Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters has today written to the Iranian Ambassador stating her political sponsorship of Shaghayegh Khademi and Mahya Vahedi.
Shaghayegh Khademi is a 23 year old who was abducted by security forces from her home in September 2022. After a 10 minute ‘trial’, in which she was not allowed a lawyer, she was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment.
Mahya Vahedi is a children’s and women’s rights activist. According to her brother, she was arrested at her workplace on 15 January 2023 with no explanation. Her whereabouts are still unknown, and Senator Waters’ letter includes a demand for information about her situation.
Their families and the Iranian diaspora in Australia are greatly concerned for both women, as Iranian authorities have continued to carry out executions of people who joined protests following Jina Mahsa Amini’s death.
The Australian Greens are calling on the Australian Government to do more than the current sanctions that are in place on some Iranian officials. The current sanctions do not go far enough and are not as strong as those imposed by other countries, including Canada.
The community is desperately calling for more to be done to show Iranian authorities that these abhorrent acts will not be tolerated.
Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women, Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Today I have written to the Iranian Ambassador, stating my political sponsorship of Shaghayegh Khademi and Mahya Vahedi.
“Shaghayegh is only 23 years old, and faces 16 years imprisonment after a trial that was conducted in just 10 minutes – with no lawyer present.
“Mahya is a children and women’s rights activist whose whereabouts remain unknown, since she was arrested with no explanation on 15 January 2023.
“We are in solidarity with protestors across Iran, and with all communities fighting for the rights of women. Until Iran is free, until women are free, we will join you and raise our voices until we are louder than the oppressors.
“The Australian Government’s response to Iran since Jina Mahsa Ahmini’s death in September 2022 has been too slow and has fallen short of what the community is asking for.
“The Australian Greens remain in solidarity with the women of Iran. We condemn the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters and request the release of all arrested protestors.
“The Australian Government must clearly express to the Iranian regime that they, and countries like them, will face consequences from the international community for allowing violence against women and minorities within their borders.
“We are calling for the Australian Government to expand the Magnitsky sanctions to include financial asset freezing and further visa bans on people linked to the Iranian regime including key security officials, Basiji Militia, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp and the morality police.”