On Friday, March 8th, the Canadian government, in conjunction with International Women’s Day, announced sanctions against Masoud Dorosti, the CEO of Tehran Metro, and Zahra Elahian, a representative in the regime’s Majlis (parliament), for their involvement in the suppression of Iranian citizens, particularly women and girls.
According to a statement from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these sanctions were imposed in response to the systematic and severe ongoing violations of human rights, especially those of women and girls, and the continuous actions of the Iranian regime to destabilize peace and security in the region.
The statement further mentions that Masoud Dorosti is sanctioned for enforcing compulsory hijab laws in public transportation, while Zahra Elahian is sanctioned for supporting the execution of protesters during nationwide demonstrations.
Mélanie Joly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Canada, stated in relation to the seventh round of Canadian sanctions against Iranian regime authorities and institutions since the start of protests triggered by the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, that Canada will always defend the rights of women and girls. She emphasized that the message is clear: this behavior must come to an end, pointing to the Iranian regime’s ruthless and harsh tactics against women.
The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs pledged that Canada will continue to raise awareness about these severe human rights violations and advocate for accountability for those involved.
Since the beginning of nationwide protests in 2022, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and European countries have implemented numerous sanction packages against individuals and entities involved in the repression of Iranian protesters.
