An Iranian-Kiwi is disappointed with the Government's travel ban announcement on Iranian security force members saying it doesn't go far enough.
The Government announced on Monday 22 members of the Iranian security forces had received travel bans following the death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, 22, and the "violent" response to subsequent protests.
Amini died on September 16 in police custody after she was arrested by Iran's morality police for flouting the strict hijab policy, which requires women to dress modestly and wear headscarves.
Nationwide unrest has rocked Iran since her death and several Iranians have been sentenced to death by execution during the protests.
New Zealand has previously suspended its human rights dialogue with Iran and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also signed a letter calling for Iran to be removed from the United Nations rights body the Commission on the Status of Women.
But Iranian Women in New Zealand founder and chairperson Forough Amin told AM on Monday the Government's announcement was "disappointing".
"I'm sorry to say that it's been very disappointing to see this announcement and I've been using this word disappointing several times in the last few months in regards to the actions taken or not taken by our Government," Amin told AM co-host Ryan Bridge.
She said the Government is already far behind its partners and allies. On Saturday, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Government would place targeted sanctions on Russia and Iran in response to what it called "egregious" human rights violations.
Wong said in a statement Australia was imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions on 13 individuals and two entities, including Iran’s Morality Police and Basij Resistance Force, and six Iranians involved in the crackdown on protesters.
Amin believes the Government is being "too cautious".
"But can I just add something, this revolution is continuing and the victory is going to be for our people no matter which country does what. But it's important to stand on the right side of history and to support freedom and democracy," she said.
Amin said the sanctions won't work as none of the high-ranking officials would've come to New Zealand anyway.
"The problem is the travel ban, this measure is not comprehensive or inclusive because it doesn't include any other forms of sanction and the travel ban on very high-ranking officials is not going to work. They are not going to travel to New Zealand," she said.
Amin told AM the sanctions should've gone further by targeting family members and asset freezing.
"What's happening is that the regime is carrying out its plot and its illegal activities through middle-rank officials and also through families and those affiliated with those high-ranking officials," she said.
"So if we want it to be working to be meaningful, it needs to be inclusive of those people as well and also, it should come with asset freezing and some forms of financial sanctions."
Watch the full interview with Forough Amin above.
