"U.S., U.K. abd Canada to hold Iranian human rights abusers accountable"

New visa restrictions on Iranian officials and other individuals who have participated in human rights abuses against Iranian people are to remind Iran that the international community will continue to hold accountable those officials abusing human rights, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday, the press statement reads.

"These actions are an important reminder to Iran that the international community will continue to hold accountable those officials who commit human rights abuses and suppress the democratic aspirations of fellow citizens," Clinton told.

On Friday, July 8, the United States and the United Kingdom imposed visa restrictions on, and Canada announced support for increased measures against, officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals accused of participating in human rights abuses and political repressions.

More than 50 Iranian officials would be subject to these new U.S. visa restrictions, including government ministers, military and law enforcement officers, and judiciary and prison officials.

According to Clinton, until the Iranian government brings human rights abusers to justice and protects its citizens, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other partners will stand up on behalf of the Iranian people.

Any U.S. visas currently held by persons subject to this policy will be revoked and new visa applications will be refused.

In September 2010, the U.S. imposed sanctions against eight high-ranking Iranian officials. U.S. officials put the responsibility on them for human rights violations in Iran, in particular, the repression against the opposition members after the last presidential elections in 2009. Washington first imposed sanctions against Iran for violating human rights.

The sanctions involve blocking of the U.S. assets of officials and a ban on issuing visas to them. Moreover, U.S. citizens are prohibited to conduct business with them.

The sanctions were imposed on the following officials: IRGC Head, Mohammad Ali Jafari, his deputy on intelligence Hossain Taeb, Minister of Social Welfare and Security Sadek Mahsuli, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Iran's prosecutor general Qolam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, former Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, Deputy Head of Iran's Police Ahmad Reza Radan and intelligence chief Heidar Moslehi.

Strong opposition unrest broke out in Tehran after the announcement of the results of presidential elections on June 12, 2009 when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 66 percent of the votes according to the Iranian CEC. One of the losing candidates - a reformer Mir Hossein Mousavi accused authorities of ballot rigging and called on people to hold protests.

During the clashes, according to official figures, 20 people were killed, but according to unofficial data - about 150 people. Some 1,032 demonstrators were arrested, most of which are subsequently released.


/Trend/