A few years back, online newsletter Crikey ran a series of travel pieces by an Australian writer visiting Iran.

According to the author’s account, the repressive theocratic Middle Eastern nation is some kind of paradise on earth. “I interacted with the people of Iran like I’ve never interacted with the people of a foreign country before,” he gushed, having been there for all of a month “Nowhere in the world have I ever encountered a people so universally kind, friendly and generous.”

Indeed, “the openness, generosity and kindness of the Iranians is overwhelming.” Which is all very lovely, but rather prompts the question: if Iran is so nice, why on earth are so many people trying to escape it for better lives in western nations? Also, considering Iran’s “generosity and kindness”, why do Iranian refugees claim to be at risk if they are returned there?

Those questions have a renewed relevance today following revelations that six Iranian refugees who paid people smugglers to reach Australia were subsequently caught holidaying in the country they fled.

This was after the six had claimed on their protection visa applications that their lives were at great risk if they ever set foot in Iran again.

All six of them wrongly claimed in their visa applications that they faced danger in Iran if they were denied protection in Australia and deported. Yet very soon after being granted Australian protection visas to live in Melbourne and Sydney, the Iranians rushed back to their homeland.

.@theheraldsun unveils six Iranian refugees were caught holidaying in Iran after lying about fearing for their lives if they had to return. pic.twitter.com/yrOQ76x7ye — Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 15, 2017

One allegedly terrified fellow returned for an old-fashioned Iranian wedding. A couple who arrived by boat claiming to have no identification documents later voluntarily travelled to Iran and back to Australia on valid Iranian passports. Another chap’s claim to be wanted by Iranian authorities was found to be false.

Appropriately, immigration minister Peter Dutton took steps to have the fraudster Iranians deported. The Iranians, however, did not accept the minister’s ruling and took their cases to Administrative Appeals Tribunal bureaucrats.

Talk about kind, friendly and generous. The AAT, which has form in this regard, having overturned nearly 4500 visa decisions made by the immigration minister or his delegate in just the past year, duly found in favour of the six refugees. Despite being busted as returnees and having their stories disproved, they have been allowed to remain in our country.

Dutton is now considering his next step. “The Minister has the power to set aside AAT decisions,” a spokesman told The Daily Telegraph. “These matters will be reconsidered in due course. All matters are considered on a case-by-case basis.”

If you were placing bets, the smart money might be on a permanent return to Iran. The fabled land of openness and generosity beckons.