Australia’s recent decision to sever diplomatic ties with Iran has stirred significant concern and reflection among the nearly 86,000 Iranian-born residents living in the country. The Australian government is closing the Iranian embassy. This move followed Iran’s recent participation in at least two antisemitic attacks on Australian territory. This decision has led to mixed reactions among the affected communities, especially for communities most impacted by Iran’s behavior.
Danielle Tischmann, co-president of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students, expressed serious apprehensions regarding the safety of Jewish university students following these attacks. “Knowing that they were solely driven to make us fear going to shul, make us fear going to our local deli — it’s a very scary thing, just because we’re Jewish,” she stated. Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann from Melbourne’s Ark Centre told her story. She emphasized the lack of resources available for Jewish community members who are scared and feeling more vulnerable in the aftermath of these events.
Iranian Migrants’ Dismay
Within the Iranian migrant community, ambivalence continues over the Iranian government’s provocations. Bijan Kardouni fled anti-gay persecution in Iran eight years ago. He expressed extreme sadness after learning that it was Iran that had orchestrated the antisemitic terror attacks. “It’s a very scary thought, how powerful they can be… They have some people here who would find us and attack us,” he said. Kardouni sought asylum in Australia after his friend disappeared during a government raid on protesters in Iran. Since then, he has done everything within his power to distance himself from the regime’s atrocities.
The number of Iranian migrants in Australia has more than doubled since 2013, with many opposing their home country’s government. Kardouni emphasized, “We are separate from the regime; we don’t agree with what they are doing.” His experiences serve to illustrate the growing fears of the Iranian diaspora. Second, they are concerned about the public perception of their identity’s connection to the Iranian regime’s actions.
Siamak Ghahreman, with the Iranian community, expressed his happiness about Australia’s move to sever diplomatic relations. “We are really happy to see them gone and we are not going to miss them,” he remarked. This sentiment highlights a broader desire among many Iranian migrants to dissociate themselves from the Iranian government’s actions and policies.
Rising Antisemitism and Community Responses
Recent waves of antisemitic attacks, a number of them quite high profile, have created widespread concern within the Jewish community. They have further sparked much-needed debate about the Australian government’s response to these deeply concerning events. Tischmann pointed out that these attacks have fed the fires of suspicion and conspiracy about Jewish plots to control leftist agendas. In a statement following these attacks, Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, director of the American Jewish Peace Archive, articulated the dangers these attacks represented. He worried that he could not trust the Iranian community here because some of them might be spies.
Raneem, a local university student active in the local pro-Palestinian movement, wanted to correct some of the confusion surrounding their activism. She let fly because they have never really taken this position before. It is unrelated to the pro-Palestinian movement or pro-Palestinian protests. Such a double standard always causes pain on governmental responses to different matters Raneem, congratulated touch and others have mentioned regarding the duality from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
She went on to explain that the movement was essentially peaceful, inspired by anti-war and anti-racist sentiments. “We’ve been saying it for two years now, that ours is an anti-war, anti-racist movement,” Raneem stated. Her comments demonstrate a clear commitment to raising awareness, building solidarity, and mobilizing action within and between our diverse communities, in these uncertain times.
Community Divides and Future Challenges
These recent developments have ignited a new sense of solidarity, matching these two groups. At the same time, they have exposed and revealed fissures in Australia’s multicultural façade. Many Iranian migrants and Jewish community members fear that the actions of a foreign regime could be used to undermine their safety and trust among one another.
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann commented on this sentiment by stating, “This is sort of an ‘I told you so’ moment. Now we see that Iran doesn’t just sow the seeds of chaos around the Middle East but here.” We know that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are currently conducting activities on Australian soil. US participation in the war has escalated the conflict and complexity markedly, of course.
As communities continue to sail through these challenging waters, our priority is helping communities create the conditions for productive dialogue and trust among diverse stakeholders to thrive. It’s vital that Australia establishes a sense of good faith. This is especially important as the nation grapples with the consequences of foreign policy challenges on newly-formed local communities.
