Australia grants asylum to Iran women's football team players | OneFootball

Australia has granted asylum to some players of the Iranian women's national soccer team who were in the country, fearing persecution if they returned to Iran for refusing to sing the national anthem before a match, announced Australian Interior Minister Tony Burke on Monday.

Last week, the Iranian players refused to sing before an Asian Cup match in Australia, a gesture considered an act of defiance against the Islamic Republic.

Five of the players fled the team's hotel on Australia's Gold Coast overnight and sought refuge, Burke said.

“The Australian police took them to a safe location. Last night, I gave my final approval to their humanitarian visa requests,” he told reporters.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Australia had agreed to grant asylum to some players hours after Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, requested guarantees for the athletes' safety.

“I just spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iranian women's soccer team. He's taking care of it! Five of them have already been welcomed,” Trump declared on his Truth Social network, less than two hours after an initial post urging Australia to take them in.

Trump added that “some, however, feel they must return (to Iran) because they are concerned about the safety of their families, including possible attacks against these relatives if they do not return.”

Threatened Players

The American president's announcement came shortly after Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, requested guarantees for the safety of the athletes, who are on Australian soil for the Asian Cup.

The 26 members of the Iranian delegation arrived in Australia a few days before the Israeli and American bombings that led to the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“The players of the Iranian women's soccer team are under intense pressure and being threatened by the Islamic Republic,” Pahlavi wrote on the social network X.

“They risk facing serious consequences if they return to Iran. I appeal to the Australian government to ensure their safety and provide all necessary support,” he added.

Pahlavi thus joined a growing number of people, including activists and political figures, who have made requests for Australia to grant asylum to the players.

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J.K. Rowling's Appeal

For example, British author J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter saga, wrote on her social networks: “Protect these girls!”

The players remained silent while the Iranian national anthem was played before the first game of the tournament, but sang it in the following matches.

This attitude was interpreted as an act of rebellion, and a state television presenter called them “traitors in times of war,” representing “the greatest dishonor.”

Contacted by AFP, the Australian Interior Ministry stated that “it could not comment on individual situations.”

According to Zaki Haidari, an Amnesty International activist, the athletes risk being persecuted if they return to their country.

“It is likely that some of them have already seen their families threatened,” Haidari added to AFP.

When contacted, the Iranian embassy in Australia did not respond.

*With content from AFP

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.