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THE SENTENCING OF Bernard Phelan to 6.5 years in an Iranian jail on charges of ‘providing information to an enemy country’ has naturally come as a great worry to his family and close friends. The 64-year-old has already spent over 170 days locked up. His case is undoubtedly also cause for concern within the Irish Government.
Phelan’s arrest, detention and sentencing are typical of many foreign nationals in Iran, where the regime has used them as bargaining chips with respective governments.
It’s a business model that has served Tehran well since 1979, both domestically and by proxy in Lebanon during the 1980s. It comes at a time when the Iranian regime continues to oppress the nationwide protest movement.
The large-scale anti-government demonstrations by the Iranian diaspora throughout Europe and beyond highlight a unified and determined stance against vicious oppression.
Earlier this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation in a response to the “trampling of fundamental human rights”. Interestingly, the EU remains on the sidelines with a suspicion that proscription of the IRGC would kill off the small chance of reviving the Iran nuclear deal.
One of the most significant roles allocated to Ireland on the Security Council over the past two years was the facilitator of Resolution 2231, which underpins the Iranian nuclear deal, the JCPOA. Relations between Ireland and Iran appear stronger than many of our European neighbours. The leadership and experience displayed by Ireland in the recent two-year term of the UNSC are invaluable when understanding the mindset of the leadership in Iran.
With that in mind, there are areas in which Ireland could influence the EU and utilise relevant diplomatic channels for positive change:
i) Involve Iranian civil society in sanctions influencing and harm assessment processes
Because of the intensity of the current set of sanctions, Iranians abroad cannot send money back home. In addition, Iranian students studying abroad struggle as their parents cannot transfer their tuition fees. Some within the diaspora have developed a system whereby they send funds to the students, and their respective families channel money to the wider family in Iran.
With the constant devaluation of the Iranian rial and the inability to transfer money in or out of the country, the impact of sanctions on ordinary civilians is colossal.
Whilst ensuring a ‘do no harm’ approach, those leading on sanctions must have the complete picture. Targeted sanctions against individuals, particularly on regime members’ families overseas, can have a more desired effect. The international community should engage with civil society in Iran and develop a grassroots approach.
A recent proposal from US lawmakers will now target not only Iranian officials but their family members overseas. The Regime Act revokes any visas issued to family members of IRGC, the supreme leader’s office, and state security. This initiative by the US government follows from the targeted sanctions introduced to some members of the political elite in Lebanon. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the son-in-law of former Lebanese President Michel Aoun, for his role in corruption in Lebanon, (E.O. 13818), which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, targets corruption and serious human rights abuse around the world.
ii) Bolster the internet
Iran’s population of 84 million people relies hugely on the internet for uncensored news. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran controls the internet. In 2019, it blocked the entire internet for a lengthy period.
Earlier this year the regime ran a cyberspace protection act with restrictions completely blocking access to all websites excluding those hosted in Iran. Social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube, all remain blocked. The US government issued licence D-2 sanctions relief for American internet companies to help the Iranian people. To help Iranians circumvent internet restrictions imposed by the regime, the US has allowed Elon Musk to provide ‘Starlink’ satellite internet receivers. These have been carried in illegally over borders and provide some hope.
Up to 800 terminals are believed to be in use across Iran. In order to create a shadow web, experts estimate 5,000 units are required.
The EU has been playing its part too. Restrictive measures now apply to 164 individuals and 31 entities. They consist of an asset freeze, a travel ban to the bloc, and a prohibition to make economic resources available to those listed. A ban on exports to Iran of hardware, which might be used for internal repression, and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications, is also in place. Deployment of high technology is critical, as is the continuation of the D-2 sanctions relief by the US.
iii) Role of International organisations
Despite the limited information coming out of Iran, the media and international organisations, including international NGOs, must utilise their constituencies, ensuring a far greater level of advocacy than what we have seen to date.
The protest’s initial slogan ‘woman, life, freedom’ started as a response to the killing of Masha Amini, but now Iranians want freedom, a secular democracy, and an end to the Islamic Republic.
