The Canadian government is imposing new sanctions on two Iranians it accuses of participating in the violent repression against women and girls in Iran.
This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, on the occasion of International Women's Day.
Joly says Iranian women and girls face an increasingly repressive environment in which they risk being harmed or even killed if they speak out or demand their basic rights.
Canada has imposed sanctions on 155 individuals and 87 entities since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Amini died in police custody after being arrested, apparently for wearing her hijab incorrectly.
The capital's executive director of transport and a senior parliamentarian are added to the list for having applied “increasingly repressive measures”.
Tehran Metro Director Masoud Dorosti enforces the country's law on mandatory hijab on public transportation, Joly's office said in a statement.
Zohreh Elahian, a conservative politician who supports the death penalty for protesters involved in a movement called “Women, Life, Liberty,” also faces sanctions.
“These two individuals used their positions of influence to call for or implement increasingly repressive measures against women and girls in Iran,” Joly’s office said.
Individuals on the sanctions list are prohibited from entering Canada and doing business with Canadians.
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