It comes as Labor-led parliamentary committee on Thursday said the government should consider whether enough is being done about IRGC activity in Australia, including harassment of citizens who are critical of Iran\u2019s theocratic regime.<\/p>\n
Six members of Iran\u2019s women\u2019s soccer team seeking asylum in Australia this week garnered international attention and prompted Iran\u2019s foreign affairs ministry to accuse the government of holding the players \u201chostage\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n An Iranian Australian protester, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, said she was among a group standing behind the women\u2019s team and their handler Mohammad Salari at the Gold Coast\u2019s Cbus stadium last Thursday, where they were competing against the Matildas.<\/p>\n \u201cWe saw Salari looking at us so we started calling out to him \u2026 calling him \u2018shame on you\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In the complaint, she alleges: \u201cHe turned around and looked at us and then drew a line on his throat and pointed to us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand how he got on to Australian soil,\u201d the protester said.<\/p>\n Queensland police confirmed they were aware of an incident at Cbus stadium on 5 March.<\/p>\n \u201cA complaint was received, and investigations are continuing,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Dr Rana Dadpour, founder of advocacy group AusIran, said the Iranian diaspora had been failed by Salari being allowed to enter Australia.<\/p>\n She believes that \u201che shouldn\u2019t be granted a visa\u201d.<\/p>\n The vice-president of the Iranian Society of Queensland, Hadi Karimi, said the community needed answers about why someone linked to the IRGC was granted a visa given the organisation was a deemed a state sponsor of terrorism.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to know from the Australian government why our girls were kept in a hotel organised by IRGC and IRGC members,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Iranian-born Sydney councillor, Tina Kordrostami, raised the issue at a hearing before the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security (PJCIS) last month.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the PJCIS backed the Albanese government\u2019s decision to list the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism after revelations from security agencies<\/a> that the Iranian government ordered at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Iranian community has for years raised concerns about the IRGC infiltrating the country and harassing the diaspora<\/a>.<\/p>\n Asked about Salari\u2019s visa, the Department of Home Affairs said it could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cAll non-citizens applying for an Australian visa wishing to travel to Australia are considered on an individual basis against legal requirements set out in Australia\u2019s migration legislation,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and all criteria must be satisfied before a visa can be granted.\u201d<\/p>\n Applicants must meet all legal requirements to be granted a visa, including character and security criteria, the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n The home affairs minister, Tony Burke<\/a>, said the country\u2019s security and intelligence agencies make recommendations based on \u201call the available information including what comes for our intelligence partners.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4747.jpg\")
Protesters try to block bus as Iranian women’s football team depart Gold Coast hotel \u2013 video<\/p>\n