A protester in Turin, Italy expresses her solidarity with Iranian demonstrators after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Getty
A protester in Turin, Italy expresses her solidarity with Iranian demonstrators after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Getty
A protester in Turin, Italy expresses her solidarity with Iranian demonstrators after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Getty
A protester in Turin, Italy expresses her solidarity with Iranian demonstrators after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Getty

EU approves new sanctions on Iran after protesters executed


Sunniva Rose
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EU foreign ministers on Monday approved proposed sanctions on five Iranians and two entities after the execution in Iran last week of three men convicted of killing security force members during protests last year.

Those targeted include Salman Adinehvand, commander of the Tehran police relief unit of Iran's law enforcement forces and Saeed Montazer Al Mahdi, Iranian police spokesman.

In a press statement, the EU council said Mr Al Mahdi had repeatedly downplayed widely reported schoolgirl poisonings by claiming the "majority" of those alleged were "not real".

The co-operative foundation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is among the entities targeted by the new sanctions, according to the statement.

The EU said the foundation was responsible for managing the IRGC's investments and funnelling money into the violent crackdown on last year's demonstrations.

Nationwide protests erupted after the death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurd Mahsa Amini on September 16.

She had been arrested by the morality police in Tehran after wearing her hijab “improperly”.

The other group targeted was the Student Basij Organisation (SBO), a branch within the Basij organisation that acts as the IRGC's "violent enforcers on university campuses", the EU said.

The SBO "used live ammunition and opened fire on students", the bloc added.

The Basij was created as a paramilitary volunteer militia by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, former Iranian supreme leader, in 1979.

It has a presence in every Iranian university, monitoring people's dress and behaviour.

This is the eighth time since October that Brussels has imposed sanctions on Iranian people and entities involved in the repression of protesters.

Sanctions include frozen assets and a travel ban to the EU.

Josep Borrell, the bloc's foreign affairs and security chief, linked Monday's announcement to last week's execution of three men over their alleged role in the anti-government protests.

“Remember that three people have been executed," Mr Borrell said in Brussels as he arrived at a meeting of foreign ministers.

On Friday, Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were hanged in the central city of Isfahan.

They had been sentenced to death in January after being found guilty of “moharebeh” – waging “war against God” – for allegedly killing two members of the Basij paramilitary force and a police officer on November 16, according to the Iranian judiciary.

They were the sixth and seventh Iranians executed in connection with the protests, which Tehran has described as foreign-instigated riots.

Thousands of Iranians were arrested and hundreds of people killed, including dozens of security personnel.

The country hanged 75 per cent more people in 2022 than the previous year, the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty said in a joint report in April.

At least 582 people were executed in Iran last year, the highest number of executions in the country since 2015 and well above the 333 recorded in 2021, the two groups said.

But the pace of executions this year has been even higher so far, IHR now counting at least 260 executions since the start of the year.

From left, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were executed in Tehran. Photo: Amnesty International
From left, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were executed in Tehran. Photo: Amnesty International
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Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

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October 9: v Sabah FA

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Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

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