In June this year, just a few weeks ago, the Rudd Government, advertised its latest solution to the asylum seeker problem, published a “Country Guidance Note” for Immigration Department officials assessing the claims of Iranian refugees, where the condition of human right and situation of political, social and religious repression in Iran was exposed.

According to ‘Country Guidance Note’ Iran’s human rights record, including its treatment of political and civil society activists and ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, continues to attract widespread criticism.

 

The government disproportionately targeted minority groups, including Kurds, Arabs, Azeris, and Baluchis, for arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, and physical abuse.

In April 2011, a number of anti-government protests by Ahwazi Arabs took place in Khuzestan. Iranian human rights activists reported that security forces used live ammunition and teargas against the protesters, killing and injuring several people.

An April 2009 report of the Danish fact-finding mission to Iran noted that in accordance with Shari’a law, apostasy is punishable by death or lifetime imprisonment.

Following the announcement of the 12 June 2009 presidential election results mass protests broke out throughout Iran. According to a range of sources, approximately 4000 to 5000 people were detained in the aftermath of the June 2009 protests. Iranian officials estimated that 36 people were killed during the post-election unrest, however, opposition and other sources put the figure of those killed by the security forces at over 70.

Following the post-June 2009 election protests, the authorities arrested politicians affiliated with the reform movement, human rights and student activists, writers, academics, lawyers who defended political detainees, journalists, bloggers and family members of high profile reformist or opposition politicians.

A number of sources interviewed by the Danish-Norwegian fact finding mission noted that the authorities had in the past, especially following the 2009 protests, put pressure on prominent political activists and “fugitives” through their families.

In February 2012, Amnesty International stated that failed asylum seekers risk arrest if they return to Iran, particularly if forcibly returned, where their asylum application is known to the authorities.

On 22 July, 2013 81 Iranians get the new message from the Immigration Department, ‘You will not settle in Australia’.