Iranian footballers seeking asylum moved from safe house

Iranian women footballers claiming asylum in Australia were evacuated from their safe house on Wednesday after one team member had a change of heart and revealed their location to the Iranian embassy, the Australian government said.

Seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s football delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.

But one member of the group had second thoughts after speaking to other players who turned down asylum in favour of returning to Iran, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

The woman exposed the location of the other asylum seekers when she contacted Iran’s embassy in Australia.

“As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was,” Burke said. “I immediately gave them instructions for people to be moved and that has been dealt with immediately.”

Australian officials had “made sure this was her decision”, Burke said.

There were fears that male minders travelling with the team might try to prevent the players from seeking asylum.

**Change of heart**

Burke said each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to consider the offer in private.

The last-minute change of heart could inflame an already tense situation between Iran and Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had lauded the bravery of the women, vowing they would be welcomed with open arms.

But Iran’s governing football body accused Australia of kidnapping the players and forcing them to forsake their home nation against their will.

Iranian players fell silent as the national anthem played ahead of a tournament match in Australia last week, an act seen as a symbol of defiance against the Islamic republic.

A presenter on Iranian state television branded the players “wartime traitors”, fuelling fears they faced persecution, or worse, if they returned home.

Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, slipped away from the team hotel under cover of darkness to claim asylum in Australia.

Two more team members — a player and a support staffer — were granted asylum before the team flew out of Sydney on Tuesday evening.

It was not immediately clear which of the seven had changed her mind.

The Asian Football Confederation said the rest of the Iranian squad were at an unnamed hotel in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, while awaiting the next leg of their journey home.

The governing body said it would “provide all necessary support to the team during their stay until their onward travel arrangements are confirmed.”

**’Strict surveillance’**

Iranian-Australian migration agent Naghmeh Danai spoke to five players earlier this week to discuss their options to remain in Australia.

“They were under lots of pressure here. They did not have permission to talk to anyone,” she told AFP on Wednesday.

“Under strict surveillance from the Iranian government officials within the team as team leaders or internal security,” she said.

Although the side sang Iran’s anthem in later matches, human rights activists warned the damage was done.

“The members of the Iranian Women’s National Football Team are under significant pressure and ongoing threat from the Islamic Republic,” said Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran.

“I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support,” he said on social media.

AFP

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