Fears former Canberra boy has been executed in Iran, as Australia makes representations to Tehran | Australia news
The Australian government’s comments to Tehran about possible executions of prisoners include serious fears following allegations that a former Canberra high school student was killed in Iran.
Posts on social media accounts linked to the boy suggest that he died on Friday after being detained in Iran. The allegations could not be verified.
However, Guardian Australia has confirmed that the boy’s former classmates, who are not Australian citizens, were offered welfare support by his former high school in the ACT.
Community members also voiced concerns to the government that an international student studying at a university in Australia was sentenced to death in Iran, although details of the case could not be confirmed.
The Australian government declined to comment on either situation.
However, the federal government has made statements to Tehran about the executions, including in recent days.
It is estimated that thousands of protesters have been killed in demonstrations held in Iran in recent weeks.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said Australia opposed the death penalty “for all people in all circumstances” and was pressing the Iranian government to stop using the punishment.
“We have called on the Iranian government to stop the killings, use of force and arbitrary detentions in response to its violent suppression of recent protests,” the spokesman said.
An ACT government spokesman said deputy prime minister and education minister Yvette Berry had discussed the issue with Australian foreign minister Penny Wong’s office on behalf of the school community.
“We understand that representations have been made to Iran regarding the issue,” the spokesman said.
An ACT government spokesman said additional health supports were provided on-site for students at the school the boy attended until last year.
The spokesman said families and staff were also informed of the free community support they could access. ACT’s education department was also ensuring that students at other affected public schools had access to such support.
Last August, the Albanian government expelled Tehran’s ambassador to Canberra after the country’s domestic spy agency accused Iran of directing at least two attacks against Australia’s Jewish community.
Australia’s embassy in Iran has also suspended operations, meaning there are no staff on site.
Demonstrations that began in December with concerns about Iran’s economic crisis turned into nationwide anti-regime protests.
Estimates of the death toll from the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters vary considerably; some suggest the number may be more than 30,000.
The official death toll announced by the Martyrs Foundation is 3,117, including security members.
Calls are growing in Iran for an independent investigation into the number of people killed after the government said it would monitor the publication of the names of those killed.
