Government senators question diplomatic push in wake of Iran 'eye-for-an-eye' human rights abuse

Asylum seekers: Iran's bald hypocrisy on human rights

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has described reports of an Iranian man being sentenced to eye-gouging under Islamic sharia law as "deeply concerning" amid warnings from pro-Israel government senators the case exposed shortcomings in Australia's quest to normalise ties with Iran.

Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights is highlighting the case of "Saman", whom Iran's Supreme Court has ruled must be gouged, as punishment for allegedly blinding another man in a street fight. Saman has argued he accidentally blinded the other man with a metal rod during their fight.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Fairfax Media that Australia has consistently urged Iran to improve its human rights record.
"These reports, if accurate, are another example of Iran's deeply concerning approach to human rights," the minister said.

"Australia raises issues of concern with Iran, including human rights, on a regular basis.  We have consistently urged progress on this front, both bilaterally and in relevant United Nations bodies."

On Wednesday, government senators Cory Bernardi and James Paterson expressed their concerns about Saman's case. Senator Bernardi questioned whether Australia should be cosying up to Iran.

"How can we justify opening diplomatic relations with a country that wants Israel destroyed, imprisons Christians and hangs people for being homosexual?" Senator Bernardi said.

"The world needs to wake up to the reality of what is happening in the Middle East."

"We should never turn a blind eye to such injustices," he added. 

Senator Paterson said it showed Iran had a long way to go before it would be "recognised and respected" in the international community.

"As Australia and other Western nations seek to normalise our relations with Iran, we cannot ignore its appalling record of human rights abuses and medieval justice," Senator Paterson said. 

Senators Paterson and Bernardi are staunch supporters of Israel. In his recent maiden speech, Senator Paterson called for Australia's embassy to be relocated to Jerusalem even though most countries base their embassies in Tel Aviv as an acknowledgment of the Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem. Senator Bernardi is also a strong critic of Islam.

Ms Bishop said Iran's human rights record is subject to scrutiny by the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation on Human Rights in Iran.  She reiterated that she raised human rights with her Iranian counterpart Dr Mohammed Javad Zarif during his historic visit to Australia a fortnight ago.

But in one of his final comments before departing Australia, Dr Zarif criticised as "unconscionable" Australia's human rights record because of the way it detains asylum seekers who travelled by boat, hundreds of whom are Iranians. He said Iran held concerns about the human rights records of governments that frequently criticise his own. This angered former cabinet ministers Eric Abetz and Phillip Ruddock who told News Corp Iran was in no position to lecture Australia.

The Coalition's primary interest in improving ties with Iran is about returning home failed asylum seekers who have travelled to Australia by boat. The government was optimistic in the lead-up to Dr Zarif's visit but was swiftly rebuffed.  A twin focus is trade and Australia will reopen an Austrade office in Iran from the second half of 2016.

But there are wider concerns across the Parliament about Australia's expanding relationship with Iran.  Earlier this month, the Senate quietly forced an inquiry into Australia's partial suspension of sanctions against Iran, even though it was in line with the rest of the world following the completion of an historic nuclear deal that restricted Iran's nuclear activity in return for the easing of international restrictions.

The Senate inquiry, which was established on March 17, came on the same day Dr Zarif became the first Iranian foreign minister since 2002 to visit Australia.

The Senate's foreign affairs committee will examine the "nature and scope" of public consultation prior to the softening of sanctions and the decision to reopen an Austrade office in Tehran.

The Labor Party was approached for comment about Saman's case but did not respond before deadline. The opposition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek has previously accused Ms Bishop of turning a blind eye to Iran's human rights records.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/government-senators-question-diplomatic-push-in-wake-of-iran-eyeforaneye-human-rights-abuse-20160329-gntmbx.html#ixzz44NAcoGTO

polite_gandalf wrote on Mar 30^th, 2016 at 7:35pm:


Good heavens, ten thousand Saudi students in Australia? What are we going to do with that lot when we ban them?

DENIED?

Somehow, I think they’ll get that other (but less popular) stamp:

APPROVED.

issuevoter wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2016 at 8:02am:


Saudi money has been pouring into the world's mosques and iniversiries so it will be interesting to see how Iran tries to match it.