Australia Grants Asylum to Iranian Footballers Who Fled Team Camp

Darwin, 10 March :

Five members of Iran’s women’s football team have fled their team camp during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia and have now been granted refuge by the Australian government.

The Iranian team had traveled to Australia to participate in the tournament. However, during the competition, the five players escaped from the team’s camp. They fled from a hotel on Australia’s Gold Coast and were later found by Australian police. The players are currently under police protection and staying in a secure location.

Local media in Australia reported that the five footballers have applied for political asylum in the country, and the Australian government has responded positively to their request.

On Tuesday, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the five Iranian players would be granted refuge in Australia. Burke has already met with the players and signed the necessary documents.

He told local media that the process for granting them humanitarian visas would now be finalized. Speaking to journalists, the minister said, “I cannot even imagine how difficult this decision must have been for each of these women, but certainly last night brought them relief and joy. These women are outstanding athletes, wonderful people, and in Australia they will feel at home.”

Before fleeing, the players had staged a silent protest by refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem during their opening match against South Korea.

Following that incident, Iran’s state television reportedly labeled them “traitors during wartime” and threatened them with severe punishment.

Fearing persecution if they returned to Iran, the five women footballers fled the team’s security arrangement and escaped from the camp.