IRANIAN PROTESTS

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. T.T. Ngo:

That this council—

1. Condemns the deadly and disproportionate use of force against protesters in Iran, following the tragic death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Jina (Mahsa) Amini;
2. Expresses concern at the disproportionate attacks on ethnic minorities in Kurdistan and the Baloch regions of Iran;
3. Supports the right of all people in Iran to protest peacefully and calls on Iranian authorities to exercise restraint and heed the call of protestors;
4. Supports the inherent right of the people of Iran to call for democracy in Iran;
5. Stands with women and girls in Iran in their struggle for equality and empowerment, and calls on Iranian authorities to cease its oppression of women and ethnic minorities; and
6. Expresses its commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s human rights, empowerment and ending violence against women and girls worldwide.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (20:10): On behalf of the Liberal Party, I rise today to speak on this motion.

On this side of the chamber, I would also like to acknowledge my Liberal colleagues, the Hon. Nicola Centofanti, the Hon. Michelle Lensink and the Hon. Laura Curran. We will all show our solidarity and the strong support of the Liberal Party of South Australia for this motion.

This motion calls on this parliament to condemn the deadly and disproportionate use of force against protesters in Iran, following the tragic death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Jina Mahsa Amini.

We have all been confronted by the horrifying circumstances of the death of this young woman. The news reported that Ms Amini died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran in suspicious circumstances on 16 September 2022.

Ms Amini was arrested by the religious morality police of Iran's government for not wearing the hijab in accordance with the Iranian government standards.

The authority attempted to cover up the cause of her death by stating that she had a heart attack at a police station, before transferring her to the hospital.

However, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Ms Amini, reported that Jina was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality, which was denied by the Iranian authorities.

The protest which began outside the hospital where Ms Amini died quickly spread to dozens of cities across the country and grew into something much, much larger through the international communities, including those in South Australia.

I was contacted by community leaders, including councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh OAM, Sahar Khajani, Suren Edgar, Shaza Ravaji, Rashanak Amrein and many other leaders, to raise awareness of the matter on 29 September 2022.

I issued a public statement the next day, published on my Facebook page, to show my support and the Liberal Party's support for the Iranian community in South Australia.

At that time, I was the first and only State Member of Parliament who had publicly acknowledged the matter.

At the time of issuing my statement, my office found no evidence of any other social post by any state government ministers on this matter.

I would like to put on the public record the statement I published on Friday 30 September 2022 on Facebook, to be included in my contribution today, as it is directly relevant to the motion.

The title is 'Statement of support for Iranian community':

The incidents of human rights violation that have unfolded in Iran have shocked us all, following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.

I join with the Iranian community in South Australia and Members of Parliament in Australia and around the world to express my deepest concerns and heartfelt condolences for the lives lost in the ongoing protests in Iran.

South Australians are standing in solidarity with the women-led movement in Iran and are calling for Iran to cease its oppression and stop the violation of human rights.

I fully support the United Nations statement that 'Iran must repeal all legislation and policies that discriminate on the grounds of sex and gender, in line with international human standards'.

Australia has always strongly supported the right to protest peacefully, and it is deeply troubling to hear reports of violence, internet restrictions and journalists being arrested in Iran.

South Australians are standing in solidarity with women and girls throughout Iran and around the world who are protesting for equality and empowerment, freedom of choice, freedom of speech and basic human rights for women.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian Australian community during these very traumatic and difficult times, and I will continue to work with my parliamentary colleagues to condemn the use of violence by the government of Iran.

That is the end of my official statement.

What started as a protest against the brutal treatment that led to Ms Amini's death, and the strict morality and clothing laws oppressing Iranian women, has grown into a worldwide movement calling for women's rights, human rights, dignity, freedom, democracy and the downfall of Iran's authoritarian clerical regime.

The Iranian authorities' response to the peaceful protests has been ruthless and unconscionable, with reports of indiscriminate violence, region-wide internet restrictions and wide-ranging arrests of protesters and journalists.

I join with the Iranian community in South Australia and members of parliament here in South Australia to express our deepest concerns and heartfelt condolences for the lives lost and imprisonment in the ongoing protests in Iran.

Human rights organisations in Iran estimate that between 200 and 300 people have been killed since the protests erupted a few months ago, with more than 15,000 Iranians arrested across the country.

Authorities have demanded harsh punishments for protesters whom they see as rioters and have tried to blame the civil unrest on foreign powers.

I am deeply disturbed by the latest news that Iran has issued the first death sentence over the protest, with the accused being sentenced by a Tehran court for the crimes of setting fire to a government building, disturbing public order, assembly and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security, as well as being an enemy of God and corruption on earth.

There are grave fears and concerns that this ruling is only the start with many more trials of those arrested yet to come.

The South Australian Liberal Party strongly condemns the use of force against peaceful protesters in Iran and calls for the Iranian government to cease its oppression and stop the violation of human rights.

We are standing in solidarity with the women-led movement in Iran and we strongly support the rights of Iranians to call for democracy, equality and empowerment, freedom of choice, freedom of speech and basic human rights for women and girls.

Recently, I was told by an Iranian community leader in South Australia that this feels like an historic moment in Iranian history and that for many Iranian Australians it is the first time in many years that they have felt proud to call themselves Iranian.

I learnt that many migrants in Australia have felt embarrassed and even ashamed of the policies and actions of the Iranian government and have preferred to identify as Persian so that they would not be associated with the regime in Iran.

However, they now feel great pride and power in this women's movement and the calls for democracy taking place in Iran, around the world and in South Australia.

The Iranian community wants everyone in the broader community to know that they are different, they are totally different, from the Iranian regime and government over there and do not accept the regime's policies and practices.

Iranians are standing up for their rights and freedoms as a people even in the face of unimaginable consequences.

I wish to acknowledge and thank all the Iranian community leaders, organisations and volunteers in South Australia who are adding their voice to the global call to support the women and people of Iran.

Thank you for your courage and persistence.

Today, I want to reassure you that this Parliament and the Liberal Party are standing shoulder to shoulder with you.