EU sanctions Iran prison officials over 'hostage' policy

AFP , Monday 14 Apr 2025

The EU on Monday imposed sanctions on seven Iranian prison and judicial officials over the detention of nationals from the bloc.

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) speaks with France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot prior to a round table meeting at a European Union Foreign Affairs Council at the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL) in Luxembourg City. AFP

The move -- spearheaded by France -- also saw Iran's Shiraz prison and a court in the same city added to the blacklist.

"We are today adopting a package of sanctions against those responsible for the state hostage policy," French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said at an EU meeting in Luxembourg.

"It's about time, because the conditions in which some of our French and European compatriots are being held are disgraceful and amount to torture under international law."

Among the officials subjected to an assets freeze and visa ban was the head of the notorious Evin prison and the official running Shiraz prison.

France this month said it will lodge a complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice over the fate of two detained French nationals.

French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris were detained in Iran in May 2022 on accusations of seeking to stir up labour protests, allegations their families have denied.

Western countries have for years accused Iran of detaining their nationals on trumped-up charges in a policy of state hostage-taking to use them as bargaining chips to extract concessions.