Pasandideh, Heidar

"Heidar Pasandideh (Pasandideh), the warden of Sanandaj Central Prison in Kurdistan province, has overseen the detention and daily torture of prisoners arrested during the ongoing protests in Iran. Under his administration, Sanandaj Central Prison has been the site of arbitrary executions of prisoners. Pasandideh is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13553 for being officials of the Government of Iran or persons acting on behalf of the Government of Iran (including members of paramilitary organizations) who are responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against persons in Iran or Iranian citizens or residents, or the family members of the foregoing, on or after June 12, 2009, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Iran."¹

"Heidar Pasandideh has been the warden of Sanandaj Central Prison in the Kurdistan province of Iran since 2020. Under his administration, prisoners have been arbitrarily executed in Sanandaj Central Prison. As a warden, he has overseen and therefore bears responsibility for the detention and torture of prisoners arrested during 2022/2023 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. Therefore he is responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran."² 

""Heidar PASANDIDEH is an "involved person" under the Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 because he is or has been involved in the commission of a serious human rights violation or abuse in Iran through his position as the Governor of Sanandaj Central Prison."³ 

Sources: 

1. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1048 

2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2023.051.01.0013.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A051I%3ATOC 

3. https://docs.fcdo.gov.uk/docs/UK-Sanctions-List.html