The Iranian women’s football captain is the latest team member to leave Australia after receiving asylum.
Australia granted visas to seven of the team members last week after they boycotted Iran’s national anthem ahead of their first Women’s Asian Cup match.
Of the seven, five have now left Australia for Iran.
Background
On 28 February, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, killing the Supreme Leader. The strikes followed major internal protests against the Iranian regime, and failed nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S.
On 2 March, Iran played its first Women’s Asian Cup match in Queensland.
Before the game, Iranian players did not sing their national anthem. In response, Iranian state media labelled the squad “traitors”. The backlash raised concerns about the team’s safety, should they return home.
Timeline
9 March: Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke granted five members of the team humanitarian visas.
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10 March: Another player and a team staffer also received humanitarian visas. The rest of the squad were taken to Brisbane airport to begin the journey back to Iran.
11 March: Australian media reported one of the seven team members would return to Iran.
15 March: The Government said three additional women would return to Iran. It said it had given the players “repeated chances to talk about their options.”
16 March: The Government confirmed another member of the team had left, leaving two of the original seven in Australia.
Update
Members of the Iranian community in Australia allege the women faced pressure from the regime to return.
It has been alleged a staff member granted a visa was communicating threats from the regime to the team.
According to the ABC, the Government has investigated this allegation and found no evidence.
In a statement on Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the Government had tried “to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia.“
