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Team returns to Iran amid asylum reversal
Five members of Iran's national women's football squad who initially sought asylum in Australia have returned home with the rest of the team after withdrawing their applications. The group crossed into Iran from Turkey on Wednesday afternoon, following a journey through Malaysia and Oman.
Asylum bids and withdrawal
The players had applied for humanitarian visas in Australia, citing fears of reprisals for refusing to sing Iran's national anthem during their opening Asian Cup match on 2 March. Their silence came days after the U.S. and Israel escalated tensions with Iran.
Human rights activists allege the players may have faced pressure to reverse their decisions, including threats against their families. Three of the five-Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali-were previously identified by Iranian diaspora groups. State media also named team captain Zahra Ghanbari among those who changed their minds, while the fifth player remains unnamed.
Safety concerns and state reactions
Footage from Iranian state television showed a presenter labeling the players as "traitors" who deserved punishment for their protest. After the anthem incident, the team sang in subsequent matches, leading critics to suggest they were coerced by officials accompanying them during the tournament.
Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that five players had been escorted to a secure location by police after expressing their desire to stay. Burke met the group at 01:30 local time and approved their humanitarian visa applications, which would have allowed them to live, work, and study in Australia. However, he acknowledged the government could not alter the "incredibly difficult" circumstances influencing their decisions.
"We cannot remove the context in which the players are making these decisions," Burke said.
State media narratives
Iran's sports ministry claimed the team had "defeated the enemy's plans" through their "national spirit and patriotism," accusing Australia of aligning with U.S. policies. Tasnim, a news agency linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), described the players as targets of "psychological warfare, extensive propaganda, and seductive offers" while abroad.
Timeline of events
The team arrived in Igdir, eastern Turkey, around noon local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday. After clearing customs and passport control that evening, they were escorted to a hotel under police protection, according to Turkish media reports. Two players who were granted asylum remained in Australia.
