BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥 The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on Iran鈥檚 Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution and 8 officials, including judges, lawmakers and clerics accused of links to the security crackdown on protesters.
The protests began after the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the Islamic Republic鈥檚 morality police, and have grown into one of the most serious challenges to Iran鈥檚 theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
At least 529 people have been killed in demonstrations, according to human rights activists in Iran. Over 19,700 others have been detained by authorities amid a violent crackdown trying to suppress the dissent. Some people linked to the protests have been executed.
The EU said it had on the 8 officials and frozen the assets of The Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution due to their involvement 鈥渋n serious human rights violations in Iran.鈥
The EU said the council is 鈥渁 regime policy body鈥 that 鈥減romoted several projects undermining the freedom of girls and women, setting limits on their clothing and education. Its decisions have also discriminated against minorities.鈥
It鈥檚 the sixth round of sanctions that the 27-nation bloc has imposed on Iranian officials and organizations 鈥 including other ministers, military officers and Iran鈥檚 morality police 鈥 for alleged rights abuses.
