Act now to protect Iranian soccer team, Australia told
Lawyers are calling on Australian authorities to meet with the Iranian women’s football team to ensure their safety after the team was seen making a hand sign that appeared to be “SOS” on the Gold Coast.
Iranian state media criticized the team for refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match at the Asian Cup in Australia, calling them “wartime traitors” who should be severely punished.
Community groups wrote to Home Secretary Tony Burke imploring him to intervene on behalf of the women.
The team is staying at the Royal Pines resort on the Gold Coast and will leave Australia this week after completing their Asian Cup matches.
Rana Dadpour, founder of women’s rights group AUSIRAN, said government officials should hold private meetings with team members before they leave the country, warning they could face execution if they return home.
“We need to talk to these girls away from the handlers and regime loyalists who are now pursuing them in Australia,” he told AAP.
“If they want to stay, I think we need to provide them with whatever support we can.”
While government officials have been reluctant to discuss the team’s plight, fearing that making it public could put women and their families at further risk, Ms Dadpour said global pressure was often effective on the Iranian regime.
“We have had many cases of execution orders that have previously been postponed or stayed due to international pressure and media attention,” he said.
At least one of the women leaving the final match of the competition on Sunday night appeared to signal for international help from the window of the team bus; He lifted his open palm, crossed his thumb over it, and joined all four fingers at the top.
Protesters surrounded the bus and women filmed the crowd from the window.
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former Shah and leader of the country’s resistance movement, said the decision not to sing the anthem was a brave act of disobedience but meant the team would face “terrible consequences” if they returned to their home country.
“I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and provide them with whatever support they need,” he said.
Julian Leeser, a leading opposition figure, called on Australia to grant women asylum if they want it.
“The Australian government must not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face,” she said in a statement.
The government is extremely sensitive to speculation about women’s potential movements; She fears that if women return to their homes or risk their families it could put them in further danger.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she admired the women’s bravery but would not decide whether Australia would offer them asylum.
A change.org petition calling for Australia to intervene in the women’s situation had collected nearly 60,000 signatures as of Monday morning.
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