This comes from the Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement, Paul Monteiro:
FYI: The State Department just announced a new set of targeted sanctions in response to Iranian efforts to censor the free speech rights of the citizens of Iran.
Regards,
Paul
***
11/08/2012 01:48 PM EST
Designations of Iranian Individuals and Entities for Censorship
Activities Under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act
and Executive Order 13628
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson , Office of the Spokesperson
Department Spokesperson , Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 8, 2012
Today, the U.S. Department of State reported to the Congress the
designations of four Iranian individuals and five Iranian entities for
having engaged in censorship or other activities that prohibit, limit,
or penalize freedom of expression or assembly by
citizens of Iran, or that limit access to print or broadcast media,
including by jamming international satellite broadcasts into Iran, and
related activities. These actions were taken pursuant to Section 403 of
the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights
Act of 2012, signed by the President on August 10, 2012, and Executive
Order 13628, which
the President signed into effect on October 9,
2012. As a result of this action, U.S. persons are prohibited from
engaging in transactions involving the designated individuals or
entities, and all designated individuals and members of
designated entities are subject to a ban on travel to the United
States. This action also blocks, or freezes, the property and interests
in property of designated individuals or entities.
These actions underscore the Administration’s ongoing commitment to hold Iranian government officials and entities responsible for the abuses carried out against their own citizens. Those designated today include Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Reza Taghipour, who has been found responsible for ordering the jamming of satellite television broadcasts and restricting internet connectivity. Also sanctioned are Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and its Press Supervisory Board, which have limited freedom of expression through their censorship and closure of numerous newspapers and detention of journalists. In addition, we are designating key individuals and entities responsible for assisting the regime in its crackdown on and censorship of the Iranian people.
Such abuses demonstrate the Iranian Government’s ongoing campaign to censor its own citizens, curtail their freedoms, and to prevent the free flow of information both in to and out of Iran. Countless activists, journalists, lawyers, students, and artists have been detained, censured, tortured, or forcibly prevented from exercising their human rights. With the measures we are taking today, we draw the world’s attention to the scope of the regime’s insidious actions, which oppress its own people and violate Iran’s own laws and international obligations. We will continue to stand with the Iranian people in their quest to protect their dignity and freedoms and prevent the Iranian Government from creating an “electronic curtain” to cut Iranian citizens off from the rest of the world.
These actions underscore the Administration’s ongoing commitment to hold Iranian government officials and entities responsible for the abuses carried out against their own citizens. Those designated today include Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Reza Taghipour, who has been found responsible for ordering the jamming of satellite television broadcasts and restricting internet connectivity. Also sanctioned are Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and its Press Supervisory Board, which have limited freedom of expression through their censorship and closure of numerous newspapers and detention of journalists. In addition, we are designating key individuals and entities responsible for assisting the regime in its crackdown on and censorship of the Iranian people.
Such abuses demonstrate the Iranian Government’s ongoing campaign to censor its own citizens, curtail their freedoms, and to prevent the free flow of information both in to and out of Iran. Countless activists, journalists, lawyers, students, and artists have been detained, censured, tortured, or forcibly prevented from exercising their human rights. With the measures we are taking today, we draw the world’s attention to the scope of the regime’s insidious actions, which oppress its own people and violate Iran’s own laws and international obligations. We will continue to stand with the Iranian people in their quest to protect their dignity and freedoms and prevent the Iranian Government from creating an “electronic curtain” to cut Iranian citizens off from the rest of the world.
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