Canberra complains of ‘harassment’ to Iranian-Australians

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Canberra on Wednesday alleged “harassment” of Iranian-Australians and conveyed Australia’s “concerns over foreign interference” to Tehran.

“We will not tolerate surveillance or harassment of Iranian-Australians,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said during a telephone call with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

“We (will) employ every strategy at our disposal - including dialogue - towards upholding human rights, consistent with our values and with our interests,” she wrote on Twitter.

The contact between Canberra and Tehran comes “months after” Wong “requested a call with Iran's foreign minister.”

Regarding protests in Iran, Wong said: “I directly expressed Australia’s condemnation of Iran’s brutal crackdown on protests, execution of protesters and oppression of women and minorities.”

“Australia stands with the people of Iran,” she added.

Iran witnessed nationwide protests last year that was triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in police custody in September. The demonstrations led to thousands of arrests.

At least 200 people were killed in the unrest, according to officials. Western human rights groups, however, have put the toll at more than 500.

More than one dozen protesters were sentenced to death. Four have already been executed.