The former have serious fears Canberra A high school student after claiming to have been killed in Iran, amid representations from the Australian government to Tehran over the execution of prisoners.
Posts on social media accounts linked to the boy indicate he died on Friday after being detained Iran. The claims have not been verified.
However, former classmates of the boy, who is not an Australian citizen, have been offered wellbeing support by his former high school in the ACT, Guardian Australia has confirmed.
Community members have raised concerns with the government that another man – an international student studying at an Australian university – has been executed in Iran, although details of the case have not been confirmed.
The Australian government declined to comment on both.
However, the federal government has represented Tehran about the executions, including in recent days.
Thousands of protesters are estimated to have died in demonstrations in Iran in recent weeks.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia opposed the death penalty “for all people in all circumstances” and had pressed the Iranian government to end its use.
“We call on the Iranian government to end the killings, use of force and arbitrary detention in response to its violent crackdown on recent protests,” the spokesman said.
An ACT Government spokeswoman said Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Yvette Berry had raised the matter with the office of Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on behalf of the school community.
“We understand that Iran has been represented on this matter,” the spokesman said.
An ACT Government spokeswoman said additional well-being supports were made available onsite for students at the school the boy attended until last year.
Families and staff were also informed about free community support they could access, the spokeswoman said. The ACT’s Education Department is looking to ensure that students in other affected public schools have similar support.
Last August, the Albanian government expelled Tehran’s ambassador to Canberra after the country’s domestic spy agency made accusations against Iran. Directing at least two attacks against the Jewish community in Australia.
Australia’s embassy in Iran has also suspended operations, meaning there are no staff on the ground.
In December, demonstrations that began with concerns over Iran’s economic crisis led to nationwide anti-regime protests.
Estimates of the death toll vary considerably from the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters, with some suggesting that May be more than 30,000.
The official death toll released by the Martyrs’ Foundation was 3,117, including members of the security services.
Calls are growing inside Iran for a Independent investigation The number of people who died after the government said it would monitor the publication of the names of the dead.
Do you know more? Contact adeshola.ore@theguardian.com or daisy.dumas@theguardian.com.
