Fatima Payman apologises after appearing on Iran network PressTV sanctioned in Australia

Senator Fatima Payman has apologised after she appeared on a sanctioned media network — considered to be the mouthpiece for Iran’s fundamentalist regime.

EXCLUSIVE: Senator Fatima Payman has apologised for doing an interview with a news network considered to be a propaganda machine for Iran – and subject to a sanction in Australia.

Individuals found to have engaged with a sanctioned entity face 10 years imprisonment and fines of $782,500 while organisations can be fined $3.13 million.

The Albanese government imposed a sanction on PressTV in 2023 on the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, who was arrested by Iran’s morality policy for failing to wear a hijab properly.

Since then the provision of an asset, tangible or intangible, to PressTV has been prohibited unless an individual or an organisation has a permit. DFAT does not disclose whether a permit has been granted and the law is vague.

Senator Claire Chandler. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Liberal senator Claire Chandler said she was troubled that a sanctioned entity like PressTV, widely considered to be a mouthpiece for Iran, was operating in Australia.

“⁠The Australian Government has been repeatedly warned by the coalition and by others about propaganda and foreign interference efforts by the IRI [Iran] regime,” she said.

Despite being sanctioned, the Iranian PressTV covered an event on women in Iran at the Western Sydney [WSU] University campus in Parramatta last Saturday.

The freelance journalist who covered the event said she was unaware PressTV was subject to a sanction in Australia.

A WSU spokesperson said the university was not aware Press TV was covering the event and that event organisers had hired the venue.

The International Women’s Day event was attended by about two dozen people but attracted media coverage after video emerged of Senator Payman declaring that Iran was an “incredible place” for women in PressTV coverage.

Senator Payman on Thursday conceded her comments did not reflect the realities of women who had suffered violence, brutality and human rights abuses.

“My intention was never to downplay or minimise their pain,” she said.

“If my words caused hurt, I sincerely apologise.”

Senator Fatima Payman has appolised for appearing on PressTV. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Payman said she was unaware of any sanction and that she had been asked by PressTV to repeat what she had heard at the event.

“When a journalist from PressTV later asked about the conversations I had at the event, I made comments that reflected what women had shared with me, not my own personal opinion,” she said.

“I had no knowledge of PressTV and their political affiliations.”

The clip that aired in the PressTV package does not show Senator Payman being asked a question. Instead it appears the senator is voicing her own opinion, which she has denied.

PressTV broadcaster Marziyeh Hashemi, who is considered to be a mouthpiece for Iran and has been arrested in the US, also addressed the event via video.

A prerecorded message by NSW Women Minister Jodie Harrison that played at the event also features in the news package, for which she has since apologised.

Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was arbitrarily detained in Iran for more than 800-days, said everything PressTV produced was propaganda.

“PressTV was sent there to muddy the waters and promote the regime’s narrative that women are treated well in Iran and that reports in the West that they are not are simply propaganda,” she said.

Last Saturday’s event has also been covered by the Tehran Times, which was founded in 1979 as the “voice of the Islamic Revolution”.

Both Senator Payman and Ms Harrison were invited to the International Women’s Day event by an email from the Benevolent Iranian Women’s Association.

This masthead spoke to a woman with a number linked to the event who, after repeatedly refusing to identify themselves, said “My name doesn’t matter.” BIWA did not respond to questions via email.

A spokeswoman for the Iranian Women’s Association, a longstanding community organisation in Australia, said they had never heard of the BIWA.

“The regime in Iran does what it can, with brute force, to stifle opposition voices and crush dissent as we have seen throughout its blood-stained history for which it is yet to be held account,” said the spokeswoman.

In June last year, a letter warning of an electoral backlash against the Albanese government over the war between Israel and Palestine in key seats was sent to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

“In addition to the foreign alignment of this lobby, it seeks to jeopardise votes for the Labor Party within Muslim constituencies, particularly in West Sydney and the Bankstown-Canterbury areas, come the 2025 election,” said the letter.

Letter written by the Australian Iran Friendship association to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Supplied

The letter continues.

The letter purported to come from the Australia Iran Friendship Association while several signatories said they belonged to the BIWA. It was co-signed by the Iranian embassy.

However, a longstanding community group called the Australia Iran Friendship Association (AIFA) denied sending the letter.

“Our association was incorporated in Australia in 2006 and is not affiliated with the association that co-signed the letter with the Iranian embassy in Canberra,” AIFA said in a statement.

“We want to make it unequivocally clear that we did not sign this letter and take issue with the unauthorised use of our name.” The IWA was not involved in sending the letter.

The Australian Federal Police did not say whether they were investigating any potential sanction breaches.

PressTV did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as Fatima Payman apologises after appearing on Iran network PressTV sanctioned in Australia