Asgari, Hassan

"Hassan Asgari (Asgari) [is] the governor of Sanandaj... Prior to entering his role as governor of Sanandaj, Asgari was the commander of IRGC forces in Sanandaj. Asgari’s transition from a military role to governor is an example of the systematic spread of military control over cities... When a 16-year-old protestor was reportedly killed by security forces in Sanandaj, Asgari and other officials stated she died of a drug overdose, potentially by suicide. Providing false alternative causes of death for protesters killed by security forces is a common tactic utilized by Iranian officials to evade accountability for their human rights abuses. Asgari is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13553 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC."¹

"Hassan Asgari is the governor of the city of Sanandaj in Iran’s Kurdistan province and a former Commander of the local Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces. As governor of Sanandaj, he is responsible for the violent and brutal response in that city to the protests following the death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September 2022. When a 16-year-old protester was reportedly killed by security forces in Sanandaj, Asgari and other officials stated that she died of a drug overdose, potentially by suicide. Providing false alternative causes of death for protesters killed by security forces is a common tactic used by Iranian officials to evade accountability for their human rights abuses. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran."² 

"Hassan ASGARI is an involved person within the meaning of the Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 as it is reasonable to suspect that ASGARI, through his role as Governor of Sanandaj, is an individual providing support for or promoting serious human rights violations in Iran through the repression of recent protests in Iran, leading to violations of the right of life and violations of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."³ 

Sources: 

1. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1125

2.  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2023.020.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A020I%3ATOC

3. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1137623/Notice_Iran__Human_Rights__200223.pdf