Post by : Shakul

One member of the Iran women’s national football team who had sought asylum in Australia has changed her mind and opted to return to Iran after talking with teammates, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday. Seven members of the visiting squad had initially been granted humanitarian visas due to safety concerns if they returned home.

The reversal came after the player consulted her teammates and was encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy, which then became aware of the location of the group in Australia, Burke told the Australian Parliament.

Earlier, the team had drawn international attention during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, where several players refused to sing the Iranian national anthem before a match, leading to threats and criticism from state media and officials in Iran. Fears over possible persecution prompted some team members to seek protection once their tournament commitments concluded.

Australian authorities ensured that the decision to seek asylum was made individually and without external pressure, interviewing each player privately before offering them temporary humanitarian visas, which provide a pathway to possible permanent residency.

The remaining players who chose to stay have been relocated from an initial safe house to another secure location, and other members, along with support staff, departed Sydney for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The incident has drawn international focus not only on the asylum decisions but also on broader issues of athlete safety, freedom of expression, and human rights for women in Iran.

#Global News #Sports News