Before their teammates left, two additional members of the Iran women’s team were granted asylum in Australia, as stated by the country’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday.
The two individuals have joined five players who received humanitarian visas a day prior, Burke informed reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. According to Burke, one of the individuals in the later group was a player, while the other was part of the team staff, both of whom sought asylum before their teammates were taken to the airport.
The remainder of the team’s departure from Sydney, Australia to return to Iran late Tuesday local time occurred amidst intense protests at the team’s hotel and at the airport. Iranian Australians attempted to stop the women from leaving the country, expressing concerns for the team’s safety upon their return to Iran after being labeled “wartime traitors” by Iranian state media for not singing the national anthem prior to their opening match.
The flight took off late Tuesday.
Burke mentioned that as the women went through security at Australia’s border, they were each individually approached by Australian officials and interpreters, without any minders present, and were offered asylum.
“They were given a choice,” he stated. “In that situation, we ensured that there was no rushing, there was no pressure.”
Those who applied for asylum received temporary humanitarian visas, which provide a pathway to permanent residency in Australia, Burke noted.
The team members confirmed to be remaining in Australia include captain Zahra Ghanbari and players Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, and Mona Hamoudi.
Iranian refugee advocate Ara Rasuli, who participated in the asylum process, remarked that the Australian government had “opened every avenue for the girls to stay here and to be protected.”
The players returning to Iran may face execution, and their families could experience retaliation from the regime, she indicated.
“They are in significant danger,” Ms. Rasuli stated. “There are various threats, such as detaining family members, seizing their assets … and that is why most of the girls are opting to return home, as the threats are a major concern in this situation.”
The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, prior to the onset of the Iran war on February 28. The team was eliminated from the tournament over the weekend and faced the possibility of returning to a country under bombardment.
Information from AAP and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
