Australia Granted Asylum To Seven Members Of Iran’s Women’s Football Team After They Refused To Sing The National Anthem
Following the match, seven footballers sought asylum in Australia, fearing repercussions for their actions.
Australia has granted asylum to seven Iranian women’s national football players after refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem, but five have decided to return home to Iran, leaving only two still seeking protection.
The players had sought asylum after their protest during the opening match of the Women's Asian Cup against South Korea in Australia on March 3.
When the national anthem began, neither the players nor head coach Marziyeh Jafari sang, instead staring straight ahead and remaining largely motionless.
The national anthem of the Islamic Republic celebrates the theocratic government, which had been led for 35 years by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed days earlier after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the government has imposed strict restrictions on women, including legally requiring women athletes to wear the hijab while competing internationally.
Following the match, seven footballers sought asylum in Australia, fearing repercussions for their actions, according to Reuters.
Australia granted them humanitarian visas on Tuesday, March 10.
A day later, one player decided to withdraw her request and return to Iran, Reuters reported.
Three more players followed on Sunday March 15, leaving only three still seeking asylum.
Iran’s women’s captain, Zahra Ghanbari, later also withdrew her request, reducing the number to two players who accepted Australia’s offer.
Human rights activists told the BBC the players may have been pressured to reject asylum after threats to their families.
Iran’s sport ministry criticized Australia, accusing it of “playing in Trump’s field” and saying "the national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women's national football team defeated the enemy's plans against this team."
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