Fatima Payman tells Iran regime backers to lobby politicians over women’s rights ‘propaganda’

Fatima Payman has encouraged Australian-Iranian nationals sympathetic to the Islamist regime in Tehran to ‘correct the narrative’ over Western ‘propaganda’ on women’s rights.

Former Labor senator Fatima Payman speaking at a Sydney event hosted by the Benevolent Iranian Women Association. Picture: Press TV

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

Former Labor senator Fatima Payman has encouraged Australian-Iranians sympathetic to the Islamist regime in Tehran to “lobby” politicians about Western “propaganda” on women’s rights, declaring “there’s two sides to every coin”.

On Monday, footage surfaced of Senator Payman speaking at a Sydney event hosted by the Benevolent Iranian Women Association, during which she appeared to dismiss global criticism of the Iranian regime’s treatment of women as “single-sided” fake news.

In an interview with The Australian after attending the pro-Iran Women’s Day gathering, Senator Payman said she would keep an “open mind” when asked if she had changed her position on the regime.

She said the event was “interesting” and suggested that it was her first time as a senator to hear from supporters of the Iranian regime.

“I think it was really interesting, and I think I attended the event to just keep an open mind and listen to both sides because I’d heard of one side … I definitely hadn’t heard of the Benevolent Iranian Women’s Association side,” she said.

“I think my key advice to them was, look, if this is your narrative and you want people to hear it, I encourage you to create a space for yourself to lobby and talk to your politicians and representatives.”

Asked if she believed Australia was one of the Western nation’s allegedly spreading misinformation on Iran, Senator Payman said: “When I referred to propaganda (in the Press TV clip), I specifically mentioned it came from certain organisations with a single-sided view … and there’s two sides of every coin.

“If this is your way of wanting to correct the narrative, if you think there’s propaganda out there, empower yourself and do what you want and use the fact that we’re living in a democracy.”

Senator Fatima Payman speaking with Press TV at the event. Picture: Press TV

Despite the bizarre remarks she made over the weekend, Senator Payman conceded she did not know what the situation was like for women in Iran.

“I haven’t been to Iran. I don’t know what the situation is like and, frankly speaking, as an Australian senator, I have a lot more pressing matters to be across and to represent my constituents here,” she said.

“Whether I agree with people or not, I’m very open to having a discussion and hearing their side. I would think that now I’ve heard both sides, which I think is helpful to any leader.”

NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison apologised for taking part in the event. Picture: John Appleyard/NewsWire

NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison commended the event as important in combating “stereotypes”, before admitting her involvement was “ill considered”.

In a recorded message played at the event, Ms Harrison said raising awareness on any stereotypes that might exist in Australia was “vital”, adding that the event was important in challenging perceptions about how women in Iran were treated.

“This event, that aims to challenge and reshape the stereotypes and perceptions about Iranian women, to create space for more authentic, diverse, and under-represented perspectives from these women, is commendable,” Ms Harrison said.

“Any stereotype – gender, based on a country someone is from, or other qualities – is unhelpful and indeed damaging to our pursuit of equality.

“Raising awareness of this is vital to counter stereotypes that might exist.”

But late on Monday night, Ms Harrison sought to distance herself from the event, telling The Australian she did not share the views of the panellists and regretted her involvement.

“I have heard the concerns raised and sincerely apologise for my participation in this event, for the message it sent which is incongruent with the view of myself and of the NSW government, and the distress I know it has caused for many,” Ms Harrison said.

“I do not share the views expressed by the panellists at this event.

“The decision to provide a video message was ill-considered and I should not have provided a video message for the event.”

In an “urgent” letter to federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Tuesday, the Australian Iranian Community Alliance said it was alarmed by Senator Payman’s apparent dismissal of well-documented human rights violations as mere “propaganda”, saying her remarks were irresponsible and damaging.

The alliance said it was crucial for politicians to avoid any association with groups or events that seek to minimise the suffering of oppressed communities.

“Senator Payman has already demonstrated a dangerous pattern of conduct, from crossing the floor to undermine Australia’s bipartisan foreign policy stance to defending the gender-apartheid regime of Iran, an act that spits in the face of the brave Iranian women fighting for their fundamental freedoms,” the letter read.

“Her defence of one of the most oppressive regimes in the world regarding women’s rights, despite global condemnation of Iran’s brutal crackdown on dissent, is more than just hypocrisy, it is a calculated manoeuvre to normalise Islamist ideologies within Australia’s political landscape.”