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The federal government has cancelled a $670,000 grant promised to a mosque in Dandenong on the grounds of “social cohesion concerns” after it mourned the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said on Wednesday afternoon she would not give funding to the Taha Humanity Association of Victoria after it reportedly held a service this week to mark the Iranian leader’s death.
In a video seen by this masthead, Labor MP Julian Hill promised funding before the 2025 federal election to “support the next stage of community facilities” at the Taha Centre.
However, the Shiite Muslim organisation drew scrutiny in parliament on Tuesday when Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan said the group had mourned a “brutal dictator”.
Khamenei, who was also a religious leader in Shiite Islam, was killed by US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran over the weekend.
Aly said she had asked her department to halt the grant process after becoming aware of content posted online.
A video of a service “in honour of His Eminence Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei” has since been scrubbed from the Taha Association’s social media channels.
On Wednesday, Aly confirmed the commitment had been ditched.
“Due to social cohesion concerns, I’ve decided to not go ahead with a grant for the Taha Humanity Association,” she said in a brief statement.
“We are not proceeding with this election commitment.”
Liberal senator James Paterson welcomed the decision and said Khamenei had led a terrorist organisation that had attacked Australia.
“I’m glad that it’s happened,” Paterson told the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing on Wednesday. “But I think we do have to ask some questions about the due diligence of the Albanese government.”
Hill said on Tuesday that his Liberal opponent in the south-east Melbourne seat of Bruce had “turned up and announced double the money” after his initial pledge last year, but told parliament the promise would be reviewed.
“Ayatollah Khamenei was an evil dictator. I don’t mourn his death,” Hill said.
The Shia Muslim Council of Australia, however, said Khamenei – the long-time leader of Iran’s complex theocracy – was also regarded as a senior religious authority.
“Whatever one’s political position, acknowledging grief is not an endorsement of policy,” the council said in statement. “It is a recognition of humanity. Our community’s mourning deserves to be understood in that light.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, said on Monday that several reported mourning events were “inappropriate” while Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan labelled vigils “insulting”.
Many within the Iranian diaspora have also condemned Khamenei memorials and have celebrated his death.
The Taha Humanity Association of Victoria has been contacted for comment.
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