Iran: We Informed Australia About the Hostage-Taker's Psychological Conditions

On Monday, December 15, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the hostage-taking incident in Sydney, Australia, stating that the background and psychological conditions of the Iranian hostage-taker, who had sought asylum in Australia nearly two decades ago, had been repeatedly discussed with Australian officials. Mohammad Hassan Manteqi, a 50-year-old Iranian refugee in Australia, took dozens of people hostage at the 'Lindt' café in Sydney on Monday. He was killed early Tuesday following a police raid on the café, along with two hostages. Marzieh Afkhami, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, described Islam as a 'merciful religion' and stated, 'Resorting to inhumane methods and creating terror and fear in the name of Islam is never justifiable.' According to the IRNA news agency, she also mentioned that 'the background and psychological conditions of this Iranian individual, who had sought asylum in Australia nearly two decades ago, had been repeatedly raised with Australian officials, and his situation was completely clear to the authorities of this country.' The spokesperson expressed surprise at what she called 'the dissemination of inaccurate and incomplete news regarding this Iranian refugee.' In this context, IRNA reported that the hostage-taker, who sought asylum in Australia in 1996, was one of the 'extremist Takfiri figures and supporters of Al-Qaeda and ISIS.' Previously, AFP reported, citing 'Channel 10' in Australia, that Mohammad Hassan Manteqi had requested to be given the flag of the Islamic State group. Australian media reported that the police identified Mohammad Hassan Manteqi as someone with multiple criminal records in Australia. He referred to himself as 'Sheikh Haroun' and wore Shia clerical clothing but later converted to Sunni Islam. According to reports, he had written hateful letters to the families of several Australian soldiers killed in the Middle East seven years ago, which drew police attention to him. He was also accused last year of involvement in the murder of his ex-wife, who was stabbed to death and her body burned. Reports indicate that the hostage-taking incident by Mohammad Hassan Manteqi occurred after he failed in his last attempt to be acquitted in the High Court of Australia on Friday. According to the Australian newspaper The Age's website, he was also accused of approximately 50 counts of sexual assault. The hostage situation at the 'Lindt' café in Sydney ended with a police raid. The hostage-taker was identified as a 'self-proclaimed Iranian cleric.'