New EU measures against Iran hostage diplomacy
The European Union has implemented this Monday a series of restrictive measures aimed at nine Iranian individuals and entities linked to the so-called “hostage diplomacy”. This practice consists of the illegal detention of European citizens, used as bargaining chips to negotiate the release of Iranian prisoners or to obtain political concessions from Member States.
Context and scope of the sanctions
The decision responds to recurring hostile actions by Tehran, which include the unfounded imprisonment of European nationals. According to an official statement, the EU expresses its “deep concern” about the systematic use of these tactics for political purposes, highlighting cases where access to a fair judicial process has been denied.
Among the entities sanctioned are the Shiraz prison and the First Chamber of the Shiraz Court, identified as key centers in the repression of opponents and ethnic minorities. The EU documents serious violations, such as forced confessions and extrajudicial executions of activists and dissidents.
The list now includes 232 people and 44 organizations, whose assets have been frozen, in addition to being prohibited from entering European territory. At the same time, an embargo is maintained on the export of equipment that could be used for mass surveillance or internal repression.
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