Iranian women’s footballers competing in Australia were secretly offered asylum before some chose to return home – amid fears those returning home could face punishment after being branded ‘wartime traitors’ for refusing to sing the national anthem.
Six players and one procurement manager from the Iranian women’s team have remained in Australia instead of returning home and have requested asylum.
Home affairs minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday that department officials met with all players and most of the team’s management to offer them the opportunity to stay.
‘In Sydney … it was simply themselves, the Department of Home Affairs and an interpreter, and they were given a choice,’ he told reporters.
‘What we made sure of was that there was no rushing. There was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the dignity of those individuals to make a choice.’
But concerns have been raised about the fate of the women who chose to return to Iran, namely striker Afsaneh Chatrenoor who was led onto a bus in Gold Coast that would take her and the rest of the remaining team to the airport.
Squad member and friend Shabnam led her, tightly gripping her wrist, while an official followed behind with her hand on Afsaneh’s shoulder.
‘The probabilities of her facing some kind of retribution or punishment (in Iran) are pretty high,’ Australian-Iranian Society of Victoria’s Kambiz Razmara said.
Concerns have been raised about the fate of the women who chose to return to Iran , namely striker Afsaneh Chatrenoor who appeared to be led onto a bus in Gold Coast that would take the remaining team to the airport.
‘The state media presenter was talking about high treason, which is a death penalty. So the question, hypothetically, is whether she languishes in prison, or whether they execute her.’
Iranian refugee advocate Ara Rasuli, who was involved with the asylum process, said the Australian government had ‘opened every avenue for the girls to stay here and to be protected’.
‘They are in a lot of danger,’ Ms Rasuli said.
‘There are all sorts of different threats, such as taking the families into custody, taking over their assets … and that’s why most of the girls are choosing to go back home, because the threats are a big issue in this matter.’
Burke said the players were given the opportunity to speak privately with family members before making their decision.
‘Some have had direct conversations with family members in deciding what they would ultimately do,’ he said.
‘What we could do was make sure they were away from anyone connected to the Iranian authorities so they could make the phone calls they wanted.
‘They could be told there was an offer. And if they wanted to reach us, they could do exactly that.’
Pictured, the Iranian footballers that accepted Australia’s offer
Iran has been under fire by US-Israeli joint drone and missile strikes since February 28. But experts suggest this will not distract the regime from ‘punishing’ returning players
He said Australia’s aim was not to pressure the players, but to ensure they were given a genuine choice.
‘Australia’s objective here was not to force people to make a particular decision. We’re not that sort of nation,’ Burke said.
‘What we wanted to make sure of was that sometimes, possibly for the first time, these individuals were meeting a government that said the choice is up to you.
‘Here is the opportunity if you want to take it, but the choice and the dignity of that decision is yours.’
Iran has been under fire by US-Israeli joint drone and missile strikes since February 28.
But Mr Razmara said it may leave the regime preoccupied but there could still be punishment when conflict has settled down – and not even global attention could protect the women.
‘They (the Ayatollah regime) care not. It doesn’t suit the narrative for them over there,’ he said.
‘This regime is bloodied. This regime is resolved in hanging around and they’re not going to go away so for football players like Afsaneh, they face retribution.
Pictured, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of late Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The remaining players and officials landed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia early on Wednesday
‘There’s no question that she will be targeted, because she will be made example of.’
The country is ruled by the Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a cruel regime.
Fears for the football team emerged when the players refused to sing the Iranian national anthem before a match against South Korea in the Asian Cup.
They were then eliminated from the tournament at the weekend after losing their match to the Philippines.
The women were due to fly home but, after fears for their safety – and punishment for not singing the anthem, five players escaped their hotel on Monday night.
The group, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi, were granted humanitarian visas the following day and taken to a safe place.
Forward Mohadeseh Zolfi and procurement officer Fleur Meshkin-Kar requested asylum on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, the remaining players and officials landed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia early on Wednesday.
