Support the People of Iran

Human beings are members of a whole,

In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you shall not retain.

Saadi — 13th century Persian poet

Read “An Open Letter to the Australian People” on the back page
 An Open Letter to the People of Australia
What has happened in Iran?
Last week Iranians turned out in record numbers to change their current
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They were tired of an increasingly delusional
President who has thrown their country into economic turmoil and portrayed
them as a conflict-seeking nation.
For years, the Iranian regime has confronted the world, denied its citizens
human rights, stifled democracy in the region and denied the Holocaust. The
same regime has now blatantly denied the will of its people by committing
massive election fraud. The Iranian government is arresting journalists,
activists and opposition leaders and has expelled all foreign media from the
country. Accepting this deception will be costly not only for the people of Iran
but also for the whole world, with far reaching consequences for Australia.
As you read these words, the people in Iran have taken to the streets in
nationwide protests. Despite brutal government suppression, the Iranian people
are courageously fighting for their rights. As anti-riot police batons crush the
bones of demonstrators and paramilitary militia kill students from rooftops with
snipers, Iranians need the world to hear them: We denounce Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad and his government.
Why should Australia be involved?
The people of Iran now ask for your support. We do not expect you to fight our
struggle but ask you to help us fight it. We need Australians to put pressure on
their government not to accept the legitimacy of the Iranian elections.
Australia has fought for the same universal human rights throughout its proud
history. From the Eureka Stockade which gave birth to democracy in Australia,
to becoming only the second country in the world to grant women the right to
vote, to the trenches of Gallipoli and the Second World War that put down
Nazism and Fascism, Australia has proven its commitment to defend the values
that Iranians are fighting for today. Any government that accepts Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad as the president of Iran has betrayed the Iranian people,
endangered world peace, and has no sympathy for human pain.
What can I do?
Please write a letter or call the office of Foreign Minister Stephen Smith or
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and let them know that you expect the Australian
government 1) to not recognise Ahmadinejad as the president of Iran, 2) to not
recognise the legitimacy of this election, 3) to condemn killing innocent
students and protesters on the streets and 4) to recall its ambassador to Tehran
as a sign of protest.
PM Kevin Rudd Hon. Stephen Smith
PO Box 6022 PO Box 6022
House of Representatives House of Representatives
Parliament House Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600 Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7700 Tel: (02) 6277 7500