Three members of Iran’s women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have elected to return to their home country this weekend, the Australian government has announced.
“Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced in a statement on March 15.
Last week, Australia’s government granted humanitarian visas to six players and a support staff member on Iran’s women’s soccer team, amid concerns they would face persecution upon returning to their home country following the Asian Cup soccer tournament in Australia. Those persecution concerns were fueled by comments from an Iranian state media presenter, who referred to members of the team as “wartime traitors” after they declined to sing Iran’s national anthem during one of their Asian Cup matches….
3 More Members of Iranian Soccer Team Decide to Return Home After Being Granted Asylum in Australia
