Australia’s Ambassador in Tehran Meets with Kylie Moore-Gilbert

Australia’s ambassador in Tehran met with political prisoner Kylie Moore-Gilbert at Qarchak prison in Varamin. He confirmed that the Australian citizen is in good condition and has access to medication and food.

Following widespread protests over the detention conditions of political prisoner Kylie Moore-Gilbert and her transfer to Qarchak prison in Varamin, Australia’s ambassador in Tehran succeeded in visiting the Australian citizen at Qarchak prison.

According to Associated Press, Lindahl Saxes, Australia’s ambassador to Iran, said on Tuesday, August 4 (14 Mordad) that he visited Moore-Gilbert at Qarchak prison in Varamin and that she is in good condition.

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Office also stated in a statement: “Dr. Moore-Gilbert is in good condition and has access to food, medical facilities, and books.”

The statement also emphasized that the Australian government will continue efforts to secure consular access to Moore-Gilbert.

Gilbert’s family stated that they felt relieved following the Australian ambassador’s visit to Kylie Moore at the prison. In Gilbert’s family statement, it was stated: “We will continue to work to bring Kylie home as soon as possible, and this is our highest and only priority.”

They also emphasized: “We still believe that Kylie’s best chance for freedom is through diplomatic channels, and we remain in contact with the Foreign Affairs Office and the Australian government to find the best way forward.”

Last week, with the news of Moore-Gilbert’s transfer to Qarchak prison in Varamin, concerns about her intensified. The Australian government immediately requested consular access to the prisoner, and finally Lindahl Saxes, Australia’s ambassador in Tehran, was able to meet with her at Qarchak prison.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert is a lecturer in Middle Eastern studies at the University of Melbourne. She was arrested at Imam Khomeini Airport in September 2018 after participating in a conference in Tehran, sent to Evin prison, and later sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

According to some reports, she has attempted suicide multiple times and has frequently been held in solitary confinement. Gilbert has also repeatedly gone on hunger strikes and asked the Australian government to make greater efforts to secure her release.

Last year, in a letter to Australia’s Prime Minister, she wrote about “widespread violations of personal rights and human rights principles” regarding herself and reported “psychological torture and prolonged solitary confinement.”

Last week, Reza Khandan, a human rights activist and husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, wrote in a Facebook post that Kylie Moore-Gilbert reported in a phone call from prison that she was in very bad conditions, saying she could not eat anything and was very desperate and depressed.

According to Australia’s Foreign Affairs Office, the British-Australian Academy held a meeting on Sunday with representatives of the Australian government on Iranian affairs and consulted with these representatives about Moore-Gilbert.

A group of Moore-Gilbert’s friends also launched a campaign for her release last week. According to the activists of this campaign, the Australian government’s “quiet and subtle strategy” for Gilbert’s release has failed.

The campaign activists say the Australian government should try all options and have also asked people in the country to prepare petitions addressed to members of the Australian parliament and media to increase public awareness on this matter.

A spokesperson for Australia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the call for campaign activities and added that the country’s embassy in Tehran will continue to request greater consular access to Moore-Gilbert.

Source: DW