Australia Grants Asylum to Iranian Women Footballers After Anthem Protest

Australia has granted asylum to six Iranian women football players and one member of the coaching staff after they refused to sing Iran’s national anthem during an Asian Cup match against South Korea in Sydney earlier this month, a gesture widely viewed as a form of protest.

The group was part of a 26-member Iranian delegation that had arrived in Australia shortly before tensions escalated in the Middle East following U.S.-Israeli strikes in the region.

Australian authorities confirmed that the seven members who sought protection have been granted temporary humanitarian visas, which may allow them to apply for permanent residency in Australia in the future.

However, Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs said that one of the players who initially requested asylum later decided to contact the Iranian embassy, a decision the government said it respects.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Iranian team and staff departed Sydney for Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night, arriving in Malaysia early Wednesday in what observers described as a highly emotional departure.

After initially refusing to sing the anthem in their opening match, the players later sang it during subsequent games against Australia and the Philippines.

The situation has also sparked reactions within the Iranian-Australian community, with some activists attempting to prevent the players from leaving the country due to concerns about their safety if they return to Iran.

Source: Newstimehub