Kylie Moore-Gilbert said she has continued to be 'targeted' by the Iranian regime since returning to Australia.

A parliamentary inquiry is underway in Australia, examining the human rights implications of recent violence in Iran and its influence in Australia. 

And according to Kylie Moore-Gilbert, the Islamic Republic of Iran is well known to operate intelligence-gathering and influence networks within Australia.

On September 12, 2018, Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert was arrested at Tehran’s International Airport in Iran. She spent 804 days incarcerated in Tehran’s Evin and Qarchak prison for espionage, a crime she never committed. Two years ago Moore-Gilbert was released and returned back to Australia, and has remained a vocal critic of the Iranian regime.

More recently, hundreds of Iranians have been killed, including 40 children, in protests after a young woman died in police custody in September for not wearing a headscarf.

Australian Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee held a public hearing Monday to discuss human rights implications of recent violence in Iran.
Addressing the hearing, academic @KMooreGilbert, who spent 804 days in Iran jail, urged the @AlboMP gov't to do more to support Iranians. pic.twitter.com/Eaw62Y9enP

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) November 28, 2022

"The Iranian regime is a fundamentally totalitarian dictatorship that is not reformable and not negotiable," Iranian-Australian scholar and journalist Dr Saba Vasefi told the Senate inquiry on Monday.

In an emotional submission, Dr Vasefi recounted the arrest and alleged lashing of her brother in police custody.

"I can't forget everything, I can't forget the bruises not only of my brother but of all of the people (in Iran). They are killing people, it's about flesh and blood... don't allow that to happen."

Dr Vasefi asked the one-day Senate inquiry, chaired by Liberal senator Claire Chandler, why Australia was "looking for a relationship with a raping, child-killing regime".

"If one of those dead children was a white child, how would Australia respond," she said.

Moore-Gilbert also gave evidence to the inquiry.

"I myself have been targeted after my return to Australia by the Iranian regime," she said. "I've had people attend events that I've spoken at, stand at the back of the room and record proceedings and ask intimidating and suspicious questions of some of the Iranian audience members at my events.

"I've also been hacked on at least two occasions by the Iranian regime, and I suspect by the Revolutionary Guard Corps. I called the cybersecurity hotline in great distress asking, 'what on earth can I do about this? They're in my computers, what do I do?'

"I was told I just need to install antivirus software; that nobody can help me."

Moore-Gilbert then pleaded for the federal government to sanction Iran, describing the use of current sanctions as "woeful".

"We've sanctioned Russia over its human rights and warmongering behaviour, why shouldn't we sanction Iran," Moore-Gilbert told the inquiry.

Moore-Gilbert said that compared with other more robust sanction measures from Canada and Germany, the Australian government's response has been lacklustre.

"Cabinet ministers, MPs and government officials have tweeted statements expressing Australia's dismay... while these steps are welcome, they are inadequate and they don't constitute meaningful action at all," she said.

Moore-Gilbert said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is opposed to sanctions because it holds concerns for an Iranian-Australian dual national believed to be detained in Iran.

"We simply cannot allow the consular cases of a handful of wrongfully detained Australians to dictate Australia's response to Iran's violations of human rights on a mass scale," she wrote in her submission.

The inquiry also heard from Kurdish nationals, as well as Amnesty Australia and UN Human Rights watch – who all called for some form of sanctions on Iran. The committee's report is due in February.

With AAP.

You can hear Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s full story on No Filter below:

The Hollywood awards season has kicked off with the announcement of the film nominees for The Independent Spirit Awards. The Indies are usually a good indicator of which movies will dominate awards season and it now appears the biggest frontrunner for the Oscars has already been knocked out.

And Will Smith is on the promotional trail for his new movie Emancipation, his first release since the infamous Oscars slap earlier this year. In a recent interview, the actor revealed his biggest fear about the release and it says a lot about changing cancel culture in Hollywood.

Plus, in a page taken straight from the internet’s dream journal, Pete Davidson and Emily Ratajkowski have made a very public appearance together just one month into their suspected relationship. Yet, when you look back at the first photos of them together as a couple, there’s something very suspicious about their relationship timeline.

Get today’s episode of The Spill in your ears below:

Balenciaga ambassador Kim Kardashian has shared a statement in the wake of the fashion house's controversial photo shoots.

"As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalise child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society - period," she said. 

As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 28, 2022

Photos from two of Balenciaga's latest campaigns have caused people to get angry. The first shows a series of child models posting with the company's bear bags, adjourned with leather harnesses and bondage fetishes. 

Another campaign depicts a handbag on top of some documents - the papers were from a US Supreme Court ruling related to indecent images of children. 

Balenciaga have posted an apology to its 14 million Instagram followers and said its plush bear bags "should not have been featured with children".

It said it had removed the items from sale and deleted the images from all web platforms. 

They've now also announced they're suing the set designer and production company for $25 million for "redress for extensive damages."

Kardashian says, "I appreciate Balenciaga's removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again." 

Former prime minister Scott Morrison will face a censure motion by his parliamentary colleagues over his decision to secretly appoint himself to additional ministerial portfolios. 

The Albanese government is expected to move the motion in parliament on Tuesday, during the final sitting week of the year. 

Censure motions do not have any legal consequences but they are rare and give parliamentarians the chance to formally note disapproval with their colleagues.

The Liberal opposition said they would not support the motion and labelled it a "political stunt" by the Labor government.

Scott Morrison to face censure motion over secret ministries https://t.co/mBx0Jah7T2

— ABC News (@abcnews) November 28, 2022

Labor MP Susan Templeman said the motion was an important line for parliament to draw about the standards it expects of elected MPs. 

"It puts on the record, for all time, that sort of behaviour and things that go outside our Westminster system are not tolerated," she told ABC News on Monday.

"We need to demonstrate to our community that has had its faith in democracy rocked ... that we do believe in the Westminster system and accountability."

- With AAP

Neighbours actress Kate Keltie has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer at the age of 36.

Katie played Holly Valance's sister Michelle on the soap for five years.

Her cancer has spread to her lymph nodes, blood and hip bones and is considered aggressive. 

Neighbours star Kate Keltie diagnosed with 'aggressive' stage four breast cancer https://t.co/je36KAGbRz

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 28, 2022

"Given the severity of the chemotherapy that Kate requires, her Oncologist advised that working and maintaining her job during this time, is not an option. She will lose her gorgeous hair and cannot carry children in the future. This is devastating news for anyone, let alone at the age of 36, with no family history of breast cancer," reads a GoFundMe set up on behalf of her.

"Kate will then require chemo infusions every three weeks for the rest of her life, and potentially radiotherapy and surgery too."

At the time of writing, $31,000 has already been raised. 

An alarming number of young women, trans, and non binary people are reporting that the instance of being choked during sex is on the rise.

There are many reasons people believe this sex act is becoming more common, but the issue is, not enough understand the motivations behind it, or the shocking consequences.

Today we look at sexual strangulation, why it’s on the rise and why men need to know it’s not ok.

Feature image: AAP.