Sanctioned Iran cleric hits out at EU, calling it a ‘top human rights violator’
- Ahmad Khatami was sanctioned for allegedly inciting violence against protesters, including demanding the death penalty
- Iran has witnessed waves of protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini arrested for an alleged breach of dress code
Ultra-conservative Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami lashed out at the European Union on Friday after the bloc slapped him with sanctions linked to protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
Iran has witnessed waves of protests since the September 16 death of Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic’s dress code for women.
Officials in the country say hundreds of people have been killed in the unrest, which the authorities call “riots”, including dozens of security personnel, while thousands have been arrested.
The EU on Monday announced sanctions targeting Khatami as well as state broadcaster IRIB, army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi and commanders from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards over what it called “repression against protesters”.
Khatami was sanctioned for allegedly inciting violence against protesters, including demanding the death penalty.
During a Friday sermon in Tehran, the cleric said the EU had a “black” human rights record, state news agency IRNA reported.