Fatima Payman accused of ‘whitewashing’ human rights abuses

Fatima Payman has been accused of whitewashing human rights abuses after the senator claimed Iran was an “incredible place” for women.

Exclusive: Fatima Payman has been accused of whitewashing human rights abuses after the WA senator claimed Iran was an “incredible place” for women.

Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was arbitrarily detained in Iran for more than 800-days,said Senator Payman had minimised the suffering of millions of women and girls who were persecuted daily.

“We currently have two Australian citizens wrongfully imprisoned in Iran right now, on top of the four other innocent Australians imprisoned there fore from 2018, including myself,” she said on Tuesday.

“Whitewashing the human rights abuses of the Iranian regime isn’t only minimising the suffering of millions of Iranian women and girls who are persecuted by this regime on a daily basis, but also ignores the fact that Australians, Payman’s constituents, are also victims of this brutal and oppressive dictatorship.”

Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert in Canberra for the News Corp "Dear Evan" campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

On Monday, video of Senator Payman speaking at an event by the Benevolent Iranian Women Association surfaced where she appeared to dismiss criticism of the regime as “propaganda”.

“The incredible place that Iran is, allowing for women to participate in the workforce to ensure that they have a voice, that their voices are heard, that their (voices) involved in a democratic process — realities that we’re not privy to living here and listening to the propaganda that we receive from very single-sided organisations with specific agenda,” Senator Payman said in response to a question.

enator Fatima Payman holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Women in Iran can be married from the age of 13 and require the permission of their father or grandfather while husbands can legally prevent their wives from working if “incompatible with family interests or his dignity”. Women need the permission of their husbands to obtain a passport.

The treatment of women in Iran attracted international condemnation in 2022 after the suspicious death of Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini after the 22-year-old was arrested by Iran’s morality police for failing to fully cover her hair with a hijab properly.

A protester holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration. Picture: AFP

Senator Payman, the first woman to wear the hijab in parliament, quit the ALP in 2024 due to the party’s perceived indifference to the mounting death toll in Gaza and has launched her own party Australia’s Voice.

Labor also face a targeted campaign by the Muslim Votes and Muslim Votes Matter, two funding vehicles seeking to replicate the success of the teal independents at the upcoming election over the war between Israel and Palestine.

This masthead approached Senator Payman for comment.