Britain is being urged to impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on those involved in the suppression of protests in Iran.
The appeal from David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, comes after seven people with links to the UK were arrested by Iranian authorities. At least some of those detained are understood to be dual UK-Iranian citizens.
Magnitsky sanctions, which target those responsible for human rights offences or corruption, are named after a Ukrainian-born Russian tax adviser responsible for exposing corruption and misconduct by Russian government officials. He was jailed in Russia in 2008 on charges of tax evasion and died in prison the following year.
Months after leaving the EU, the UK in July 2020 introduced the Global Human Rights Sanctions regime, which targets human rights abuses with punitive measures. It was nicknamed a Magnitsky-style sanctions regime and had similarities to the US system introduced in 2013 in response to the death of the Russian whistleblower.
Mr Lammy called on the UK government to get tougher on Iran as authorities continue to crack down on peaceful protesters more than 100 days after demonstrations began following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
“The killings and repression being carried out by the Iranian regime against courageous Iranian protesters seeking a better future is appalling,” he said.
“There must be an end to impunity.
“The UK government urgently needs to put in place new Magnitsky sanctions against individuals and organisations involved in the repression.
Protests in Iran — in pictures
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Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo -
Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo -
At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo -
A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP -
Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP -
Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP -
A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP -
A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP -
Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP -
Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP -
A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo -
Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo -
Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters -
Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo -
Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo -
Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo -
The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo
“The Iranian regime must be held accountable for every crime it has committed through an urgent investigation by the UN Human Rights Council.”
The UK government recently ushered in a new wave of sanctions on Iran over its response to protests.
On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted that the UK would “hold the tyrants in Iran to account” as he set out the British response to the country’s actions.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had arrested seven people involved in the protests who have a “direct link” to Britain.
It said the arrests reflected the UK's “destructive role” in recent protests.
It said some members of the network had dual nationality.
Asked by The National for the Prime Minister’s response to the accusation, Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said on Wednesday: “We obviously reject that categorisation.”
He added that “the violence being levelled against protesters is appalling”.
“We fundamentally believe in the right of people to protest,” he said.
Asked about the fate of British detainees in Iran, he said the government is “urgently seeking further information from the Iranian authorities” on their welfare.
“We have always said we will never accept our nationals being used for diplomatic leverage," he said.
