Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in solidarity with the women of Iran. Since the brutal death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in custody after being detained by the country's morality police, protests have erupted across the country. The people of Iran, led by incredibly brave women who have taken to the streets in defiance of their government and its laws that require them to wear coverings on their head and to wear loose clothing, are fighting back. They are fighting for their basic human right: the right to choose. As they're fighting, they're taking off their hijabs and burning them. They're even cutting off their hair in solidarity. The chants at the rallies declare, 'We'll support our sisters and women, life and liberty.' These protests are unprecedented. But they are also, sadly, being met with military force and casualties, many of which are not reported. The violence must stop and the oppression must stop.

I stand with the brave women and girls in Iran. Women and girls rights are human rights, and they must be universal. All women and girls deserve to be respected and to live free from violence and oppression, whatever country they come from. I stand in solidarity with the women and girls in Iran and across the globe who are fighting for their fundamental rights. Thank you to those brave women and girls for fighting for the rights of all our daughters and of girls everywhere.