分类： politics

Iran enters its twelfth consecutive day of widespread civil unrest as protests initially sparked by economic grievances evolve into a direct challenge to the Islamic Republic’s clerical leadership. The movement, which originated with Tehran’s bazaar shutdown on December 28 following the rial’s catastrophic devaluation, has now expanded across all 31 provinces with demonstrations reported in 348 locations according to HRANA monitoring group.

Security forces have intensified their response, deploying tear gas and live ammunition against protesters in multiple regions. In the southeastern hub of Kerman, security personnel reportedly opened fire on demonstrators while violently assaulting civilians according to Iran Human Rights. The Norway-based organization confirmed at least 27 protester fatalities, including five teenagers under eighteen, with warnings that the death toll will likely increase as additional killings are verified.

The protest movement has gained symbolic momentum with videos circulating showing participants in Kuhchenar, Fars province, toppling a statue of Qassem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guards commander killed by a U.S. strike in 2020 who is officially celebrated as a national hero. Nighttime demonstrations have continued with footage from Karaj showing crowds lighting street fires while security forces attempt dispersal tactics.

Exiled opposition figures, including Reza Pahlavi (son of the deposed Shah), have amplified calls for intensified protests, characterizing Wednesday’s turnout as unprecedented. Pahlavi has warned that authorities are attempting internet blackouts to suppress mobilization efforts. Judicial authorities have vowed no leniency toward what they term rioters, following the stabbing death of a police officer near Tehran during unrest containment operations.

The sustained protests represent a significant challenge to Ayatollah Khamenei’s government, which already contends with severe economic crisis exacerbated by international sanctions and post-conflict recovery from June hostilities with Israel. Demonstrators are increasingly adopting explicitly political slogans including chants referencing Khamenei’s overthrow and the return of monarchist leadership.

The Australian government has announced a comprehensive royal commission investigation into the December 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting that claimed 15 lives, marking the nation’s deadliest firearm incident in three decades. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the high-level inquiry on Thursday, reversing his previous stance amid mounting public pressure for transparency.

The investigation—Australia’s most authoritative form of public inquiry—will examine multiple dimensions of the tragedy, including intelligence failures, the proliferation of antisemitic sentiment, and security protocol deficiencies. The alleged perpetrators, Sajid Akram and his Australian-born son Naveed, targeted Jewish attendees at a Hanukkah celebration in what authorities describe as an ISIS-inspired attack. While Sajid was fatally shot by responding officers, Naveed remains incarcerated facing terrorism and murder charges.

Former High Court Justice Virginia Bell will lead the commission, which will incorporate an existing security services review originally scheduled for April completion. The inquiry follows intense advocacy from victims’ families, business leaders, and prominent academics who demanded accountability through open letters.

Security agencies face scrutiny regarding their prior awareness of the perpetrators. Documents reveal that intelligence officials had flagged Naveed Akram in 2019 but subsequently removed him from monitoring protocols after determining he posed no imminent threat. The pair’s travel to the southern Philippines prior to the attack has raised questions about potential connections to regional extremist networks, though police maintain current evidence suggests they acted independently.

The government has simultaneously initiated sweeping policy responses, including the largest firearm buyback program since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and strengthened measures against hate speech. Special Envoy for Antisemitism Jillian Segal endorsed the commission, noting it reflects ‘the seriousness of the growth in antisemitism and its impact on our country and democracy.’

In a significant policy reversal, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the establishment of a royal commission to investigate both the deadly Bondi Beach shooting and the broader issue of antisemitism in Australian society. The decision comes after weeks of mounting public pressure from victims’ families and prominent community figures.

The December 14 attack, which targeted a Jewish festival and resulted in 15 fatalities, stands as one of Australia’s most devastating mass shootings. While initially favoring quicker policy reforms, Albanese acknowledged that a comprehensive independent inquiry was necessary for national healing. “I’ve repeatedly said that our government’s priority is to promote unity and social cohesion,” the Prime Minister stated during a Canberra press conference. “It’s clear to me that a royal commission is essential to achieving this.”

The commission will wield extensive investigative powers, including the authority to summon witnesses and compel document production from government agencies. Its mandate encompasses four critical areas: examining the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia, recommending enhanced security measures to combat religious hatred, investigating the specific circumstances of the Bondi attack, and proposing measures to strengthen social cohesion against ideological extremism.

Former High Court Justice Virginia Bell has been appointed to lead the inquiry, with an interim report expected by April and a final report due by December 2026. The Prime Minister emphasized this would not be “a drawn-out process” despite previous royal commissions spanning multiple years.

The appointment has drawn mixed reactions, with some Jewish community leaders expressing reservations about Bell’s selection. Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealed that Jewish leaders had communicated “serious concerns” to the Prime Minister prior to the announcement. However, Attorney General Michelle Rowland defended the choice, describing Bell as “an eminent and highly capable former Justice” who would examine complex issues with “impartiality and precision.”

The government’s approach integrates several previously announced measures, including gun control reforms and hate speech legislation. These include limits on firearm ownership types and quantities, a weapon buyback scheme, and proposed penalties for religious leaders promoting violence. The commission will also incorporate the work of antisemitism commissioner Jillian Segal, whose July report had previously drawn criticism for its potential implications on free speech.

Western Australian authorities have ordered the deportation of Ryan Turner, a British national residing in Australia, following his identification as an active participant in the National Socialist Network—a recognized neo-Nazi organization. Turner’s visa was formally revoked on character grounds, resulting in his transfer to immigration detention this Tuesday. He now faces the choice of contesting the decision through legal channels or voluntarily returning to the United Kingdom.

This action aligns with Australia’s intensified campaign against right-wing extremism and antisemitic activities. Turner’s affiliation places him within the same group that orchestrated an inflammatory anti-Jewish demonstration outside New South Wales Parliament last year. Approximately sixty men, uniformly dressed in black and displaying banners demanding the ‘abolition of the Jewish lobby,’ participated in the rally. Chants of ‘blood and honour’—a phrase historically linked to Hitler Youth—were reported during the event.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized the government’s unwavering stance, stating: ‘Our government has zero tolerance for bigotry and hate. If you don’t like Australia, you can leave.’

The deportation follows recent legislative reforms that introduced mandatory prison sentences for displaying hate symbols, including the Nazi salute. These measures gained urgency after last year’s Bondi Beach shooting, where two gunmen killed 15 people at a Jewish event, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce strengthened laws targeting hate speech and radicalization.

Turner’s case mirrors earlier enforcement actions against foreign extremists. Matthew Gruter, a South African civil engineer and fellow National Socialist Network member, was expelled last November after participating in the same rally. Gruter subsequently returned to South Africa with his family. Simultaneously, Queensland authorities arrested another British national, Kayn Adam Charles Wells, for using social media to distribute Nazi propaganda and incite violence against Jewish communities. Wells currently awaits processing in immigration detention.

These coordinated efforts reflect Australia’s strategic application of immigration law to combat domestic extremism, granting the Home Affairs Minister enhanced authority to deny or cancel visas for individuals promoting hatred and division.