Senator Fatima Payman, the independent West Australian senator, has issued a public apology after facing intense criticism for comments she made defending Iran’s treatment of women. Payman’s remarks, made in an interview with the state-owned Press TV, sparked widespread backlash after she praised Iran’s treatment of women during a conversation at Western Sydney University on Saturday.

During the event, which focused on Iranian women, Payman described Iran as an “incredible place” where women are allowed to participate in the workforce and have a voice in the democratic process.

She suggested that the public’s perception of Iran is skewed by “propaganda” from organizations with specific agendas. However, her words drew sharp condemnation, especially given the reality of Iran’s oppressive regime toward women.

In her apology issued on Thursday, Senator Payman acknowledged that her comments failed to reflect the harsh realities faced by women in Iran who have endured violence, brutality, and human rights abuses. “My intention was never to downplay or minimize their pain,” she said. “If my words caused hurt, I sincerely apologize.”

Payman clarified that her comments during the Press TV interview were based on personal accounts shared with her by Iranian women at the event rather than her personal views. She emphasized that the Iranian community is diverse, and individuals have different lived experiences. She also claimed to have been unaware of Press TV’s political affiliations, despite the network being known for its ties to the Iranian government and being banned in several countries, including the UK.

The criticism was swift and severe. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian-British academic who was detained in Iran on espionage charges from 2018 to 2020, sharply rebuked Payman’s comments, calling them “nonsense.” Moore-Gilbert questioned Payman’s knowledge of Iran’s human rights abuses, pointing out the irony of a woman from Afghanistan supporting an authoritarian regime notorious for its brutal treatment of women. “Iran has no ‘democratic process,’ least of all one in which women are allowed to participate,” Moore-Gilbert said. “Why agree to be interviewed by Press TV, the English-language propaganda arm of the Islamic Republic?”

Jina Mahsa Amini, 22, died in police custody in 2022 after being arrested for allegedly not wearing a headscarf

Payman’s glowing review of Iran stood in stark contrast to her previous statements of support for Iranian women. In 2022, following the death of Kurdish-Iranian national Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody, Payman expressed solidarity with Iranian women, condemning their treatment under the regime. Amini’s tragic death, which occurred after her arrest for allegedly not wearing a hijab, sparked global protests with the rallying cry of #WomenLifeFreedom.

However, Moore-Gilbert, along with other critics, was puzzled by Payman’s apparent shift in stance, questioning her motivations and the political calculus behind her comments. “Are there really that many votes to be found in cosying up to a brutal authoritarian regime like Iran’s?” she asked.

Payman, who was elected as a Labor senator but left the party in 2023 over its stance on the Israel- Gaza conflict, now faces a reckoning as her apology attempts to mend the damage caused by her controversial comments. The incident underscores the complex and often contradictory nature of global politics, especially when navigating issues of human rights, women’s rights, and international relations.

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