Overview

Hossein Sajedinia is the U.S.-designated deputy operations commander of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF). On October 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Sajedinia as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for acting on behalf of the LEF to suppress dissent throughout Iran and engaging in serious human rights abuses.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran.

Sajedinia is a veteran law enforcement official, having formerly served as the deputy chief of Iran’s national police and then the LEF police chief in Tehran from February 22, 2010, until August 7, 2017. Following his tenure as police chief in Tehran, he was appointed to LEF’s deputy operations commander.“General Rahimi Appointed as Tehran’s New Police Chief: Spokesman,” Tasnim News Agency, August 7, 2017, https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/08/07/1485688/general-rahimi-appointed-as-tehran-s-new-police-chief-spokesman; “Sajedinia appointed Tehran police chief,” Tehran Times, February 22, 2010, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/214618/Sajedinia-appointed-Tehran-police-chief. The LEF is tasked with subduing protests in Iran and is notorious for using violence against protestors which has resulted in thousands of deaths. “Treasury Sanctions Iranian Leaders Responsible for Internet Shutdown and Violent Crackdown on Peaceful Protests,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0994.

On April 12, 2011, while serving as the head of Tehran’s police, the European Union sanctioned Sajedinia for his role in coordinating repression operations in Tehran at the behest of the Ministry of the Interior.“COUNCIL DECISION 2011/235/CFSP of 12 April 2011concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran,” Office Journal of the European Union, April 12, 2011, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32011D0235. Sajedinia has enforced the hardline criteria endorsed by the Islamic Republic, and on April 18, 2016, Sajedinia announced the deployment of over 7,000 male and female undercover morality police officers to identify and punish dress code offenders. According to Sajedinia, the undercover officers would meet strict criteria and would operate under the full supervision of the police department and the police would coordinate all the force's activities with the judiciary.“Hossein Sajedi Nia,” Iranian Regime Frauds Manipulations Atrocities Threats, https://www.ifmat.org/11/29/hossein-sajedi-nia; Arash Karami, “Tehran police chief defends new undercover morality police force,” Al-Monitor, April 21, 2016, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2016/04/iran-undercover-police-force-poor-veiling-tehran.html#ixzz7hieOxEj7.

According to the EU, Sajedinia endorsed the arrest of people who posted photos online that were not in compliance with the country’s dress code. In one instance, Sajedinia imprisoned women who posted photos of themselves without their hijab.“Hossein Sajedi Nia,” Iranian Regime Frauds Manipulations Atrocities Threats, https://www.ifmat.org/11/29/hossein-sajedi-nia. Given Sajedinia’s strict stance on the dress code and the LEF’s violent history regarding dress code offenders, on December 31, 2020, the U.K. enforced sanctions against Sajedinia.“CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK,” Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury, October 10, 2022, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1110024/Iran__Human_Rights_.pdf.

The LEF are one component of Iran’s extensive security apparatus, which among others, 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.“Iran-related Designations and Designation Update; Non-Proliferation Designation Update; Burma-related Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221006. 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 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. On September 22, the IRGC issued a statement of support for Iranian police in combating the protests and accused protesters of sedition. At least 201 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,” September 24, 2022, Bloomberg, 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; Parisa Hafezi, “Iranians keep up protests over Mahsa Amini death despite mounting fatalities,” Reuters, October 12, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranians-keep-up-protests-over-mahsa-amini-death-despite-growing-death-toll-2022-10-12.

Given that the LEF is the main agency responsible for cracking down on and suppressing protestors, on October 6, 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Sajedinia as an SDN for acting on behalf of the LEF.“Iran-related Designations and Designation Update; Non-Proliferation Designation Update; Burma-related Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221006.