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Thousands rallied in Melbourne backing Iran’s pro-democracy movement, with former MP Keith Wolahan urging support for regime change and warning of rising Islamist extremism at home.

Former Liberal Party member for Menzies, Keith Wolahan, has thrown his support behind Iran’s democratic community as they continue their fight against the oppressive Islamic Republic regime.

Several thousand rally goers marched from the State Library to Victorian Parliament House on 8 February, with the Israeli community standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their Iranian brothers and sisters.

Former Liberal Party member for Menzies, Keith Wolahan, addressed the crowd at the Mel-Iran rally at Victorian Parliament House on 8 February. Picture: Josh Spasaro.

A number of Australians also attended, proudly waving the national flag in defence of shared Judeo-Christian values.

The event was organised by Mel-Iran – the Iranian-Australian patriotic and constitutional network.

The group distributed flyers which stated that more than 36,000 civilians were killed by the Islamic Regime over a two-day period in January.

“Peaceful protestors are met with gunfire, arrests, torture, sexual violence, disappearances and executions, while internet shutdowns and censorship hide these crimes from the world,” the flyers said.

“Our demands: End the Islamic regime, no deal with murderers! Recognise Reza Pahlavi as the transition lead to establish a secular democracy in Iran and equal rights for all citizens.”

Despite living in exile, Pahlavi has devoted all his efforts over the past four decades to Iran’s freedom.

The Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979.

Wolahan said those who wanted democracy restored in Iran should be supported in Australia and not condemned.

“I think people recognise a lot of the problems and tragedies that have happened in the world have had a common source – the Islamic Republic,” he told The Daily Declaration.

“All signs point back there. So I think there’s a common belief and hope that change there will lead to change in many respects.

“There are a lot of proxy wars being conducted in the region, and the Islamic Republic is behind it.

“It’s not the Iranian people – it’s the Islamic Republic.”

Israelis and Iranians Stand United

Co-founder of the Lions of Zion activist movement for Israelis, Yaacov Travitz, marched alongside democratic-seeking Iranians in Melbourne last Sunday.

He said the history of friendship between both nations was a very long and important one, and many Israelis feel indebted to Iranians who seek a peaceful, free and democratic future for their nation.

“Something a lot of people don’t understand is that there is a history of two to three thousand years between Jewish people and Iranians,” he said.

“Back in the time of Cyrus the Great, when he liberated our people in the Babylonian colonisation or conquest.

“He liberated our people, allowed us to go back to the land of Israel, and if that wasn’t enough – he helped us build a second temple. A holy site.

“So we have a debt that we owe them. That’s why we are so supportive of their people fighting back against their regime, which is not just bad for us, but it’s bad for their own people.

“They’re killing their own people. On the other side of the world, there’s not much we can do physically.

“But we can be the voice of those who are not given a voice. And they’re shut off from communication and not allowed to talk.”

Security Concerns for Australia

Iranian-Australian rally goer, Arya, said the situation back in his homeland was critical.

“Some people can’t afford eggs. It’s a resource-rich country, and the people don’t deserve this situation,” he said.

Marching alongside Arya was his mate, Dylan.

He cautioned that if the situation worsened in Iran, it would not benefit Australians.

“Australia won’t be safe as well,” he said.

“My mum, dad and sister are over there. Every night I’m shaking (worrying about their safety).”

Azadeh is a rally organiser with Mel-Iran.

She said her peers warned the Albanese government three years ago that a rise in radical Islamic ideology would lead to a horrific terrorist event, such as the Bondi Beach massacre on December 14.

That was when terrorists Sajiid Akram and his son Naveed Akram gunned down 15 innocent people while they were celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hannukkah.

“We gave a notice to the Australian government three years ago because we thought something was going to happen like Bondi,” she said.

“But they didn’t listen.”

Terror Fears and Domestic Tensions

In the week after the Bondi terror attacks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised to the Jewish community, adding that “urgency and unity” were needed.

This included creating an aggravated offence for hate preaching.

But One Nation Victoria Secretary, Bianca Colecchia, and Melbourne Freedom Rally organiser, Harrison McLean, criticised these rushed-in laws in this publication as reactionary because of their broad powers following the radical Islamic terrorism event on Australian soil.

Many conservative Australians now feel their freedom of speech is now threatened due to these laws.

Azadeh added that US President Donald Trump was the only world leader capable of re-establishing democracy in Iran via his powerful military, which has mobilised in the Middle East region.

“He is the only one who can give us our freedom, so we are counting on him. Hopefully, he can do something quickly,” she said.

“No more delays.”

Meanwhile, another shared sentiment at the rally for Iran was support for Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

He flew to Australia to mourn with the families of victims from the Bondi terrorist attacks.

“People are free to be angry about what they want. But I don’t see what’s controversial about the President of Israel coming to Australia,” Wolahan said.

“A president who, I might add, has politics from the left of centre in Israel.

“Not that that matters. Of course, people are going to be angry, but there’s nothing unusual about that.

“He’s here just to mourn with the community over what happened at Bondi.”

A Call for Western Leadership

Travitz said more Australians needed to step up in the fight against the spread of radical Islamic ideology.

“The amount of Australians standing up for Australia against Islamism – it’s ridiculous how small it is,” he said.

“I said that in one of my speeches – the flag that a country has should not be taken for granted.

“The freedoms that we have should not be taken for granted. Those freedoms were won by fighting for them.

“By fighting against evil and bad forces. Even on the other side of the world, we hear people say ‘we don’t want foreign conflicts on our shores’.

“Well, what was Gallipoli? That wasn’t on our shores. That was fighting for what was right.”

Steven attended last Sunday’s rally with his Roving Ambassador and Signboard Presenter for the C02 Climate Facts boards attached to his body.

Steven attended the rally for Iran wearing his C02 Climate Facts boards in the Melbourne CBD. Picture: Josh Spasaro.

The staunch Net Zero critic said it was becoming increasingly difficult to present facts to those aligned with the Free Palestine marches, which are now common in Melbourne most weeks.

“I get attacked from A to Z because I display the Aussie flag. The Islamists see it as an Israeli flag,” he said.

“And the Marxists hate it. They bastardise, distort or change the meaning of words. Left is right, and you’re a racist if you don’t agree with them.

“And you’re dealing with the woke mind virus. They’re not critically minded. I doubt they could ever be critically minded.

“They can’t argue, be pragmatic or rational. It’s around the world – you’ve got the woke side and the critical side.”

Saeed is a regular feature on the Victorian Parliament steps with his activism for democracy to return to Iran.

He says that he has also become a target for advocating for freedom back in his homeland.

“Some people love me, some people hate me. They’ve hit me, and there’s been blood down my face. They throw their drinks in my face,” he said.

“All of these things have happened. Every day for three years.

“Thirteen years ago, I ran from my government.”