Australia Sanctions Five Iranian Officials Involved in Suppressing Protesters

On the second anniversary of Mahsa Zhina Amini's death in custody of the morality police, the Australian government imposed financial and travel sanctions against five senior security and law enforcement officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Penny Wong, the Australian Foreign Minister, announced on Monday, September 26, that the sanctioned individuals are among those officials of the Islamic Republic who "participated in the violent suppression of protests in Iran." Mahsa Zhina Amini, a 22-year-old girl from Saqqez, was arrested by the morality police in Tehran on September 22, 1401 (September 13, 2022) for what the police described as her "improper hijab," and her death was announced on September 25 after she was hospitalized in Tehran. In its statement on the second anniversary of Mahsa's death, the Australian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the human rights situation in Iran, especially for women and girls, is "dire." The statement noted that Islamic Republic officials have initiated a targeted campaign to enforce mandatory hijab laws through increased surveillance and harassment of women and girls in Iran. This refers to the government's efforts to finalize the so-called "Hijab and Chastity" law. The Australian Foreign Ministry added that Iranian women's rights activists remain imprisoned, and the issuance of death sentences continues. Australia advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Iran. Ms. Wong wrote that the new sanctions are a sign of the "government's commitment to holding Iran accountable for human rights violations and other destabilizing actions." She emphasized that Australia "stands with Iranian women and girls in their fight for equality and empowerment." With the newly announced sanctions, the Australian government has now imposed sanctions on 195 individuals and entities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, mainly security forces and the Revolutionary Guard. Meanwhile, the Australian opposition deemed the sanctions imposed by Anthony Albanese's government insufficient and called for the Revolutionary Guard to be placed on the terrorist list, similar to allied countries like Canada. According to Australian media, Simon Birmingham, the opposition spokesperson, said on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death that Iranian women and girls have shown courage in their ongoing struggle for basic human rights over the past two years, and Australia's actions should reflect this courage. Senator Birmingham emphasized the need for stronger actions through bipartisan support (coalition of government and opposition) for Iranians opposing the Islamic Republic living abroad. This opposition figure reminded that the Australian Senate, in its investigative report, recommended designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Thousands of Iranians residing in Australia held consecutive protests in various cities during the initial months of the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests, explaining the living conditions of people, especially women and girls in Iran, to Australian media. A truth-finding committee noted on the anniversary of Mahsa that the government has intensified its repression of women. Instances of harassment and intimidation of these opposition figures residing in Australia by agents close to the Islamic Republic have previously been reported in Australian media. On the second anniversary of Mahsa's death, several Iranians in Australia held protests in cities like Canberra, Sydney, and Adelaide. Australian media reported on Sunday that although global attention is focused on events like the Gaza war, the "quiet revolution" of the people in Iran continues, and many Iranians continue to defy the regime's oppressive laws. ABC Australia referred to the Islamic Republic of Iran as a government that fears its citizens. This report mentioned the imprisonment of artists like Saman Saidi, a Kurdish rapper known as Saman Yasin, and Tomaj Salehi. ABC Australia emphasized that the UN truth-finding committee regarding the protests of the past two years has also concluded that the Islamic Republic of Iran is using the death penalty in an "unprecedented" manner to intimidate its people. Ladan Boroumand, a prominent human rights activist residing in France, told ABC Australia that the sanctions from this country and the international community are insufficient in confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran.