Raid, The

1995, 55 Minutes

Tells the story of eleven Iranian-Australians involved in a demonstration at the Iranian Embassy in Canberra in 1992.

In April 1992, Iranian exiles staged simultaneous demonstrations at Iran's diplomatic missions in Europe, North America and Australia. The Australian raid was filmed and screened on the SBS television news. Sensational footage confirmed the worst fears of those Australians anxious about threats to their country's normally peaceful society.

Eleven Iranian-Australians were charged with serious offences relating to the Canberra demonstration. They spent two years in court proceedings, fighting charges based on the assumption that they were part of an "international terrorist-style conspiracy". The Raid goes beyond the dramatic news reports to explore the background to these events, including a history of the Mujahadeen and the birth of the Hezbollah; and to tell the complex and often heart-rending stories of those people now settled in Australia, yet still connected by family ties and history to the land of their birth.

The program throws into sharp relief issues such as discrimination, xenophobia, religious fundamentalism, justice and the role of the media in a multicultural society such as Australia.

A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Documentary Films. Produced in association with SBS Independent. © 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.