Australia said on Tuesday that it had put an end to an Iranian spy operation conducted on its soil during demonstrations held in solidarity with the protest movement sparked by the death in September of Mahsa Amini.
An Iranian-Australian activist who took part in the protests was targeted by Tehran, Home Secretary Clare O’Neil said.
“It is perfectly legal for anyone in Australia to criticize a foreign regime, as tens of thousands across the country have done in response to events in Iran,” she said in a speech to the Australian National University.
“What we absolutely will not tolerate, under any circumstances, are attempts by foreign regimes to disrupt peaceful protests, encourage violence or silence opinions,” she said.
Tehran was caught spying on the Iranian-Australian protester’s family, Ms O’Neil said, without giving further details.
“We are not going to sit idly by and let Australians, or even visitors to our country, be surveilled and tracked by foreign governments on our soil.”
