Soleimani, Gholamreza

"... commands the Basij, one of Iran’s most important domestic security resources. The Basij has been heavily involved in violent crackdowns in Iran, including following the June 2009 contested presidential election, and in November 2019, during Soleimani’s tenure, when the Basij reportedly were among the Iranian security organizations that collectively killed hundreds of Iranian men, women, and children. Treasury designated the Basij pursuant to E.O. 13553 on June 9, 2011, for, among other activity, its role in the 2009 post-election crackdown. Soleimani was sanctioned by the European Union in April 2021 for his role in the violent response to the November 2019 protests."¹

"Gholamreza Soleimani is the Head of the Basij Organisation. The Basij Organisation used lethal force to suppress the November 2019 protests in Iran, causing the deaths of and injuries to unarmed protesters and other civilians in many cities across the country. As Head of the Basij Organisation, Gholamreza Soleimani bears responsibility for the violent suppression of the protests and serious human rights violations in Iran."²

"There are reasonable grounds to suspect that Gholamreza SOLEIMANI has been involved in the commission of serious human rights violations in Iran, including being responsible for, engaging in and providing support for the violent suppression of protests in Iran through his role as Head of the “Volunteer Forces” (Basij Organisation) and through participating in decisions relating to the conduct of Iranian security forces during the 2019 protests via his position in the National Security Council."³

NOTE:

Canada has sanctioned Soleimani, pursuant to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, regarding Iran's "grave breach of international peace and security."⁴

Sources:

1. https://home.treasury.gov/

2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/

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

4.  https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-165/FullText.html