{"id":77453,"date":"2025-08-16T09:25:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T07:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?p=77453"},"modified":"2025-08-16T09:40:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T07:40:13","slug":"nsw-parliament-hosts-conference-in-australia-on-irans-1988-massacre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/1988-massacre\/2025\/08\/nsw-parliament-hosts-conference-in-australia-on-irans-1988-massacre\/77453\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW Parliament Hosts Conference in Australia on Iran\u2019s 1988 Massacre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"NSW
NSW Parliament Hosts Conference on Iran\u2019s Repression and Resistance \u2013 August 7, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the 37th anniversary of the 1988 mass executions, NSW lawmakers and community leaders gather to highlight ongoing human rights struggles and resistance in Iran<\/h3>\n

Earlier, a brief report<\/a> about this session was shared; the following is a full account of the conference held on 7 August 2025 at the Jubilee Room of the New South Wales Parliament.<\/p>\n

The session, titled Iran: Repression, Resistance, and Global Consequences<\/em>, marked the 37th anniversary of the mass execution<\/a> of over 30,000 political prisoners in the summer of 1988. It was initiated by Ms. Sonya Hornery, Deputy Speaker of the New South Wales Parliament (Labor), and Ms. Jackie Munro, Shadow Assistant Minister for Communications (Liberal), in collaboration with other community advocates.<\/p>\n

Prior to introducing the official speakers, the session was managed by Mr. Peter Murphy<\/strong>, Co-Chair of the Australia-Iran Democracy Support Group, who expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and the families of the victims. He highlighted the need for an immediate halt to all executions in Iran, emphasizing that the current regime openly threatens to repeat the 1988 massacre<\/a> amid rising domestic unrest. He also urged global lawmakers to support the ten-point plan<\/a> of the National Council of Resistance of Iran<\/a> proposed decades ago by Maryam Rajavi<\/a>, and especially following the Free Iran<\/em> summit in Rome the previous week.<\/p>\n

Speakers included:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Ms. Sonya Hornery<\/strong>, Deputy Speaker of the New South Wales Parliament<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Ms. Jackie Munro<\/strong>, Shadow Assistant Minister for Arts, Innovation, Digital Government, and 24-Hour Economy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Dr. Joseph Hugh McDermott<\/strong>, Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General of NSW<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Cameron Murphy<\/strong>, Deputy Party Whip of the Government in the NSW Parliament<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Niloufar Shakiba<\/strong>, representing the Iranian Women\u2019s Association of Australia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The session was attended by heads and representatives of human rights organizations, including Rev. Bill Crozier, founder of a charity, Alopi Lakatofa, Director of the Global Centre for Social Justice and representative of Human Rights Watch Australia, directors of Iranian community councils in NSW, and a number of Iranian-Australian activists in Sydney.<\/p>\n

    Ms. Sonya Hornery<\/strong> spoke about her experiences attending conferences in Paris and meeting Mrs. Maryam Rajavi<\/a>, expressing admiration for the global commitment to democracy in Iran. She reflected on her lack of awareness of the horrors of 1988 at the time and stressed the importance of raising public awareness in Australia about repression against Iranian women, political prisoners, and citizens seeking freedom.<\/p>\n

    Ms. Jackie Munro<\/strong> highlighted a ten-point plan by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, noting that two years prior the NSW Parliament had unanimously recognized this plan. She emphasized that Iranians deserve the same fundamental freedoms as everyone else, as articulated in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.<\/p>\n

    Dr. Joseph Hugh McDermott<\/strong> underlined the importance of remembering the 30,000 victims of the 1988 massacre, stating that political prisoners stood for democracy and freedom in Iran. He criticized Western governments\u2019 appeasement policies toward the Iranian regime and expressed optimism that Iran would eventually achieve a democratic future.<\/p>\n

    Cameron Murphy<\/strong> affirmed that every effort must be made to support a free and democratic Iran, describing it as a struggle for justice, humanity, and the rights of the Iranian people.<\/p>\n

    Niloufar Shakiba<\/strong>, on behalf of the Iranian Women\u2019s Association of Australia, emphasized Iran\u2019s record-high execution rates and warned that global silence risks a repetition of atrocities like the 1988 massacre. She noted that recent widespread uprisings in Iran demonstrate a clear demand for regime change and called on the Australian Foreign Minister to condemn recent executions and halt further killings.<\/p>\n

    An exhibition honoring the 30,000 political prisoners executed in 1988, as well as recent arrests and executions, was held alongside the session.<\/p>\n