Ahmed Khadem Seyedoshohada

Ahmed Khadem Seyedoshohada is the internationally designated commander of the Karbala Operational Base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He holds the rank of brigadier general.“Treasury Sanctions Senior Iranian Officials Overseeing Violent Protest Suppression and Censorship,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, April 24, 2023, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1436. The Karbala base in southwest Iran oversees IRGC forces in the provinces of Khusestan, Lorestan and Kohgiluyeh, and Boyer-Ahmad.Official Journal of the European Union, “COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/152 of 23 January 2023 Implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran,” EUR-Lex, January 23, 2023, 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%C2%A0.

In September 2022, the IRGC joined in violently suppressing protests that erupted after the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in custody after being detained by Tehran’s morality police, the Guidance Patrol, earlier in the month. The Guidance Patrol sent Amini to a detention center to undergo re-education when they claimed she was not wearing a hijab properly. She died three days later. In response, protests erupted across the country against Iran’s theocratic rule. The IRGC aided in suppressing the protests, leading to violent clashes with protesters. At least 522 protesters have been killed since the protests began.Arsalan Shahla, “Iran Launches Artillery Against Militants in Northern Iraq,” September 24, 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-24/iran-launches-artillery-against-militants-in-northern-iraq?leadSource=uverify%20wall; “IRGC will not hesitate to target origin of any anti-Iran operation wherever it may be: General,” Press TV, September 27, 2022, https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/09/27/689915/IRGC-will-not-hesitate-target-origin-any-anti-Iran-operation-General; Caitlin McFall, “The Guardian Patrol sent Amini to a detention center to undergo re-education when they claimed she was not wearing a hijab properly. She died three days later.,” Fox News, September 24, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/world/protestors-clash-revolutionary-guard-northern-iran-torch-irgc-base-reports; “Iran’s Guards Break Their Silence, Warn Protesters,” Iran International, September 22, 2022, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202209229946; “Lebanon’s Hezbollah Helping Iran In Its Pro-Government Propaganda,” Iran International, October 9, 2022, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202210091141; Vivian Yee and Farnaz Fassihi, “Iran Has Abolished Morality Police, an Official Suggests, After Months of Protests,” New York Times, last updated December 5, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/04/world/middleeast/iran-morality-police.html; Patrick Wintour and Maryam Foumani, “Iran: mass strike starts amid mixed messages around abolishment of morality police,” Guardian (London), December 5, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/05/iran-strike-abolishment-morality-police; Agence France-Presse, “At least 522 Have Died in Iran Protests, Human Rights Report Says,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, January15, 2023, https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-death-count-human-rights-report/32224340.html#:~:text=At%20least%20522%20people%20have,security%20forces%2C%20the%20agency%20reported. According to the European Union, Karbala’s forces carried out operations against protesters in 2022 using disproportionate force and live ammunition against protesters, particularly in the Khusestan and Lorestan regions. The European Union accuses Seyedoshohada of responsibility for “serious human rights violations” and violence against protesters by IRGC troops under his command.Official Journal of the European Union, “COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/152 of 23 January 2023 Implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran,” EUR-Lex, January 23, 2023, 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%C2%A0. The United Kingdom accuses Seyedoshohada of complicity in the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the right to not be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.“CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK,” HM Treasury, last updated April 24, 2023, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1152335/Iran__Human_Rights_.pdf.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
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Type(s) of Organization:
Military, terrorist, transnational, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, Khomeinist, Shiite, state actor
Position(s):
Commander of the IRGC Karbala Operational Base

The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the regime against internal and external threats. The IRGC uses secret police methods against its opponents within Iran, and terrorist tactics against its enemies abroad.

  • Designations

European Union

United States

  • April 24, 2023

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added Ahmed Khadem Seyedoshohada to its Specially Designated Nationals list on April 24, 2023.“Treasury Sanctions Senior Iranian Officials Overseeing Violent Protest Suppression and Censorship,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, April 24, 2023, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1436.

United Kingdom

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