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

On behalf of the Baha'i community in Australia, I'm happy to have seconded this private members' motion calling for an end to the systematic persecution of Baha'is in Iran. The Baha'i faith is considered the second-largest religion in Iran, after Islam. According to the United Nations there are an estimated 350,000 adherents of the Baha'i faith in Iran and an estimated five million followers worldwide.

The freedom to practise one's chosen religion is a fundamental right that forms the core of our democratic beliefs in Australia. Our society allows freedom of religion free from persecution, intimidation and harassment. It is our sincere hope that the international religious tolerance movement 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 countries such as Iran, to respect the freedom of religion and allow their citizens to worship 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.

Currently in Iran Baha'is are barred from holding government jobs and their shops and other enterprises are routinely closed by officials at all levels. The youth in the Baha'i community are also persecuted, prevented from attending university and, as volunteer educators, have been arrested and imprisoned. In 2022 alone there have been over 30 arrests on account of their faith in various cities throughout Iran. In August this year, authorities bulldozed six Baha'i houses and confiscated more than 20 hectares of land in the Mazandaran province in northern Iran. Earlier this month Iran stepped up its actions against the Baha'i community, arresting 12 citizens. This has been condemned by global rights groups.

In supporting 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 practice their religion, free from persecution, intimidation and harassment. International monitoring constitutes a vital safeguard for the protection of the Baha'i 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.

The Australian government has repeatedly raised concerns with Iran in Canberra, with Tehran and through multilateral forums. As a nation we are a co-sponsor of the annual United Nations General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. In addition, Australia co-sponsors the Human Rights Council resolution, extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran. In December last year there was a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the harassment and discrimination of Baha'is in Iran.

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 also in the surrounding suburbs. Through my association with the local Baha'i community over a number of years, I have observed its members to be very peaceful, tolerant and family oriented. The religion could hardly be described as fundamentalist or extremist in nature. Rather, it is very moderate. As I have become more familiar with individual members of the local spiritual assembly, what greatly impresses me generally about the Baha'i community is the ability of its members to integrate and assimilate into Australian society by fully and actively participating in the development and advancement of our nation through higher education and their professional careers in fields such as business, engineering, medicine and academia.

See this speech in context