At least seven members of Iran’s women’s football team have sought asylum in Australia out of fear they will face persecution if they return home. Source: ABC News.
Five of the 13-player squad were granted asylum on Monday, but sources told the ABC that figure has now risen to at least two more, including one who is understood to have refused to board a flight at Sydney airport at the last minute.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who was at the airport, said border force officials made multiple representations to team members before they departed Sydney, including in private meetings.
“Every single … member of that team was put in a situation where they were just with Home Affairs officials, where the people who might put pressure on them were nowhere near them at all, and they were given a choice,” he said.
“I respect their independence and agency with whatever decision they chose.”
Acknowledging concerns some might have had about their family’s welfare if they were to defect, Mr Burke said the players were given the opportunity to speak with loved ones.
“People could contact family members, they had all the time that they needed and we also made sure that there wasn’t pressure from us,” he said.
“We never told anyone it was time to end the meeting. If people wanted to stay and keep talking and miss that plane, they had agency to do that, as well.”
Scores of supporters gathered at the airport last night and crowds broke into cheers when word spread that a further two players chose to stay in Australia.
It is understood the remaining Iranian players departed Sydney International Airport bound for Kuala Lumpur last night.
The team were labelled “traitors” on Iranian state television after a number of players refused to sing the national anthem before their opening match with South Korea at the Women’s Asian Cup earlier this month.
Under the Islamic Republic’s penal code, corruption or treason can lead to lengthy prison sentences or the death penalty.
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Seven members of Iran’s women’s football team have sought asylum, ABC understands (By Victoria Pengilley, ABC News)
