Canada sanctions Iranian officials for ‘repressive measures against women’

Canada has imposed sanctions against two Iranian officials who ‘have used their positions of influence to call for or carry out increasingly repressive measures against women and girls in Iran.’

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said, 8 March: ‘The Chief Executive of the Tehran metro system, Masoud Dorosti, is listed for his enforcement of the mandatory hijab law on public transit. A senior parliamentarian in the Majlis, Zohreh Elahian, is also listed for her support of the death penalty for protestors involved in the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement.’

This is the 17th package of sanctions imposed by Canada against Iran since the October 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman who was arrested on a hijab violation and died in police custody, sparking nationwide protests under the slogan, ‘Women, Life Freedom’.

‘Our message is clear: this must end. We will continue to shine a spotlight on these blatant violations of human rights and call for the perpetrators to be held to account,’ Joly said.

The sanctions impose a prohibition on dealings with the listed individuals and render them inadmissible to Canada.

London-based news outlet Iran International reported that the ‘Tehran metro has been the scene of heavy hijab patrols,’ and that Dorosti had quit his position in response to the Canadian sanctions.