Thousands of people around Australia have joined a day of action in solidarity with anti-government protesters rallying across major cities in Iran.
Protesters gathered at Hyde Park in Sydney on Saturday before marching to Belmore Park near Central Station.
Organisers billed the protests as part of a “global day of action in solidarity with Iran’s Lion and Sun revolution”, with rallies also held in Munich, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
Protesters gather in Melbourne. (ABC News: Samantha Jonscher)
About 1,000 protesters gathered in front of the Parliament of Victoria to join the nationwide day of action.
Organisers kicked off a chant, calling for freedom and democracy in Iran.
Federal member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, addressed the crowd, saying Australians must stand with the people of Iran.
He said the movement was “one of love” and that Iran’s regime “must be stopped for the good of Iran and the world.”
Protesters rally in support of Iran in Sydney. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Mehdi Sharifi, who has family and friends in Iran, said he had just recently managed to talk to them due to the internet and communications blackout.
But before that, he said he had no idea how they were.
Protesters gathered at Hyde Park before marching to Belmore Park. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
He told the ABC they were “sick of the regime” and they are “totally against them”.
“We are here to say that, to shout that and to support people … hopefully today is going to be the last one we’re coming out, hopefully after this everything gets resolved very soon,” Mr Sharifi said at the Sydney protest.
“But I reckon everyone [is] coming out here just with one voice to make sure that we’re supporting our revolution in Iran and we support Reza Pahlavi and we support Iranian people.”
A number of people at the Sydney rally expressed their support for Reza Pahlavi. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Mr Sharifi was among tens of thousands of protesters in Sydney, many of whom marched with roses, signs, flags and prop nooses and body bags. Â
Rally attendees called for the Australian government to revoke its recognition of the Islamic Republic of Iran and support the Iranian people in a transition to a secular democracy.
‘I want to see my people free’
Nima Valamanesh was one of more than a thousand people who were estimated to have gathered at an event in Adelaide.
“I’ve not lived in Iran since I was five years old, I want to go home — I want to see my people free and not afraid,” Mr Valamanesh said.
Nima Valamanesh at the Global Day of Action for Iran in Adelaide. (ABC News: Will Hunter)
“I can’t sleep at night. I wake up early looking for news, and I’m one of the lucky ones.
“We would love to see the world unite because today not only in Adelaide are we protesting, but we’re protesting around the world.”
The rally in Adelaide started in Hindmarsh Square and ended at state parliament. (ABC News)
Event organiser Suren Edgar said the crowd at today’s event brought hope to those who have family and friends in Iran.
“When I see others standing beside with me, when I see the community come together, we share our values, we share our stress together, we share our common culture,” Mr Edgar said.
A minute of silence was observed at the Brisbane rally. (ABC News: Tara Cassidy)
Minute of silence
Rain did not stop thousands of protesters rallying in the Brisbane CBD this evening, where attendees held a minute silence to remember those who have lost their lives to the Islamic Republic Regime of Iran.
Sepehr Sabeti said it was his and other Iranian Australian’s responsibility to use their voices to support those back home who could not.
Sepehr Sabeti said the Iranian people are extremely brave. (ABC News: Tara Cassidy)
“The Iranian people are extremely brave … they knew how vicious this regime is but they still decided to go onto the streets to protest, and they’ve been massacred,” he said.
“It’s very personal for me … unfortunately, I know three people that have been shot and killed on the 8th and 9th of January.”
Marching on behalf of family
In Hobart, organisers gave out flowers with QR codes linking to a petition calling on the Australian government to revoke recognition of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Sammy attended the Hobart rally with partner Kate and friend Samanatha and said he was proud of the rally turn-out.
Sammy, Samantha and Kate marched on behalf of Sammy’s Iranian family. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
“It’s an absolute massacre, the government killing their own people, people just want to be free and live,” he said.
Kate said the couple were attending the rally on behalf of Sammy’s family in Iran.
“We don’t know how they are and can’t contact them. We hope they are safe, we just want the world to know what’s happening in Iran right now,” Kate said.
Attendees march at the Global Day of Action rally in Hobart. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Reza Pahlavi speaks in Munich
In the past month, anger over Iran’s alleged corruption and economic mismanagement amid the cost-of-living crisis has triggered widespread protests against its theocratic government inside the country and across the world, including Australia.
US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified about 6,500 deaths and more than 53,000 arrests in Iran as of February 8.
A group of doctors gathering information from their colleagues believed as many as 30,000 people were killed as of late January.
The protesters marched from Sydney’s Hyde Park to Belmore Park. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
As unrest intensifies, there has been increased attention towards a proposal to return to monarchical rule if the Islamic Republic were to fall.
Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the Shah of Iran, deposed in the 1979 revolution, has thrown his weight behind the mass demonstrations on Saturday.
Reza Pahlavi spoke on Iran’s future at the Munich Security Conference. (ABC News)
Mr Pahlavi spoke on Iran’s future at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
“This struggle is about freedom, this struggle is about the equality of all citizens, this struggle is about freedom of speech, this struggle is all about democracy at the ballot box,” he said.
“We can certainly compete in the future, but today is a time to make sure that we don’t have that ballot box through which we can determine who has what level of support or who can be able to do this and that, we need to get there first.
“Our cause is for everyone to fit under this tent.”
The Pahlavi dynasty, which was seen as corrupt and repressive, was overthrown and succeeded by an Islamic Republic under the leadership of cleric Ayatollah Khamenei.
Mr Pahlavi called for the protest to build pressure for the regime’s “machinery of oppression” to be dismantled and its “financial lifelines” to be cut off “in full”.
Other key demands include ensuring free internet and communications for the people of Iran, the expulsion and prosecution of the regime’s “diplomats”, as well as the immediate release of all political prisoners.
He has also offered to lead the government transition to a secular democracy.