Overview

Haj Ahmad Mirzaei is the U.S.-designated head of the Tehran division of Iran’s Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrol), which is also known as the morality Police.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of State, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran. On September 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Abnoush as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for having acted on the behalf of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF).“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of State, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran.

Iran’s morality police is the component of the LEF that enforces the country’s laws against immodesty and societal vices.“Treasury Sanctions Iran’s Morality Police and Senior Security Officials for Violence Against Protesters and the Death of Mahsa Amini,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 22, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0969M. Mirzaei is the head of the Tehran division, whereas Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, is the national head of the security force.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of State, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran. In early 2022, Rostami announced that the morality police would punish Iranian women who refuse to wear a hijab.“Treasury Sanctions Iran’s Morality Police and Senior Security Officials for Violence Against Protesters and the Death of Mahsa Amini,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 22, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0969M.

The morality police, or Guidance Patrol, is one agency within Iran’s extensive security apparatus, which also includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij. The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the regime against internal and external threats, of which the Basij, is a paramilitary organization charged with channeling popular support for the Iranian regime.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of State, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran. In September 2022, the IRGC and the Basij 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 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. On September 22, the IRGC issued a statement of support for Iranian police in combating the protests and accused protesters of sedition. At least 57 protesters were killed since the protests began after confrontations with Iranian security forces, but information has been limited due to disrupted and limited Internet access throughout the country.Arsalan Shahla, “Iran Launches Artillery Against Militants in Northern Iraq,” Bloomberg, September 24, 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-24/iran-launches-artillery-against-militants-in-northern-iraq; “Exclusive: IRGC Commanders’ Families Placed in Tehran ‘Safe House,” Iran Wire, September 26, 2022, https://iranwire.com/en/iran/107958-exclusive-irgc-commanders-families-placed-in-tehran-safe-house; “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.

Mirzaei’s division of the morality police was directly responsible for Amini’s death. Given this association, on September 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Mirzaei as an SDN for his acting on behalf of the LEF.“Treasury Sanctions Iran’s Morality Police and Senior Security Officials for Violence Against Protesters and the Death of Mahsa Amini,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 22, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0969M. The European Union followed suit, and on October 17, the EU added Mirzaei to its sanctions list for his role in the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to protests in Iran.“Iran: EU sanctions perpetrators of serious human rights violations,” Council of the European Union, October 17, 2022, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/10/17/iran-eu-sanctions-perpetrators-of-serious-human-rights-violations/.