"Seven members of the delegation had sought asylum in Australia last week after their decision not to sing the national anthem before their opening game at the Women's Asian Cup. With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran's leaders, but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds, including captain Zahra Ghanbari."
"In a post on X, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the players and their support team were children of the homeland, and the people of Iran embrace them. By returning, they had disappointed the enemies [of Iran] and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements, he added."
"Activists have accused Iranian authorities of pressuring the women's families including summoning parents for interrogations but Tehran has in turn alleged that Australia sought to force the athletes to defect."
Seven members of Iran's women's football team sought asylum in Australia following their decision not to sing the national anthem at the Women's Asian Cup. Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, later reversed their decision and returned to Iran via Malaysia, Oman, Turkey, and the Gurbulak-Bazargan border crossing. Two team members remained in Australia. Iranian authorities organized welcoming ceremonies, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praising the returning players as patriots who resisted foreign deception. A larger ceremony was planned in Tehran's Valiasr Square. Human rights groups have accused Iranian authorities of systematically pressuring athletes' families through interrogations and intimidation tactics.
#iranian-womens-football #asylum-and-defection #national-anthem-protest #government-pressure #womens-asian-cup
Read at www.theguardian.com
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