Australian Senator Raff Ciccone, Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security and a co-sponsor of a bipartisan Senate motion condemning Iran’s crackdown on protests, said Australia was standing firmly with the people of Iran.
The Australian Senate on Thursday approved the motion, which cited killings, mass arrests and internet blackouts imposed on civilians during protests that began in late December. It also acknowledged the distress of Iranian-Australians unable to contact relatives in Iran.
In an interview with Iran International, Ciccone said the vote sent a clear message of unity across Australia’s political spectrum.
“Earlier today in the Australian Senate, myself and a number of other senators across the political spectrum came together in a sign of unity and national bipartisanship to send a very strong message that Australia and the Australian Senate stands very closely with the people of Iran,” he said.
The motion called on the Albanese government to work with international partners, including the United Nations, to support independent investigations into human rights violations, press for accountability, expand targeted sanctions and push for an end to violence and communications restrictions.
Ciccone’s comments followed new Australian sanctions imposed earlier this week on 20 individuals and three entities linked to Iran’s security apparatus.
“Since 28 December last year, the Iranian regime has responded to peaceful protests with extraordinary and horrifying violence against its own people,” Ciccone said, adding that authorities had tried to conceal the crackdown through internet and telecommunications blackouts.
He said his office had received hundreds of calls and emails from members of the Iranian-Australian community worried about family and friends.
“Members of the Australian Iranian community have watched these events unfold with profound anguish,” he said.
Ciccone urged Iranian authorities to halt attacks on civilians and said Australia would not stay silent.
“The attacks that are occurring on citizens has to stop, has to stop immediately,” he said. “Australia is very much by your side.”
