Gerard P. Craughwell condemns war crimes, urges debate on Iran
Gerard P. Craughwell addressed human-rights abuses in Iran and called for a parliamentary debate on issues affecting Iran and Afghanistan. He condemned brutality across Gaza, Lebanon and Israel and welcomed the State taking a position with South Africa against Israel.
The speaker referenced the fall of Kabul and the Irish ambassador to the UN's statement that "Ireland stands with the women of Afghanistan," calling that response ineffectual. He said public attention often focuses on Gaza, Lebanon and Israel but urged attention to other theatres of brutality.
He stated that Hamas, Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Forces are "all three... guilty of war crimes" and expressed approval that the State has aligned with South Africa in condemning Israel for what he described as genocide in Gaza. He emphasised that all sides bear responsibility for atrocities.
The speaker cited figures for 2024, saying 993 people were hanged in Iran for political or sexual-orientation reasons, with 78 announced and 915 unannounced. He added that four executions were public, 32 of those executed were women, and six minors are currently political prisoners.
He described the widely shared video of a female student removing her headdress and clothing in protest and said she was executed. He argued that such brutality in Iran must be discussed publicly as the primary way to stop it.
The speaker urged the Leader to schedule a debate in the House on the issues confronting Iran and Afghanistan, calling for legislative attention to these human-rights crises. He closed by thanking colleagues and proposing that discussion is the means to address ongoing abuses.
Context of remarks
The speaker referenced the fall of Kabul and the Irish ambassador to the UN's statement that "Ireland stands with the women of Afghanistan," calling that response ineffectual. He said public attention often focuses on Gaza, Lebanon and Israel but urged attention to other theatres of brutality.
Allegations of war crimes and State position
He stated that Hamas, Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Forces are "all three... guilty of war crimes" and expressed approval that the State has aligned with South Africa in condemning Israel for what he described as genocide in Gaza. He emphasised that all sides bear responsibility for atrocities.
Statistics and human-rights concerns in Iran
The speaker cited figures for 2024, saying 993 people were hanged in Iran for political or sexual-orientation reasons, with 78 announced and 915 unannounced. He added that four executions were public, 32 of those executed were women, and six minors are currently political prisoners.
Case example and moral argument
He described the widely shared video of a female student removing her headdress and clothing in protest and said she was executed. He argued that such brutality in Iran must be discussed publicly as the primary way to stop it.
Call for parliamentary debate
The speaker urged the Leader to schedule a debate in the House on the issues confronting Iran and Afghanistan, calling for legislative attention to these human-rights crises. He closed by thanking colleagues and proposing that discussion is the means to address ongoing abuses.
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Transcript
Thank you very much indeed. Many in this room will be aware of the fact that at the fall of Kabul, when the Western states left Afghanistan, the Irish ambassador to the UN at the time issued a statement that Ireland stands with the women of Afghanistan. And what exactly did that mean? Sweet damn all, to be honest about it. Few of us can be unaware of what's going on in the Middle East and it doesn't matter which side of the argument you're on, whether it's Israeli, whether it's from Gaza or whether it's from Hezbollah, it really doesn't matter. All three are guilty of war crimes. All three sides, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Forces. The one thing that is, and I'm delighted that our state has taken a position with South Africa against Israel for what they are doing and the genocide they are committing in Gaza at the moment. But few of us think about Iran and what's going on in Iran at the moment. And over the last couple of weeks, we've had people from Iran in here. And when I look at the 2024 total for hangings, we had 993 people hung in Iran for political reasons or for sexual reasons or sexual orientation reasons. 78 of them were announced, 915 were not. Four were in public, 32 women were hung. Six minors are currently political prisoners. Six minors, political prisoners. Most of us will have seen the piece on Facebook of the young student who took off the headdress outside her college. And when she was tackled by the police, she took off the remainder of her clothing and walked around. She was executed. So while we look at the high profile places like Gaza and Lebanon and Israel, let's not forget the brutality that has taken place in Iran. And the only way we will stop that type of brutality is by talking about it. So I believe we should have a debate in this House at some stage, Leader, on the issues confronting Iran and Afghanistan, both of those nations. Thank you. Senator Mugg with Shendorsen.