AJC Praises New U.S. Sanctions for Iran Human Rights Abuses

[Ari Gordon <gordona@ajc.org>]

AJC Praises New U.S. Sanctions for Iran Human Rights Abuses

June 9, 2011 - New York - AJC praised the Obama Administration for imposing new 
sanctions against Iran for massive violations of human rights.

"Today's U.S. action is an essential reminder that the Iranian regime's gross 
and systematic violation of human rights is being closely monitored and will 
not go unanswered," said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

The new sanctions were announced today by the U.S. State and Treasury 
Departments against three official security bodies -- Iran's Islamic 
Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Basij Resistance Force, and Iran's national 
police -- as well as against the chief of police, Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam.

They were added to the list of organizations and individuals sanctioned by the 
U.S. for their central roles in perpetrating human rights abuses against 
Iranian citizens. The U.S. action prohibits Americans from engaging in any 
transactions with the sanctioned bodies, freezes assets in the U.S., and blocks 
American visas for anyone in the three organizations.

"Today's welcome action is especially significant, coming on the second 
anniversary of the fraudulent 2009 national Iranian elections," said Harris. 
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed out that 'Nearly two years after 
Iran's brave citizens took to the streets, the struggle for civil liberties and 
fundamental civil rights continues.' The United States, and all people of good 
will, stand with those brave citizens in their noble quest for human dignity 
and human rights."

Harris concluded, "America's latest sanctions against the despotic Iranian 
regime are another clear signal of our determination to match policies with 
principles. We hope that like-minded nations around the world will soon enact 
similar sanctions as those announced today by the U.S."

>Posted by:
>Ari M. Gordon
>Special Advisor 
>Interreligious and Intergroup Relations
>American Jewish Committee
>165 E56th Street
>New York, NY 10022
>(212) 891-6717