Iranian female footballers change their minds: Granted asylum in Australia, but returning home

Iranian female footballers change their minds: Granted asylum in Australia, but returning home Three members of the Iranian women’s national football team, initially granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia, have decided to return to Iran. This decision comes after they initially fled their team, with activists reporting Zahra Soltan Meshkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali as the players returning. The Iranian Ministry of Sports confirmed the news, calling it a victory against ‘enemy plans’.

• Three Iranian women’s football players who were granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia have decided to return home.
• The players, identified as Zahra Soltan Meshkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali, were among those who initially fled their team.
• Their departure follows silence during the national anthem at the Asian Cup, which led to them being labeled ‘war traitors’ in Iran.
• Australia’s Interior Minister stated the government provided opportunities but could not dictate the players’ difficult decisions.
• Iranian state media reported the players were returning to their families and homeland after withdrawing their asylum claims, resisting ‘psychological warfare’ and ‘seductive offers’.
• Of the seven players who initially sought to stay in Australia, only three are now believed to have absconded.
• One other player had already decided to return to Iran on March 11.
• Concerns existed that the players might face consequences in Iran for not singing the national anthem.