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Source: Hansard, legislative council
I rise on behalf of the opposition to support the motion moved by the Hon. D.N. Winderlich that the council notes serious concerns about the Baha'i community and to move this amendment. As members would be aware, it is always the opposition's practice to contact our federal colleagues when it comes to matters to do with international affairs and foreign policy and, thankfully, we were able to get some response, notwithstanding that they have been a little distracted. I did ask for this advice before they were distracted earlier this week to make sure we were all singing from the same hymn sheet.
Members would be aware that the Baha'is were founded in 1844 and that the Baha'i faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its second largest population exists in Iran, with roughly 350,00 people. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, the Baha'i community has suffered from the effects of a systematic campaign orchestrated by the Iranian government. The government's aim is to eliminate the Baha'i community as a viable entity in Iran, despite Iran being the birthplace of the faith.
The Baha'is are not permitted to meet, to hold religious ceremonies or to practise their religion communally. Holy places, shrines and cemeteries have been confiscated and demolished and, according to Amnesty International, hundreds of Baha'is have been executed for refusing to recant their faith and embrace Islam. Since the election of President Ahmadinejad in 2005, dozens more have been arrested.
Among those who have recently been arrested are seven leaders of the Baha'i organisation known as Friends of Iran. The organisation is believed to have served as an ad hoc coordinating body representing Baha'is in Iran, apparently to the full knowledge of the Iranian government. Recently, however, the government has labelled the organisation illegal and arrested its seven leaders, one in March 2008 and other six in May 2008. They are expected to go on trial shortly on charges of espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the system.
Amnesty International considers the charges to be politically motivated and those held to be prisoners of conscience detained solely because of their conscientiously held beliefs for their peaceful activities on behalf of the Baha'i community. It is reported that the seven were not granted access to their lawyers, and the defence lawyers were not provided with notice of trial, as required under Iranian law, and it is further reported that the imprisoned have been tortured.
I have also had the pleasure of attending a Baha'i function and exhibition at the Immigration Museum and certainly was delighted to learn a little more about the Baha'i faith and the members of the Baha'i community here in South Australia. Its important that parliaments such as ours endorse these motions so that the communities here know we are thinking about their countrymen who are in difficult circumstances at the moment and that we also send a message to other parliaments and other countries around the world that we are not just sitting idly and watching this happen by without some comment and indicating our displeasure at what is happening in Iran. With those few words, I ask the council to support my amendment.
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