LONDON: An Australian citizen is among at least 40 foreign nationals currently being held in Iranian jails amid protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, the Guardian reported on Thursday.
Although the Iranian-Australian dual national had not been arrested for taking part in demonstrations against the regime, Australian officials have been refused access to assess the citizen’s welfare, a spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said.
“The Australian government is not aware of any Australians who have been arrested or detained for participating in recent protests in Iran.
“The Australian government holds concerns for the welfare of one Australian-Iranian citizen believed to be detained in Iran. We continue to seek confirmation of their welfare, and consular access,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson pointed out that Iran is refusing to accept Australia’s right to access the prisoner as it did not recognize dual nationality.
On Tuesday, Tehran said 40 foreign nationals had been arrested for their role in the unrest sparked by Amini’s death.
“So far, 40 foreign nationals have been arrested for their involvement in the protests,” Iran’s judiciary spokesman Masoud Setayeshi told a televised news conference, without revealing their nationalities.
Several sources had confirmed that an Australian citizen was now imprisoned, the Guardian said.
Despite being urged to do so, Australia has not yet imposed any sanctions against Iranian institutions or individuals in response to Tehran’s violent crackdown on protesters.
Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said the government was determined to “continue working with others to build pressure on the regime to cease its brutal campaign against its own citizens.”
On Thursday, the UN human rights chief Volker Turk revealed that he had asked Iranian authorities for permission to visit the country but had not received a response.
At an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council, he said that the bloody repression of peaceful demonstrators in Iran must end immediately.
