularly for girls and women facing increased surveillance and harassment to enforce mandatory hijab laws. Female human rights activists are reportedly being imprisoned and killed in Iran.
These latest sanctions add to Australia’s total of 195 sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities, with nearly 100 linked to the Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Australian government aims to hold Iran accountable for human rights violations and other destabilizing activities. Wong expressed solidarity with Iranian women and girls in their quest for equality and empowerment.
Authorities in Iran reportedly censored the post related to these sanctions, citing promotion of homosexuality as illegal in the country. Australia’s trade relationship with Iran, valued at $236 million (US$158 million) in the 2022-23 fiscal year, includes exports of wheat, wool, and meat. Iran has historically been a significant destination for Australian wheat exports. Please rephrase that.
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