BICOM

The US has accused Iran of human rights abuses and strongly condemned the Iranian government’s campaign against opposition groups in the country. “The United States strongly condemns the Iranian government’s organised intimidation campaign and arrests of political figures, human rights defenders, political activists, student leaders, journalists and bloggers,” a White House statement said. Recently, the US said that Iranian authorities were hypocritical for clamping down on their own citizens while applauding opposition efforts to topple the Egyptian leadership. “The Iranian government should allow active dialogue among its citizens, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly without fear. Iranians deserve the same justice and rights that their government extols the virtue of abroad,” the White House statement continued.

In related news, the European Union plans to probe the possibility of targeting human rights sanctions against Iranian leaders. A list of 80 Iranian officials, including police, prison guards, prosecutors, judges and bureaucrats has been created by European diplomats and could possibly be sanctioned for alleged torture, murder and other human rights violations.