Five members of the Iran women’s soccer team are under the protection of Australian police following a dramatic escape from their handlers at a hotel in Brisbane.
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the women have been granted asylum and humanitarian visas to evade persecution in their homeland for their refusal to sing the Iranian national anthem during one of their Women’s Asian Cup matches.
Mr. Burke stated that discussions regarding the protection of the team began in earnest during the early hours of Monday morning.
“Once that occurred … it became evident that there were five women who wished to remain in Australia,” he informed reporters in Brisbane early on Tuesday.
“They were relocated to a secure location by the Australian Federal Police, and I met with them at that site last night.
“I approved their applications for humanitarian visas last night, and shortly after 1:30 a.m. this morning, the processing was finalized by the department of home affairs.
“I convey to the other team members, the same opportunity is available,” Mr. Burke remarked.
The remaining squad members are still with their Iranian handlers, he noted.
Their situation prompted intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had a late-night conversation with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, later commending the prime minister for safeguarding the women.
“He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way,” Mr. Trump stated in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
“Some, however, feel compelled to return due to concerns for their families’ safety, including threats to those relatives if they do not go back.”
Advocates had been urging Australian officials to engage with the team to ensure their safety after the squad was observed making what seemed to be an SOS hand signal on Sunday night following their final Asian Cup match.
As they departed from their last match of the tournament on Sunday night, at least one of the women appeared to signal for help through the team bus window—raising an open palm, crossing the thumb over it, and folding the four fingers down.
Protesters surrounded the bus, and the women seemed to record the crowd through the window.
