Teals Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniel have called on the federal government to urgently list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Wentworth MP Spender and Goldstein MP Daniel noted that United Action for Iran, a coalition of around 700 Iranian-Australian community members and 19 organisations, have previously referred to Iran as “the world’s pre-eminent sponsors of terrorism” and to the IRGC as the state’s “main arm in carrying out such activities”.
They noted that last year, a Senate committee concluded that the IRGC was “clearly a facilitator and promoter of terrorism”.
Following the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protests in 2022 and 2023, the two MPs last year joined protesters outside Parliament House, calling out the appalling treatment of women and girls in the country.
However, despite international condemnation, the dangerous behaviour of the Iranian government has continued both at home and abroad.
“The Iranian government recently launched a significant drone and missile attack on Israel, and they have also been a key sponsor of terrorist groups including the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas – whose October 7 attacks killed more Jews than on any day since the Holocaust.
“Israelis and Palestinians alike are still suffering the terrible repercussions of that attack.”
Noting Canada recently joined the US in listing the IRGC as a terror organisation, they said it was time for Australia to do the same.
A ban would be in line with a report of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, which last year recommended that “the Australian government take the necessary steps to formally categorise the IRGC as an organisation involved in supporting and facilitating terrorism”.
The MPs said the listing “would send a strong and important message of Australia’s commitment to fighting terrorism at home and abroad.
Amongst other impacts, it would enable Australian law enforcement “to prohibit anyone in Australia from sending funds or other support to the IRGC”.
Spender and Daniel’s call follows last month’s urging by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council for the IRGC to be listed as terrorists.
Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert, wrongfully imprisoned in Tehran for more than two years, told The AJN last week she hopes Canada’s decision “will create momentum here in Australia”.
Source » australianjewishnews