Judi Moylan (Pearce, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank my colleague the member for Cook for moving this motion and giving me as well as the member for Calwell an opportunity to express some concerns. I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Baha’i community in my electorate not so long ago. I think it is of great concern, as the member for Cook said, that certain religions are officially allowed to be practised in Iran but that even for those people practising religion is a very risky business. For those who are not followers of approved religions the risks are of course much higher. The discrimination against the Baha’is is a particularly alarming example of concerning attitudes toward minorities in Iran.

The Baha’i community has told us of increases in oppression and state condoned cruelty since the change of government took place. Reports included attacks by unidentified assailants, vandalism and destruction of holy sites and the government confiscation of property, and these are in addition to the Baha’is being denied equal rights to work and basic standards of living. They are even unable to access employment benefits or pensions. The concerns are great, and the Australian government remains seriously concerned by the rising rate of human rights abuses taking place in Iran. Iran is a great and ancient nation, so I am sure it must be of concern to many of the people there as well.

The Australian government continues to urge Iran to do more to promote and protect the human rights of its people. There is particular concern about the ongoing harassment, intimidation and persecution of all religious and ethnic groups, including groups not recognised under the Iranian constitution. Australia has a strong track record of standing up for the rights of persecuted groups in Iran and it remains active in making representations to Iran on a range of human rights issues as well as on individual cases of concern.

In December 2005 Australia cosponsored a UN General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. The resolution expressed serious concern at the continuing discrimination in Iran against ethnic and religious minorities recognised or otherwise under the Iranian constitution. Further, the cosponsored resolution made specific mention of human rights violations against the followers of the Baha’i faith, including the denial of freedom of religion, destruction of sites of religious importance and the suspension of social, educational and community related activities. In line with the United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/171, Australia calls on Iran to eliminate in law and in practice all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds.

Iran’s treatment of minority groups has been highlighted as unsatisfactory by successive UN reports. A recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief indicated that Iranian authorities were stepping up their persecution of the Baha’i community, hence the visit to my electorate by Baha’i representatives in Australia, and I am sure they have visited many other members of parliament with their concerns for their families and friends who remain in Iran. In 2005 the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing concluded that land confiscation by the Iranian government disproportionately impacted on the land and property of minorities.

I would also like to support the words of the member for Calwell in relation to women. I think there remain particular concerns for the plight of women in Iran. We call on the Iranian government to make some important changes to ensure that the rights of all people, particularly those of different ethnicity and different religions, be respected.

See this speech in context