Three members of the Iranian women’s national football team, who had initially sought asylum in Australia, have decided to return to their home country. This development follows concerns raised after the team remained silent during the national anthem at their opening Asian Cup match against South Korea on March 2. The players were subsequently branded “war traitors” within Iran.
The individuals who have changed their minds have been identified by human rights activists as Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali. Australia’s home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed the decisions, stating that the government had provided the women with genuine choices and opportunities for a safe future. He acknowledged that while Australia offered these possibilities, the ultimate decisions rested with the players amidst complex circumstances.
Iran’s sports ministry also confirmed the news, asserting that the team’s “national spirit and patriotism defeated the enemy’s plans.” The ministry accused Australia’s government of “playing in Trump’s field” and suggested the players resisted “psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers.” Tasnim News Agency reported that the three players were en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to rejoin the squad and return home.
This means that out of the seven players who initially expressed a desire to stay in Australia, only three now remain seeking asylum. One player had previously made the same decision to return to Iran. Hamoudi and Sarbali were among the initial group who evaded their minders at their Gold Coast hotel and were subsequently taken to a safe house by the Australian Federal Police.
Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, part of the team’s technical staff, sought asylum the following day, alongside another team member. However, one of these two, Mohaddeseh Zolfi, reportedly reconsidered her decision hours after being granted the right to stay and is understood to have rejoined the team.
Concerns had been raised in Australia regarding potential repercussions for the players and their families in Iran following their protest during the national anthem. Conservative commentators in Iran had accused them of being “wartime traitors” and called for severe punishment. The team did sing the anthem in their subsequent matches, leading some critics to believe they had been instructed to do so by accompanying government officials.
The remaining Iranian players departed Australia on Tuesday night, two days after their elimination from the Asian Cup. The situation highlights the complex geopolitical pressures faced by athletes from nations with restrictive regimes.
Fonte: BBC News
