Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes with concern the long standing religious persecution of members of the Baha'i Faith in Iran;

(2) expresses alarm at the raids on Baha'i homes and businesses and the increase in court cases against Baha'is since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic;

(3) calls on the Iranian Government to ensure that Baha'is enjoy the same rights as other citizens and that their belief and practice are not criminalised;

(4) supports the 16 December 2020 resolution of the United Nations General Assembly which called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold the human rights of all its citizens;

(5) condemns the recent Iranian court judgments upholding the confiscation of homes and lands belonging to 27 Baha'is in the village of Ivel; and

(6) further calls on the Iranian judicial authorities to ensure that these lands and homes are restored to their rightful owners, and that no other Baha'i citizens have their properties confiscated due to their religion.

On behalf of the Baha'i community in Australia I move this private member's motion calling for an end to the systematic persecution of Baha'is in Iran. The freedom to practise one's chosen religion is a fundamental right that forms the core of our democratic beliefs in Australia. As we speak a bill guaranteeing religious freedom is about to be introduced into this parliament during the current session. Our society allows freedom of religion, free from persecution, intimidation and harassment. It is our sincere hope that international religious tolerance will spread like a light throughout the world. It is incumbent upon us as elected representatives in a free society to call upon foreign governments around the world, including in countries such as Iran, to respect freedom of religion and to allow their citizens to worship freely and peaceably with tolerance. In raising public awareness of this issue, it is hoped that world attention will be focused on addressing this grave injustice.

Baha'is have remained peaceful and active members of Iranian society. They pose no threat to the government. They are not aligned with any political ideology or opposition movement, nor do they engage in subversive activity or violence. Baha'is have turned to those legal recourses available to them and sought to create their own opportunities for education and economic growth despite efforts by authorities to deny their rights. Their response to persecution has been characterised as 'constructive resilience'.

Baha'is in Iran are frequently subjected to raids on their homes or workplaces, confiscation of property, arrests and long periods of solitary confinement and interrogation. They are tried on spurious charges—such as membership of an illegal organisation, acting against national security or propaganda against the regime—and sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years. Under the presidency of Hassan Rouhani, the Baha'i International Community documented at least 676 arrests of Baha'is and summons to prison. In the past year alone, there have been over 47 arrests. The law is being used to forcibly confiscate and sell the lands owned by Baha'is. Lands belonging to Baha'is in the provinces of Semnan, Roshankooh and Ivel have been confiscated. Additionally, since 2016 at least 491 Baha'i owned shops have been closed.

In moving this motion for an end to the systematic persecution of Baha'is by the government of Iran and, more broadly, an end to persecution of Baha'is by governments across the world, I urge all governments to consider the potential contributions that can be made to society by allowing Baha'is to freely practise their religion—free from persecution, intimidation and harassment. International monitoring constitutes a vital safeguard for the protection of Baha'is in the community. Whenever this issue is publicised, discussed in parliaments or raised with Iranian officials, it sends a signal to the Iranian government that it is being held to account for its actions. We call upon the Iranian government, specifically, to allow Baha'is to freely practise their faith, to not be subjected to arrests and imprisonment for their beliefs, to earn a livelihood, to access higher education and to not be subjected to hatred and discrimination as a result of misinformation about their beliefs.

There is a strong Baha'i community in Western Australia, in particular in the northern suburbs of Perth. I have been fortunate enough to meet many Baha'is living in my electorate and the surrounding suburbs. Through my association with the local Baha'i community over a number of years, I have observed its members as being peaceful, tolerant and family orientated. The religion could not be described as fundamentalist or extremist in nature. Rather, it is very moderate in its nature. As I have become more familiar with individual members and their local spiritual assembly, what greatly impresses me, generally, about the Baha'i community in Australia is the ability of its members to integrate and assimilate into Australian society. (Time expired)

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