Iran Women’s Football Team Arrive Back Home After Asylum Drama In Australia

The Iranian women’s shot team, whose plight has go embroiled successful nan Middle East war, person returned backmost to Iran wherever they were promised a invited ceremonial successful Tehran.

Seven members of nan delegation had sought asylum successful Australia past week aft their determination not to singing nan nationalist anthem earlier their opening crippled astatine nan Women’s Asian Cup.

With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders, but lauded by US President Donald Trump, 5 later changed their minds, including skipper Zahra Ghanbari.

Activists person accused Iranian authorities of pressuring nan women’s families – including summoning parents for interrogations – but Tehran has successful move alleged that Australia sought to unit nan athletes to defect.

Two members person remained successful Australia, but nan remainder of nan squad completed a agelong travel backmost connected Wednesday via Malaysia, Oman and past to Istanbul and Turkey’s overland Gurbulak-Bazargan separator crossing pinch Iran.

In a station connected X, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said nan players and their support squad were “children of nan homeland, and nan group of Iran clasp them”.

By returning, they had “disappointed nan enemies [of Iran] and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements,” he added.

Iranian news agency Mehr published images of a mini invited statement waving flags connected nan Iranian broadside of nan border, arsenic good arsenic nan squad and unit sat connected a shape pinch a reddish carpet.

“We person each gathered present to opportunity good done and to definitive our appreciation,” nan president of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, was quoted arsenic saying. “Although they are women, they showed manly courageousness and strength,” he added.

In a motion of their symbolic value to Iranian authorities, a larger welcoming ceremonial has been organised connected Thursday successful Valiasr Square wherever different pro-government rallies person taken spot successful caller weeks, Iranian media reported.

Rights groups person accused Tehran of systematically pressuring athletes overseas by threatening relatives pinch nan seizure of spot if they defect aliases make statements against nan Islamic republic.

The Iranian women fell silent arsenic nan nationalist anthem played up of an Asian Cup lucifer successful Australia, which was interpreted arsenic enactment of defiance towards nan country’s leaders.

Although nan broadside sang Iran’s anthem – an ode to nan glory of nan Islamic republic – successful later matches, quality authorities activists warned nan harm was done.

An Iranian authorities TV presenter branded nan players “wartime traitors”, fuelling fears they faced persecution, aliases worse, if they returned.

Five players, including skipper Ghanbari, slipped distant from nan squad hotel nether nan screen of acheronian to declare asylum successful Australia connected 10 March.

Two much delegation members – a subordinate and a support staffer – were later granted asylum.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said nan authorities had spent days successful concealed talks pinch nan players, who were whisked to a safe location aft leaving their edifice connected nan Gold Coast.

Iranian authorities had accused Australia of pressuring nan players to stay.