EU sanctions six Iranians over serious human rights violations

BRUSSELS, July 24, 2026 — The European Union added five Iranian judges and a hacker to its Iran human rights sanctions list, expanding the roster of people subject to restrictive measures for serious abuses.

The Council of the EU said the judges presided over cases involving protesters, political dissidents, human rights defenders, women opposing mandatory hijab rules and members of religious minorities. The cited proceedings included death and lengthy prison sentences, flogging, fines and other punishments, in some cases on vaguely defined national security, propaganda or religious charges.

Several of the prosecutions were described as having serious due process or fair-trial violations, including coerced confessions, prolonged interrogation and denial of legal counsel. One judge was cited for penalties imposed in cases connected with the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests and for sentencing political prisoners and human rights activists.

The sixth person, hacker and computer engineer Nima Salehi, was listed as a founder and leading figure in the Ashiyane cyber group. The council linked the group to Iran’s government, the EU-listed Cyber Police, known as FATA, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It said Ashiyane carried out intensive cyberattacks against domestic opponents, reformists and foreign institutions and assisted repression of the opposition.

Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/1850 amended the list under Decision 2011/235/CFSP. It took effect upon publication in the EU’s Official Journal on July 24.

The entries include aliases, roles, nationality and, for some people, birth dates or other identifiers. Those details may affect sanctions-screening matches and list maintenance, particularly where alternate names are provided.