Horrific atrocities have been reported in recent months – many of them targeting girls in school. International organisations with rights based approaches, must support the bravery of those risking their lives on the streets of Izeh, Arak, and Ishfahan.
In the past, the international community’s direct interference in Iranian affairs has often been counterproductive. There would appear to be a fine balance between supporting the Iranian people and confronting a brutish regime. As a nation, we have the capability and maturity to make the correct calls. Irish influence in Brussels, combined with our recent experience on the UNSC, allows Ireland to help shape a safer future for the Iranian people.
As the protests appear to have died down for now, the Irish Government must stand in solidarity with ordinary Iranians and rule out any plan of reopening a full-time residential embassy in Tehran. This will need to be balanced with the fact that an innocent Irish national, in failing health, faces a lengthy prison term.
Colin Lee has lived and worked in Beirut for 14 years, 2007 – 2021 as a Humanitarian Director covering the Middle East region with programmes impacted by sanctions.
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Ireland should keep its nose out of other countries internal business.
That would be a good general rule to follow. I’m looking at you, USA.
@Ordinary Bloke: Yeah like when they helped bring about the Good Friday Agreement that practically ended sectarian terrorism and politically motivated murder on this island.
We have enough problems of our own that need fixing before we try to fix the the world. Seems many Irish including our elected officials forget their primary duty is to improve the lives of all Irish citizens and residents. This obligation is part of the Social Contract between the Irish government and the people.
@Don Hogan: Our government dont believe in Irish people and the idea of Ireland. It is a rock in the Atlantic that is home to the world.
It is not as if Ireland is a paradise of justice and equality. Ask anyone surviving in a tent for starters. The idea that Irish people can lecture anyone else on such matters is ludicrous. Is this part of a strategy to deflect from our own bad governance?
@Jim O’Sullivan: So true Jim. It seems we’ve forgotten when the Irish government shot and killed hundreds of us, injuring thousands, for protesting for basic living conditions. We’ve forgotten when the Irish government beat, shot and killed women for refusing to cover their hair.
Get a grip Jim.
@honey badger: Jim I don’t remember any of that. Killed hundreds.. when was that..
@Roger Bond: Look up Iranian protests. The mullahs crush dissent. Jim hasn’t a clue.
@Jim O’Sullivan: wow, you have zero clue if you think our Civil rights, justice and equality are in any way comparable to a country like Iran.
Try get outside your bubble.
@Ciaran Foster: And when did you last visit Iran?
Sanctions against civil society will hurt the very people who this gent supposedly wishes to help. Sanctions hurt ordinary citizens. Look at Syria as an example where the lives of ordinary people have been made intolerable by sanctions which unjustly leave them without necessities like basic medical equipment
@jim o’sullivan: for some reason I can’t reply directly to you.
Are you seriously suggesting that hundreds of Iranians haven’t been killed, with thousands injured for protesting ? That women aren’t being beaten, killed and imprisoned for not covering their hair?
Don’t bother replying. If I want to watch a clown I’ll go to the circus.
@honey badger: I do not know the full story about life in Iran, and I suspect neither do you. I do know what people are suffering here. I merely point out that it is hypocrisy, in such circumstances, to be lecturing others. As for the “clown” quip, maybe a trip to thew circus might be informative for you too.
@Jim O’Sullivan: If being a moral armadillo works for you then fair enough Jim.
@honey badger: Name calling usually indicates a windbag at work. The changes in civil society in Iran in recent decades has been impressive by any standard. Female students at third level now outnumber males. Tyrannical States tend not to educate those they wish to oppress.
@Jim O’Sullivan: you say yourself that you don’t know much about Iran. You then tell us the changes there are ‘impressive’. Keep up the good work.
@alan: Do you not have Google? Can I not pick and choose like everyone else? I am not advocating, like the author of the article seems to be doing, a campaign to change regime which will without doubt lead to the destruction of the country and many deaths. See Libya as an example.
have your say