Iranian Women’s Football Team Returns Home After Asylum Bids

The Iranian women’s national football squad has arrived in eastern Türkiye and is en route to the Iran border, including several players who initially sought asylum in Australia. The team’s journey home comes after competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, a tournament that began before the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

The players landed in Istanbul on Tuesday evening on a flight from Oman, then flew to the eastern city of Igdir, arriving just after midday on Wednesday, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

Wearing Iranian national team tracksuits, the players were observed leaving the airport and heading towards the Gurbulak-Bazargan crossing, approximately 100km (60 miles) to the southeast, an AFP correspondent reported. The team traveled from Australia via Oman and Malaysia.

Initial Asylum Requests and Subsequent Withdrawals

Seven members of the Iranian delegation had initially sought sanctuary in Australia last week after facing criticism, labeled as “traitors” back home, for refusing to sing the national anthem during their opening game at the Women’s Asian Cup as reported by Sportstar. Australia granted humanitarian visas to these players, citing concerns for their safety if they were to return to Iran.

However, five of the seven players later withdrew their asylum bids and are now returning home. Two players remain in Australia, currently training with an A-League club according to India TV News.

Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar were among those who left Australia after being granted humanitarian visas, traveling first to Malaysia before continuing on to Tehran as detailed in The Hindu.

Official Reactions

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, welcomed the players and support staff back, stating they were “children of the homeland” and embraced by the Iranian people as reported by ESPN. He asserted that their return had “disappointed the enemies [of Iran] and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements.”

One player expressed their longing for family, stating, “I am missing my family,” while at Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday according to India TV News.

Rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements critical of Iran as reported by ESPN. Iranian authorities, in turn, have accused Australia of pressuring the players to remain.