Shock U-Turn: 3 Iran Players Reject Asylum
Three Iran women football team members reverse their asylum decision in Australia and choose to return home after the Asian Cup controversy.
Three more members of the Iranian women's football team—who had been granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia—have changed their minds and are returning home.
Human rights activists of Iranian origin have identified these three individuals as Zahra Sultan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali.
Concerns regarding the Iranian team escalated on March 2, when, prior to their opening Asian Cup match against South Korea, they remained silent during the national anthem—an act that subsequently led to them being labeled "traitors in war" back in Iran.
Confirming this decision, Australia's Minister for Home Affairs stated that his government had made every possible effort to ensure that these women had the opportunity to build a safe future within the country.
In a statement, Tony Burke said, "Australians should be proud that, right here in our own country, these women experienced a nation that offered them genuine choices and the opportunity to engage with officials willing to assist them."
"While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and information regarding them is made available, we cannot alter the broader context in which these players are making such difficult decisions."
Iran's Ministry of Sport had also previously confirmed this news in a statement—information first reported by the Tasnim News Agency, an entity affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The statement asserted, "The national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women's national football team have thwarted the enemy's plots against this squad," while also accusing the Australian government of "dancing to Trump's tune."
Tasnim reported that the trio was traveling to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to rejoin the rest of the team, and that they were "returning to the affectionate embrace of their families and their motherland after withdrawing their asylum applications in Australia."
The report further stated that they firmly withstood "psychological warfare, extensive propaganda, and enticing offers."
This implies that, of the seven individuals who initially expressed a desire to remain in Australia, only three have not reversed their decision to leave the country. On Wednesday, another player decided to return to Iran.
Hamoudi and Sarbali were among the five players who, last Monday, evaded their security detail at the team hotel located in the Gold Coast—south of Brisbane—after which the Australian Federal Police escorted them to a safe location.
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Zahra Sultan Meshkehkar, a member of the team's technical staff, was one of two additional women in the group who sought asylum the very next day. The other woman—Mohaddeseh Zulfi—changed her mind just hours after being granted the right to stay; it is believed that she has already rejoined the team.
Concerns had arisen in Australia that, following the players' refusal to sing the national anthem, team members and their families could face severe repercussions back in Iran.
A conservative commentator for Iranian state media accused them of being "wartime traitors" and demanded harsh punishment for them.
In their final two matches—before being eliminated from the tournament on Sunday—the team did sing the national anthem, leading critics to suspect that government officials accompanying the team during the tournament had instructed them to do so.
The remaining Iranian players departed Australia on Tuesday night (local time)—two days after their elimination from the Asian Cup.
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