The Iranian community in Brisbane has been organising protests at least every week in the past 2 months, in solidarity with the democratic uprising in Iran.
At least 500 people joined the protest, organised by the Iranian Society of Queensland, Iranian Freedom Movement – Queensland and Iranian Australian Uprising Group, on November 19, the third anniversary of a massacre in which more than 1500 people were killed by the regime in 10 days of protests. It was called “Bloody November”.
After listening to speakers, including Greens MP for Griffith, Max Chandler-Mather and Dr Kamala Emanuel from Socialist Alliance, the protest marched through the streets.
Chandler-Mather’s call for the federal government to offer permanent protection to Iranian refugees, instead of visas for officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran, was enthusiastically received.
max_chandler-maher_at_iran_rally.jpeg
Emanuel acknowledged the movement “is a struggle for woman, life and freedom being led by women”.
It is no surprise, Emanuel said, that the movement for women’s liberation, sparked by the death of Jîna Mahsa Amini, “has become the spearhead of the movement for democratisation”.
“It is not only for freedom of clothing choice and women’s dignity, it is about democracy and the liberation of the whole society.”
Emanuel also warned of the danger that the United States and its allies will “try to use this crisis to orchestrate an outcome in its own interests”.
She said the world is so close to “World War III — whether from flashpoints in China, Russia or Iran” and that Socialist Alliance affirms that real democracy in Iran will only come from “genuine peace and justice”.
“The silence of many international governments and organisations is deafening,” the Freedom Movement said. “The Australian government seems not to have heard our voices yet.”
kamala_emanuel_at_iran_rally_.jpeg
The Iranian Freedom Movement wants the federal government and international community “to acknowledge the massacre of November 2019 and call upon the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to hold an independent investigation”.
It also wants Iran to be pressured to abolish capital punishment and stop the executions of more recent prisoners.
“We further request that the international community and companies help Iranians access free and uncensored internet … Australia can act by urgently asking for the release of political prisoners and those who have been arrested forcefully and without due process in the past months,” the movement said.
It is calling on the federal Labor government to: expel the Islamic Republic ambassador and officials; deny visas to all Islamic Republic officials, relatives and proxies to enter Australia; investigate the Islamic Republic’s financial and money-laundering networks; identify and freeze assets held by Islamic Republic officials and their proxies; enact Magnitsky-style sanctions against those who violate human rights; and remove the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women.