Iran women’s football captain withdraws Australia asylum bid: State media
Zahra Ghanbari will travel from Australia to Malaysia and from there return to Iran, IRNA news agency said.
Three players and a backroom staff had earlier withdrawn their asylum offers and gone to Malaysia.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of attacking athletes abroad by threatening their relatives or confiscating their property if they declare against the Islamic Republic or seek asylum.
His move was praised in Iranian media reports; IRNA said he “returned to the embrace of his homeland”, and Mehr news agency saw it as a “patriotic decision”.
Seven members of the football delegation visiting Iran competing in the Women’s Asian Cup took refuge in Australia after they were branded “traitors” in their own country for refusing to sing the national anthem.
Only two of them are scheduled to remain in Australia after the captain was notified that he would return to seek asylum. Returning to Iran, the players were waiting for their trip in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. There has been no comment yet from Australian officials about Ghanbari’s condition.
One player changed his mind last week, followed by two players and one staff member leaving Australia on Saturday.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement that day that “three members of the Iran Women’s Football Team have decided to join the rest of the team on their return trip to Iran.”
He said the “players were given repeated chances to talk about their options” after informing Australian officials of their decision.
The minister said the Australian government had given team members the opportunity to seek refuge but the players faced “incredibly difficult decisions”.
The football drama developed against the background of the war in the Middle East, sparked by US-Israeli air strikes against Iran.
“The Australian Government has done everything we can to ensure these women are given the chance of a secure future in Australia,” Burke said. he said.
“Australians should be proud that our country is where these women experience a nation that gives them real choices and interact with officials who want to help them.”
‘traitors’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the women’s bravery and promised they would be welcomed with open arms.
But Iran’s governing football body has accused Australia of kidnapping players and forcing them to leave their home country against their will.
Iranian players’ silence during the national anthem before a tournament match in Australia attracted international attention, an action seen as a symbol of defiance against the Islamic Republic.
A presenter on Iranian state television branded the players “wartime traitors”, raising fears they could face persecution or worse if they returned to their country.
Although the sides sang the Islamic Republic’s anthem in subsequent matches, human rights activists warned that damage was being done.
