Opposition leader Angus Taylor has sought to clarify remarks he made on the weekend in which he suggested Iran is a "bad country", following backlash from the Iranian Australian community.
On Sunday, during an interview with ABC's Insiders, in response to a question about his recently announced migration policy, Taylor said that "there is a higher risk that some bad people come from those bad countries".
Pressed on which countries he considered "bad", he pointed to Iran.
"We've seen bad countries around the world. I mean, the claim that Iran is a good country right now? Seriously?" he said.
These remarks have been criticised by members of the Iranian Australian community, with some writing letters to the Opposition leader seeking further clarification.
On Tuesday, the Australian Iranian Community Organisation asked Taylor to "publicly clarify" his position.
'Controlled by a fanatical death cult'
In response, Taylor sent SBS News a statement criticising the Iranian regime.
"The Iranians I speak to are heartbroken about what this murderous regime has done to their country," Taylor said.
"An estimated 30,000 innocent Iranians were murdered by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) in recent months, simply for calling for change and a better future for Iran."
Iran's January protests were the deadliest crackdown by the Iranian authorities in decades, according to Amnesty International. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says at least 7,000 people were killed, with another 11,700 suspected deaths under investigation.
Taylor added that "Iran is a country controlled by a fanatical death cult" and pointed out the federal government's announcement in August that the regime had orchestrated two antisemitic attacks in Australia.
"The Iranian people have no freedom," Taylor said.
"For decades, they have been imprisoned without trial, beaten, tortured and slaughtered.
"The Iranian people are a great people, but under this regime, it is not a safe, fair or free country."
'Mischaracterising' Iranians
Following Taylor's comments on Sunday, Iranian Australians urged the Opposition leader to distinguish the regime from the community.
The Australian Iranian Community Organisation's letter to Taylor, shared with SBS News, states that "Iranian Australians have actively advocated for firm measures to hold the regime accountable and to protect Australia’s national security interests".
"Many in our community have also consistently called for an end to the Islamic Republic regime and support a transition to a secular, democratic system in Iran. This reflects not only strong opposition to the regime but also a shared commitment to democratic values, freedom, and stability," the organisation wrote.
"Generalised remarks, even if unintended, risk mischaracterising our community and may contribute to misunderstanding or exclusion.
"Our community strongly identifies with Australian values, including the importance of upholding national security."
The Opposition leader's comments on Sunday have also been criticised by other community organisations.
Lebanese Muslim Association spokesperson Gamel Kheir accused the Liberal Party of backing a "racism policy".
"We're not going to be your scapegoats, your failed policies. Don't use the Muslim community or the minorities in Australia as some sort of attempt to rekindle the fire of the failed Liberal Party," he said.
Adding to the 'burden'
Earlier this month, Taylor shared the Coalition's proposed migration policy, which outlines what critics have deemed a hardline approach, including tougher deportation measures and social media vetting.
It suggests that Australia's values framework be made legally binding, requiring visa holders to follow a specified set of behaviours, with any breaches resulting in cancellation and removal.
On 26 March, the Labor government implemented a temporary six-month ban on Iranian visitor visa holders entering Australia amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, which is currently paused by a ceasefire.
It was followed by controversial changes to the Migration Act, passed by parliament and backed by the government and the Coalition.
Siamak Ghahreman, president of the Australian Iranian Community Organisation, said bipartisan "actions together have a negative impact" on the community.
"They affect broader Australian society as well, shaping how others may view our community, and they also affect us internally," he said.
"At a time when we are already dealing with war, the difficult situation in our home country, and everything that comes with that, public sentiment has been deeply traumatised.
"Many of us are already facing depression and emotional stress, and comments like these only add to that burden."
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Persian.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
